Applications for the 2022 Vegetable Transplant Program are now available to commercial vegetable producers. The application deadline is January 21, 2022. More information on the program can be found here.
Since 2018, the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture has provided eligible commercial farmers with high-quality vegetable transplants to help increase the production and variety of produce grown in the province, and promote higher marketable yields and earlier harvests. In 2021, the Vegetable Transplant Program provided 4.7 million vegetable transplants to 115 commercial farmers – 18 times more transplants than when the program began.
Crop varieties available for 2022 include cabbage, red cabbage, rutabaga, broccoli, cauliflower, onion, kale, lettuce, leek and asparagus – all grown at the Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Development in Wooddale. Quantities will be determined based on farmers’ interest.
Farmers and new entrants demonstrating strong compliance with prior programs will receive priority for future allocations.
The Vegetable Transplant Program supports the Provincial Government’s goal to increase food self-sufficiency in fruit and vegetable production in Newfoundland and Labrador to 20 per cent by 2022. Progress to date has resulted in a steady increase from 10 per cent to more than 17 per cent.
Quotes
“The Vegetable Transplant Program has made a huge difference to commercial farmers, and I have seen the proof of this success in farmers’ fields, where transplants from this program have improved yields by up to 40 per cent per acre. The department is pleased to make applications available early this year so farmers can start planning for another bumper crop in 2022.”
Honourable Derrick Bragg
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
“The Provincial Government’s Vegetable Transplant Program has become an essential resource for our vegetable producers, enabling them to sow hardy, ready-to-plant transplants earlier in the season, rather than starting from scratch with seed. We encourage commercial farmers to avail of this important opportunity to potentially harvest more crops per acre earlier in the season, and offer more diversity in the fresh, local products they will bring to market come harvest time.”
Wayne Simmons
President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
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Learn more
2022 Vegetable Transplant Program Guide
2022 Vegetable Transplant Program Application
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Media contacts
Linda Skinner
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
709-637-2284, 632-8167
lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca
Wayne Simmons
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
709-747-4874
executive@nlfa.ca