source: Farm and Food Report
Identifying management practices that help reduce environmental risks in agricultural operations is made more accessible with the recently unveiled Environmental Farm Plan Program, according to Shelanne Wiles Longley, Coordinator for Saskatchewan at the Provincial Council of Agriculture Development and Diversification Boards (PCAB).
“Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) are voluntary, confidential, self-assessment tools used by agriculture producers to raise awareness about and identify environmental risks and opportunities on their operation. As part of their EFP, producers will develop their own action plans with technical advice and assistance offered under the provisions of the national Agricultural Policy Framework.”
Every province has its own EFP initiative. In Saskatchewan, the Provincial Council of ADD Boards will deliver the EFP program.
“The creation of EFPs involves two workshops and a peer review,” explains Wiles Longley. “We contracted 11 facilitators, all people who are directly related to agriculture. Participants are provided with a workbook to carry out a self-assessment for their operation’s strengths and weaknesses. The producers then develop a management action plan to identify management practices that help minimize environmental risks.”
The self-assessment is completed at home. Once completed, producers attend the second workshop, where the action plan is finalized before going to peer review for endorsement.
“Once their EFP has been endorsed, agricultural producers become eligible for funding to implement actions identified in their plan through the Canada Saskatchewan Farm Stewardship Program that is administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). Another benefit is that it gives the producer a renewed awareness of environmental issues, while promoting environmental stewardship.”
Wiles Longley even sees advantages in terms of marketing of agriculture products, as consumers increasingly are concerned about how the food they eat is grown or raised.
“It adds to the prosperity and security which is crucial to agriculture’s success as an industry.”
Under the EFP program in Saskatchewan, about 600 producers have had plans endorsed and have therefore become eligible for funding, says Wiles Longley.
“We feel producers are responding well so far. The majority of producers genuinely feel that this is a good program — they truly are concerned about environmental practices in their operations. Overall, the attitude is very positive.”
Wiles Longley stresses that the process is a voluntary one, carried out in confidence. Every producer is assigned a unique ID number. Therefore, the only people who know the identity of participants are the facilitator and the producer himself or herself.
“Producers tend to engage in this process with a positive outlook, knowing that becoming more aware of the environmental issues will benefit their farms for the long term. That is sometimes the best selling feature,” concludes Wiles Longley.
For more information on the EFP Program, call (306) 955-5477 or visit the PCAB website at: http://www.saskpcab.com/efp.html
For more information, contact:
Shelanne Wiles Longley, A.Ag.
EFP Program Coordinator
Provincial Council of ADD Boards
(306) 955-5477
Identifying management practices that help reduce environmental risks in agricultural operations is made more accessible with the recently unveiled Environmental Farm Plan Program, according to Shelanne Wiles Longley, Coordinator for Saskatchewan at the Provincial Council of Agriculture Development and Diversification Boards (PCAB).
“Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) are voluntary, confidential, self-assessment tools used by agriculture producers to raise awareness about and identify environmental risks and opportunities on their operation. As part of their EFP, producers will develop their own action plans with technical advice and assistance offered under the provisions of the national Agricultural Policy Framework.”
Every province has its own EFP initiative. In Saskatchewan, the Provincial Council of ADD Boards will deliver the EFP program.
“The creation of EFPs involves two workshops and a peer review,” explains Wiles Longley. “We contracted 11 facilitators, all people who are directly related to agriculture. Participants are provided with a workbook to carry out a self-assessment for their operation’s strengths and weaknesses. The producers then develop a management action plan to identify management practices that help minimize environmental risks.”
The self-assessment is completed at home. Once completed, producers attend the second workshop, where the action plan is finalized before going to peer review for endorsement.
“Once their EFP has been endorsed, agricultural producers become eligible for funding to implement actions identified in their plan through the Canada Saskatchewan Farm Stewardship Program that is administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). Another benefit is that it gives the producer a renewed awareness of environmental issues, while promoting environmental stewardship.”
Wiles Longley even sees advantages in terms of marketing of agriculture products, as consumers increasingly are concerned about how the food they eat is grown or raised.
“It adds to the prosperity and security which is crucial to agriculture’s success as an industry.”
Under the EFP program in Saskatchewan, about 600 producers have had plans endorsed and have therefore become eligible for funding, says Wiles Longley.
“We feel producers are responding well so far. The majority of producers genuinely feel that this is a good program — they truly are concerned about environmental practices in their operations. Overall, the attitude is very positive.”
Wiles Longley stresses that the process is a voluntary one, carried out in confidence. Every producer is assigned a unique ID number. Therefore, the only people who know the identity of participants are the facilitator and the producer himself or herself.
“Producers tend to engage in this process with a positive outlook, knowing that becoming more aware of the environmental issues will benefit their farms for the long term. That is sometimes the best selling feature,” concludes Wiles Longley.
For more information on the EFP Program, call (306) 955-5477 or visit the PCAB website at: http://www.saskpcab.com/efp.html
For more information, contact:
Shelanne Wiles Longley, A.Ag.
EFP Program Coordinator
Provincial Council of ADD Boards
(306) 955-5477
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