Canada-Ontario Environmental
Farm Plan
Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Program Update:
For further details on the availability of cost-share
funding under the cost-share program associated with the Canada-Ontario
Environmental Farm Plan, the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program
(COFSP), please see the Ontario
Soil and Crop Improvement (OSCIA) website.
For information on other Growing Forward programs, please visit
www.ontario.ca/growingforward
or call 1-888-479-3931.
A Voluntary Environmental Education and Awareness
Program delivered by the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- How You Can Get Involved
- The Workbook
- Infosheets
- State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference Award
2000
Introduction
What is the Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)?
Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) are assessments voluntarily prepared
by farm families to increase their environmental awareness in up
to 23 different areas on their farm. Through the EFP local workshop
process, farmers will highlight their farm's environmental strengths
identify areas of environmental concern, and set realistic action
plans with time tables to improve environmental conditions. Environmental
cost-share programs are available to assist in implementing projects.
Visit the Ontario Soil
and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) website to find out
more.
The idea for Environmental Farm Plans originated from the Ontario
farm community. Farmers have been involved in every stage of developing
Environmental Farm Plans (EFP), through the Ontario Farm Environmental
Coalition.
The Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition is lead by four main organizations:
The EFP is delivered locally by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement
Association (OSCIA). Technical expertise is provided by Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
EFP is funded through Growing Forward (GF) Best Practices suite,
supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
With over 35,000 participants since the program began in 1993,
this internationally recognized program has been very successful
in helping Ontario farmers adopt more environmentally sustainable
practices.
History & Funding
The EFP Program began as a pilot project in 1993 in seven selected
counties across Ontario. Funding for the pilot project was provided
by the Land Management Assistance Program, under Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada's Green Plan. Technical support was provided by
OMAFRA. Farmers involved were asked "Would you recommend the
EFP process to your neighbour?" Ninety-five percent said yes.
Between 1992 and 1997 funding for the EFP was provided through
the Canada - Ontario Green Plan by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(AAFC).
Between 1997 and April 2004, financial support was provided by
AAFC through the CanAdapt program, administered in Ontario by the
Agricultural Adaptation Council.
Between April of 2005 and March 31, 2008 funding was provided by
AAFC and OMAFRA under the Agricultural Policy Framework, an agreement
among federal, provincial and territorial governments.
Now that under the Growing Forward framework agreement, which replaces
the Agricultural Policy Framework, AAFC and OMAFRA will support
the continuation of EFP until March 31, 2013.
Participate in the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) Program and increase
your awareness and knowledge, build competitiveness and strengthen
your industry.
How You Can Get Involved With the Environmental
Farm Plan
Each step of the EFP process is voluntary. You may proceed as far
as you wish.
Step 1. Attend an EFP Workshop scheduled for your area. You'll
be provided with instructions and help on how to progress through
the risk assessment and action plan development contained in the
third edition EFP workbook.
Step 2. Submit your EFP action plan for a confidential review by
a group of locally-appointed farmers. They may be able to offer
suggestions to help you achieve your environmental goals. Government
personnel will not see your information.
Step 3. Begin implementing your EFP Action Plan.
Step 1 Details - Attending an EFP Workshop
Workshops are organized and delivered locally though the Program
Representative of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association
(OSCIA). Technical expertise is provided by OMAFRA. For specific
dates and locations in your county/district, contact OSCIA toll-free
at 1-800-265-9751, or find out who your Program Representative is
by visiting the OSCIA website. There is no charge for the workshop.*
* Lunches may carry a modest cost.
Completing the Risk Assessment
The EFP Risk Assessment gives you the opportunity to rate your
current level of environmental concern in various areas on your
farm (e.g. water wells, fuel storage, soil management, pest management)
as presented in the EFP Workbook. The worksheets are easy to follow.
They help to highlight environmental strengths on your farm as well
as areas of environmental concern.
Each of the worksheets are set up in a similar manner and have
an average of 20 questions. You complete only the worksheets and
questions which apply to your situation.
Developing an Action Plan
When the worksheets are completed, your ratings will show areas
of your farm that would benefit from changes to reduce potential
environmental risk. The development of an Action Plan will help
you analyze the situation, decide what you can do, and when it can
be done. Infosheets for each worksheet and Best Management Practices
books are references available to help get ideas and establish
priorities.
Step 2 Details - Submitting Your EFP for Review
Submit your EFP through your Program Representative for confidential
Peer Review. The Review committee is comprised of local farmers
experienced with farm environmental issues. Once your Action Plan
is deemed appropriate by the Peer Review Committee, you can participate
in the EFP Cost-Share Program to help cover a portion of the costs
of implementing eligible projects from your action plan. Many participants
have expressed a tremendous sense of accomplishment and satisfaction
once their EFP is complete and peer reviewed.
Step 3 - Implementing Your Action Plan
Complete projects based on your priorities. Technical assistance
is available from OMAFRA.
The Workbook
The
goal of the Environmental Farm Plan Workbook is to help you see
your farm in a new way. It asks you to think about your land, the
buildings on your farm, the products you use, and many other things
from a new point of view. It asks you to rate how each of these
things could affect the environment - the air, soil, wildlife and
water sources - around your farm. And, it asks you to consider new
ways of working that will decrease the risks to our precious natural
resources.
The EFP Workbook has two parts - the Farm Review and the Action
Plan.
In the Farm Review section you will assess the soils on your farm
and rate their ability to offset, or increase, potential risks to
the environment. The Farm Review includes 23 Worksheets to help
you rate different situations on your farm. From these ratings you
will develop an Action Plan.
Note: EFP Worksheets are not included on this web site.
As you work on your Action Plan, you will have to decide whether
potential problems result from natural risks on your farm (e.g.
soil type or depth to water table) or from the way you manage some
part of your farm operations. You will have to think about what
you need to do to solve these problems or control them, either right
away, or over the next few years.
Remember that the Farm Review and the Action Plan belong only to
you. They will help you identify potential problems that may affect
the environment, and find solutions to reduce the risk.
Infosheets
Twenty-two of the twenty-three worksheets in the Workbook have
a corresponding infosheet. There is no Infosheet for Worksheet #1
– Soil and Site Evaluation. These infosheets have been developed
to provide you with more information to help you effectively complete
your action plans for peer review. Infosheets are structured just
like the EFP worksheets by dealing with each issue one question
at a time.
Infosheets are ...
- a quick reference for information specific to the worksheet
question
- a short list of possible actions that will change your situation
for the better
- a list of some acceptable compensating factors that adequately
address a situation without changing the rating you specified
in the workbook
- a good benchmark to see how your proposed solutions measure
up
Infosheets are not ...
- the only solution (other solutions may have become available)
- the last word on an issue (some issues are complex and more
technical information may be required from other sources)
EFP Infosheets:
In Partnership with:
