Cows

Increasing Deadstock Capacity Initiative

Program Update

AAC is pleased to announce that the Increasing Deadstock Capacity Initiative (the Initiative) is now open for applications from producers for on-farm activities. Livestock producers and other eligible applicants can apply for project funding to support planning and assessment activities, or equipment upgrades and modifications to increase deadstock disposal capacity and collection. These updates are effective immediately with the application intake open until March 15, 2025, or until funding is fully allocated. 

Purpose of the Initiative

The purpose of the Initiative is to provide cost-share funding support for deadstock management to address immediate and short-term deadstock capacity needs at businesses and municipalities in Ontario through increasing capacity and improving sustainability.

The $1.5 million Initiative, funded by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), will run for two years subject to the availability of funding allocated to the Initiative.

Target Audience

The following list includes eligible applicants under the Initiatives:

  •  Primary Producer, including:
    • a Person that is a Producer (livestock)
  •  New or existing Deadstock Service Providers, including:
    • Broker, Carrier, Collector, Composting Facility, Disposal Facility, Facility, Rendering Facility, Salvaging Facility, and Transfer Station
  • Commodity associations in business to support producers of live animals, red meat and other animal products, including:
    • Live animal, red meat and other animal product organizations under the OFA (www.ofa.on.ca/sort/commodity-organizations/)
    • Accredited farm organizations - Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), and National Farmers Union – Ontario
    • County federations of agriculture (www.ofa.on.ca/federations/
  • Commercial operation requiring Deadstock services, including:
    • Meat Processor
    • Livestock Auction Market
  •  Waste management companies for mass carcass emergency, including:
    • Waste Management of Canada Corporation
  • Municipalities, including:
    • An upper-tier or lower-tier municipality in a two-tier structure or a single-tier municipality with (or establishing) a waste disposal site operating under an environmental compliance approval within the meaning of the Environmental Protection Act, that permits the disposal of dead animals.

Intake Dates

  • November 4, 2024 – Intake reopens. The intake will close on March 15, 2025 or when the funding has been fully allocated. 

Eligible Project Start Date

  • The date outlined in the Funding Agreement.
  • After September 15, 2024, the earliest Project start date will be the date the project is approved by AAC.  

Eligible Project Completion Date

  • October 1, 2025 or the date outlined in the Funding Agreement

Claim Deadlines

  • March 31, 2025 – For costs incurred from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 
  • October 31, 2025 – For costs incurred from April 1, 2025 to October 1, 2025  

For full Initiative details, refer to the Program Guide on the sidebar menu. If you have any questions, please contact the AAC at info@adaptcouncil.org or call 1-800-769-3272.  


The Increasing Deadstock Capacity Initiative (the Initiative) is funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). Sustainable CAP is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. The Agricultural Adaptation Council is delivering the Initiative on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.