Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust

And 

The Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust, a non-profit, community-based, charitable society, whose mission is to promote the preservation of farmland and associated wildlife habitat in the Fraser River delta through sustainable farming and stewardship (referred hereinafter as "DFWT"). 

WHEREAS: The Cooperator and DFWT have agreed to cost-share the establishment of a Blueberry Rest Set-Aside where blueberry bushes have been removed, for the purposes of soil conservation within Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford, in the Province of British Columbia.

THE COOPERATOR WILL:

1. establish a field, described in Schedule A, as a Blueberry Rest Set-aside for the benefit of both soil and pollinator populations as prescribed by DFWT. The Set-aside must be planted by June 30, 2025 if this is the first year of the agreement. (Please note that approval is dependent on funding availability. New applications are treated on a first-come, first-served basis and funding will be allocated until it is fully utilized. Submitting your agreement as soon as possible is recommended.)
2. maintain and manage the field, described in Schedule A, as a Blueberry Rest Set-aside from date of planting to March 31, 2026.
3. not mow or harvest a set-aside until after July 15th of any year covered by this agreement and limit harvest to one cut per year.
4. ensure that top-kill, mowing, discing or plough down of the Blueberry Rest Set-aside will not occur before March 31, 2026.
5. perform best management practices, as described in Schedule A and at the cooperators expense, which are associated with the maintenance of a field as a Blueberry Rest Set-aside.
6. discuss management practices with DFWT and concede to DFWT recommendations prior to undertaking any management activities.
7. allow DFWT to monitor the Blueberry Rest Set-aside for wildlife use, vegetation growth and/or soil quality.
8. not receive reimbursement or an exchange for rent payment for the Blueberry Rest Set-aside described in Schedule A, from any other program or agreement.
9. indemnify and save harmless the DFWT from and against any and all actions, suits, claims, demands, damages and losses, howsoever arising as a result of the establishment and operation of the DFWT Blueberry Rest program.

 DELTA FARMLAND AND WILDLIFE TRUST WILL:

1. cost-share the establishment and management of Blueberry Rest fields established within Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford, described in Schedule A, as a Blueberry Rest Set-aside by paying the cooperator $500/acre/year.
2. decline eligibility for the BRP at any time if vegetation is too sparse (vegetative cover of a spring set-aside planting must be 75% or greater).
3. In the event that the participant does not maintain the BRP by the standards prescribed herein, the DFWT obligations shall cease.
4. provide a $150/acre seeding reimbursement for the first year in addition to the annual payment.
5. in the unlikely event that DFWT has a lack of funds to continue the program in the following year, notify the co-operator before April 1, 2026 of non-renewal of this agreement. This agreement can be renewed annually for up to two additional years (three years total) providing funding is available. A one-year extension after three years is made at the Program Manager's discretion and is subject to funding availability.

TO BE ELIGABLE FOR THIS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS MUST:

1. be a registered landowner on the current Certificate of Title or Deed to the land: or
2. be entitled to become the registered landowner on Certificate of Title or Deed to the land under a contract, court order or any other legal instrument; or
3. have a valid land rental agreement to manage land for term of the Stewardship Agreement, and acknowledgement from the registered Landowner; or
4. be Indigenous (First Nation, Metis Nation, Inuit): a First Nation, Metis Nation or Inuit single person or a First Nation, Metis Nation or Inuit organization managing agricultural land. For example, be a First Nations Peoples in lawful possession of farmland under subsections 20(1), 20(2), or 20(3) of the Indian Act, or be a First Nations Band meeting these preceding conditions with an interest in farmland within the meaning of the Indian Act; and
5. have completed an agri-environmental risk assessment such as Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) or demonstrate working towards completing an agri-environmental risk assessment - prior to receiving final stewardship payments

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IMPORTANT:

DFWT, upon review of the Blueberry Rest Set-Aside, may decline eligibility of the set-aside at any time if vegetation is too sparse (vegetative cover of the Blueberry Rest Set-Aside must be 75% or greater). Blueberry Rest Set-aside Mix should be planted at 40-50lb/acre. If establishment in the first year is deemed, for any reason, to be unsuccessful, soil tests may be conducted, and/or lime applications and/or reseeding may be required. All costs associated with these activities are to be paid by the cooperator.

In the event that the cooperator does not maintain the Blueberry Rest Set-aside in accordance with the standards prescribed herein, the DFWT obligations pursuant to this agreement shall cease.

Farm/Land Disclosure (Blueberry Rest Program area (funded and on waiting list) will be limited to 50% of the total area farmed and/or owned by the applicant or 50 acres whichever is the lesser)

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Respondent Consent
The Province of British Columbia supports inclusive and increased representation of underrepresented groups. By providing the information below, you are helping to improve the delivery of programming. At this time, the questions focus on three identity groups (Indigenous, women, and youth), and do not cover all potential groups who are underrepresented in the agriculture sector. We plan to expand the focus to other underrepresented groups in future. 

Your personal information is collected under section 26(c) and 26(e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purposes of evaluating applications and for the planning and evaluating of the S-CAP Ministry Program. The demographic information you provide is voluntary and will not be used to assess your eligibility for this program. Each individual understands the purposes of the collection, use, and disclosure of their demographic personal information. The information you provide will be shared with the federal government to fulfill the provincial obligations under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (S-CAP) bilateral agreement. It may be combined with other survey or administrative data sources and used for statistical, research and evaluation purposes. If any information is published, your responses will be combined with the responses of others so that you cannot be identified. If you have any questions about the collection of your information, please contact the Director of Sector Insights and Corporate Initiatives at  alstats@gov.bc.ca. 

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Management Requirements:

The following are management practices that may be required to be performed at the Cooperator’s expense for the establishment and maintenance of the Blueberry Rest set-aside:

• application of fertilizer or manure if and when required
• weed control – preferably through mowing or selective cutting
• soil surface ditching to reduce water ponding if and when required
• mowing or harvesting – as per guidelines set forth in the attached agreement.

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