Edmonton, AB, May 8, 2026 – Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), one of Alberta’s delivery agents for the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF), is introducing four operational improvements to the OFCAF programme for 2026–2027. The changes are intended to ensure that OFCAF funding reaches producers who are ready to complete the adoption of beneficial management practices (BMPs) on their farms and ranches, and to provide a clear, predictable, and fair process for applicants.
For producers: To ensure funding is used efficiently and reaches active projects, the following requirements apply. To be eligible for 2026–2027, projects must be at least $10,000; you must indicate acceptance online within 14 days of project approval, provide a project start date, and submit your reimbursement claim within 60 days of the project completion or your final vendor invoice date.
The 2026–2027 OFCAF intake, which opened on April 9, 2026, has attracted exceptional interest from producers. As at the date of this release, RDAR has already received more than 600 applications requesting over $13 million for projects to implement rotational grazing, drone seeding, nitrogen management, cover cropping and soil testing. Approximately one in five applications is for the new virtual fencing technology introduced for 2026–2027, supported by RDAR partnerships with Halter and eShepherd by Gallagher.
"Alberta producers have responded to this year’s OFCAF program in exceptional numbers, and the refinements we are announcing today are designed to ensure that every participating producer is supported through a clear, predictable and fair process — and that every dollar reserved flows to farmers and ranchers committed to completing the work on time.”
— Dr. Mark Redmond, Chief Executive Officer, RDAR
The four changes
The four operational measures take effect for 2026–2027 and do not change eligibility criteria or the beneficial management practices supported under OFCAF.
Minimum project size: $10,000. This helps ensure program funding delivers meaningful on-farm outcomes and that program administration remains efficient. This change affects all new applications.
Indicate acceptance online within 14 days of project approval and provide the project start date. This ensures that funds reserved for a producer are put to productive use without delay. If acceptance is not indicated, the producer will be placed on a waitlist, and the funds will be reallocated immediately. Waitlisted projects may not be supported if the 2026-2027 funds are fully distributed.
Submit reimbursement claims within 60 days. The 60-day period is calculated from the earliest of: (1) project completion, (2) the date of the final vendor invoice. This creates timely, predictable claim processing for producers and will allow timely reassignment of funds to waitlisted producers.
Producer Undertaking. A new Producer Undertaking and Acknowledgement records each producer’s commitment to start and complete the approved work and to submit claims before the 60-day reimbursement deadline.
The $100,000 per farm program maximum includes 85% of costs for rotational grazing, e.g., livestock watering systems and fencing, including virtual fencing devices. The only expense caps are $20,000 for the cover-cropping equipment (drone seeding), $20,000 for soil testing, and $2,000 for PAg/CCA project approval.
Orderly transition: current call pauses 15 May 2026
To enable orderly implementation of the four refinements and ensure consistent treatment of all producers in 2026-2027, RDAR will pause the current OFCAF project intake at 5:00 p.m. MST on Friday, May 15, 2026. The next OFCAF call, incorporating all four refinements, will reopen in early June.
Refinements grounded in producer demand and stewardship
The refinements respond to two clear realities.
First, producer demand for OFCAF in Alberta is exceptionally strong: in the first three weeks of the 2026-2027 intake, RDAR received producer requests that equal a substantial share of the year's allocation, demonstrating the continued relevance of the practices the program supports to Alberta farmers and ranchers.
Second, RDAR's commitment to producers is to distribute funds to those ready to take on the work within the available time. This also means that more applicants may be considered, so that as many Alberta producers as possible may access funds. The refinements deliver on both.
"RDAR has delivered OFCAF in Alberta since 2022, and we have learned a great deal from working alongside Alberta producers in that time. The refinements we are announcing today reflect that learning. They are about ensuring that public funding flows through to the farmers and ranchers doing the work, on a timetable that is fair to everyone in the programme."
— Dr Mark Redmond, Chief Executive Officer, RDAR
About OFCAF:
The On-Farm Climate Action Fund is an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) program that supports Canadian producers in adopting beneficial management practices that build agricultural resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RDAR has delivered OFCAF on behalf of AAFC since 2022.
About RDAR:
Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) is an Alberta not-for-profit corporation that funds research across the value chain in farming, ranching and food processing. RDAR delivers programmes on behalf of Alberta producers and public funders, with a mandate to ensure that research and programme investment deliver measurable outcomes for producers.
For more information, please visit: www.rdar.ca
Media Contact:
For all enquiries, please contact:
Richard Hilton, Manager, Stakeholder Relations and Communications
richard.hilton@rdar.ca