The provincial government has announced $620,000 in funding through the Community Economic Development Fund to a pair of Cape Breton based agriculture groups to update and expand their equipment rental programs.
The Cape Breton-Richmond Federation of Agriculture got $330,000 for a new baler, rock picker, lime and fertilizer spreading equipment, tillage equipment, drills and various forage equipment. The Inverness-Victoria Federation of Agriculture got $290,000 for cattle-handling, forage, tillage and manure management equipment, as well as a new software system to better manage equipment rentals.
Funding is also coming from the federal government and other sources
The Cape Breton-Richmond Federation of Agriculture’s total project cost is $533,300, with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency providing $149,976 while the federation is contributing the remaining $53,324.
The Inverness/Victoria Federation of Agriculture’s total project cost is $600,000, with $150,000 coming from ACOA and $8,000 from the Municipality of the County of Inverness and the federation offering $152,000.
The province stated the Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board helped bridge the timing of the provincial and federal funding, allowing the equipment to be on-site in time for 2026 field work
