PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The objective of the Season Extension Enhancement Program is to help support fruit, vegetable and ornamental producers who invest in innovative technologies to extend their growing season, adapt to a changing climate and open up new market opportunities.
The program encourages and supports Nova Scotia’s fruit, vegetable and ornamental producers by providing financial assistance with the following on-farm infrastructure:
– adopting season extension technologies;
– enhancing storage capacity;
– adopting and developing irrigation capacity for field operations.
Eligibility
– Applicants are producers of fruit, vegetables or ornamentals grown and sold in Nova Scotia
– Farming activities must be carried out within the Province of Nova Scotia.
– Applicants must be Registered Farmers in Nova Scotia with annual fruit, vegetable or ornamental income shown in Statements of Farming Activities in most recent 2 years of submitted Tax Returns (2022, 2023 or 2024).
Please find the 2025-2026 guidelines here.
Applications closed October 31st, 2025. Thank you to all who applied.
Claims can be submitted via email to programs@horticulturens.ca, fax at 902-678-1280 or mail to:
Horticulture Nova Scotia
32 Main St.
Kentville Agricultural Centre
Kentville, NS B4N 1J5
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I don’t have my financial information yet – what should I do?
A: Send in the application form by the deadline and get the financial reports in ASAP.
Q: Why did I only get offered $x maximum amount when my farm income suggests I should have got more?
A: The maximum grant you will be offered will be based on your sale of fruit and vegetable produce only, not the farm income from other sources.
Q: Can I dig a well or a pond using SE funds?
A: No, because there are other provincial programs that provide assistance to farmers needing ponds or wells.
Q: I didn’t get your email.
A: Please check your junk folder.
Q: Would I have to pay back the money if my crop yield doesn’t increase as I hoped?
A: No. While it is hoped the new technologies will bring about the projected results, growers will not be punished for failing to reach their goals.
Q: What would happen if my structure gets destroyed by weather?
A: It is up to you to take reasonable steps to ensure your structure is resilient to extreme weather, as well as have appropriate insurance on the structure to safeguard your, and the province’s, investment.
Q: What if I can’t get my project finished within the deadline?
A: If there is another intake session it might be possible to get the deadline extended, but that is at the discretion of HNS and NSDA. It is best to try and get it done by the deadline.
Q: What if the project costs exceed the quote I provided?
A: As soon as you are aware of the overspend, contact the SE Project Coordinator to see if the grant can be increased. This is only a possibility if the maximum grant the farm is eligible for will not be exceeded.
Q: What if what I originally applied for won’t work and I need a higher grant?
A: See answer for previous question.
Q: What if I decide to buy the project essentials from a different supplier than the one that provided the original quote?
A: As long as it is a similar product for a similar price, there will be no problem.
For more information, please email programs@horticulturens.ca or call 902-678-9335. This project is a partnership of Horticulture Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture.