Canada-Ontario Environmental
Farm Plan
Program Update:
All cost-share funds for 2009-2010 for the Canada-Ontario
Farm Stewardship Program (COFSP) under the Growing Forward Environment
and Climate Change program have now been fully committed. As a result,
the provincial delivery agent for the COFSP, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement
Association (OSCIA), is no longer accepting 2009 Project Proposal Applications.
Under the COFSP, cost-share funds are allocated annually and distributed
on a first come, first served basis. Once the annual program funds are
fully committed, Project Proposal Applications can no longer be accepted
for cost-share funding for that year.
COFSP Project Proposal Applications for 2009 which have already been
submitted are currently being reviewed and notification of the status
of each application will be sent out by the OSCIA to the participating
farm business by early October 2009.
The next round of cost-share funding for the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship
Program will be available in 2010. Applicants are encouraged to review
the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program's Project Eligibility Policy
and Procedures document before submitting their completed 2010 Project
Proposal Application form to the OSCIA.
For more detailed information on the COFSP program, please visit www.ontariosoilcrop.org.
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).
Funding is provided by Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada.
With over 27, 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).
Since 1997 financial support was provided by AAFC through the CanAdapt
program, administered in Ontario by the Agricultural
Adaptation Council.
In April of 2005 AAFC announced that funding will be provided to continue
the EFP until March 31, 2009 - subject to demand for workshops and number
of incentive claims.
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:
State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference Award 2000
Ontario's award-winning Environmental Farm Plan has received recognition
from a large North American strategic alliance at the "State
of the Lakes" Ecosystem Conference.
In Partnership with:
 
For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
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