The Société de conservation et d’aménagement des bassins versants de la zone Châteauguay (SCABRIC) has launched a new agri-environmental initiative called the PAAR Saint-Louis project. It aims to support twenty agricultural businesses in the adoption of agricultural practices that improve water quality, promote biological diversity, and restore soil quality.
Participating farms must be operating in the Saint-Louis River watershed, which includes the municipalities of Saint-Anicet, Sainte-Barbe, Godmanchester, and Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka. Producers who become involved with the program will receive funding from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) for up to 90 per cent of the expenses involved in the implementation of the various agro-environmental practices through the Prime Vert program.
A consultation and monitoring committee, composed of representatives from municipalities, agri-environmental consulting groups, as well as producers, is being created. Several partners have also signed on to support the initiative, including the MRCs of the Haut-Saint-Laurent and Beauharnois-Salaberry, the municipalities of Sainte-Barbe and Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka, the Club agroenvironnemental du Suroit, the Réseau agri-conseils Montérégie, and the MAPAQ.
A similar project which was initiated in 2018 by the SCABRIC in the area of the Saint Regis River watershed has proven to be successful. To date, a total of 11 producers have signed on to participate. An information session to recruit additional farms is expected to take place in the near future. (SR)