N.S. expands farm water management program to help with drought

A farmer works a field in Sheffield Mills in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley.

The province of Nova Scotia says it is expanding its water management program to help farmers increase their supply of water.

An additional $475,000 is being put toward the On-Farm Water Management Program to support projects, like wells and ponds on farms.

The province says the additional money will fund all existing eligible applications and allow for a second call for applications.

The On-Farm Water Management Program provides 50 per cent cost-shared support for water supply projects. It is part of the federal-provincial Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which was launched in 2023 to improve the nation’s agricultural sector.

“We want to help farms have a plentiful supply of water throughout the growing season and to deal with the very dry conditions they are experiencing,” said Minister of Agriculture Greg Morrow in a news release.

“This funding will help farms become more resilient in dealing with the impacts of climate change.”

The president of Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture says this summer’s drought has emphasized just how critical reliable water access is to farms.

“Many producers are doing everything they can to adapt, but the reality is that without adequate water infrastructure — wells, ponds, and other on-farm solutions — those efforts can only go so far,” Alicia King said.

“Reopening the on-farm water management program will provide some support to farmers to address the challenges of drought and wildfire risk. These programs can help strengthen water management, reduce fire hazards and support farms to continue operating through these difficult conditions.”

The province says 30 well and pond projects received $215,000 through the On-Farm Water Management Program last year.

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