Many New Brunswick agriculture grants fund planning first—not equipment or land. If your plan is missing details or is unclear, your application may not move forward. A strong agriculture business plan helps the province see how your farm or agri-food business will grow. It also shows how you will manage risk and build skills with public funding.
In New Brunswick, programs such as the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education Program can provide up to $25,000 per year for planning, training, and education activities.
When you apply for provincial agriculture funding, your business plan is more than a formality. Reviewers use it as a scoring tool. They check if public funds will help your farm’s management, competitiveness, and long-term success.
Most New Brunswick agriculture programs want your plan to include these sections.
Start with a short, clear description of your operation.
Include:
This section shows you are eligible and that your business is based in New Brunswick agriculture.
Your goals must match what the grant funds.
Under the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education Program, eligible activities include:
Good examples of grant-aligned goals:
Avoid vague goals like “grow the farm” or “increase profit” if there is no clear planning or skills activity.
Grant reviewers do not expect a long report. They want proof you understand your market.
Your market section should briefly cover:
If your plan supports training or education funding, explain how new skills will help you respond to market changes.
This section explains how your business runs.
Include:
If you are applying for business planning funding, state what part of operations needs improvement and why you need planning support.
For New Brunswick grants, your finances do not need to be complex. They do need to be realistic.
Include:
The Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education Program allows:
Your budget should show how grant funds will be used and how the activity helps your farm.
GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you find programs by province and agriculture focus.
End your plan with a simple timeline:
This helps reviewers see your project is realistic and fits the funding year.
Submitting a generic business plan
Plans copied from templates without agriculture details score poorly.
Requesting funding for ineligible costs
This program does not fund equipment or infrastructure. It supports planning, training, and education.
Ignoring the repayable nature of funding
You must show how your business will repay the contribution over time.
Missing the connection between goals and funding
Each funded activity must clearly improve management skills or business planning.
Q: Who is eligible for the Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education Program?
Eligible applicants are agriculture and agri-food businesses in New Brunswick. Activities must support planning, skills development, or agriculture education.
Q: How much funding can I receive for an agriculture business plan in New Brunswick?
You can receive up to $10,000 per year for business planning, with a combined annual cap of $25,000 if you add skills development funding.
Q: Is this agriculture funding repayable?
Yes. Funding under this program is repayable. Your business plan should show how better management or skills will help your business repay the funds.
Q: Can I apply for both planning and skills development in the same year?
Yes. You can combine business planning and skills development funding, as long as you stay within the $25,000 annual cap.
Q: When are application deadlines?
Deadlines and intake periods can change. Always confirm current timelines with the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries before you apply.
A strong agriculture business plan can increase your chances of approval and help speed up the review process. Before you apply, check that your goals, budget, and activities match what New Brunswick programs fund.
GrantHub tracks active agriculture and business planning grants across Canada—see which ones match your farm’s stage, sector, and province.
See also:
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