Canada/Yukon Environmental Farm Plan and Farm Stewardship Program

April 2003 - March 2008

 

• Introduction
• Canada - Yukon Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) Program
  • Three Steps to Program Design and Delivery
• Canada - Yukon Farm Stewardship Program
  • Product and Waste Management
  • Irrigation Management
  • Irrigation Management Planning
  • Invasive Alien Species Control
  • Nutrient Management Planning
  • Preventing Wildfire Damage
  • Riparian Area Management (Greencover Critical Areas Component)
• Funding Under Greencover Canada Programs
  • Land Conversion

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Introduction

The Environment Chapter of the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) provides support to implement initiatives aimed at stewardship of soil, air, biodiversity and water in and around farm land in the Yukon. One of these initiatives, the Canada-Yukon Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program provides assistance to the Yukon to encourage agricultural producers to complete a voluntary environmental farm plan for their farm.

The completion of an environmental farm plan allows a producer to gain a better understanding of the agri-environmental risks that may be associated with their farm operation. A completed Environmental Farm Plan remains the property of the producer and is not provided to either the federal or territorial governments.

To address risks identified in the Environmental Farm Plan, incentive funding is available under the Canada-Yukon Farm Stewardship Program for targeted on-farm actions or Best Management Practices. The producer will have to provide proof of a completed and reviewed Environmental Farm Plan (e.g. a copy of the EFP completion certificate issued by the Yukon Agriculture Branch and co-signed by a Planning Advisor) to be eligible to apply to this program.

The public demands high quality food that is produced in a clean environment. As in other industries, agricultural production practices are under scrutiny and the public is having a greater say in how the agriculture industry produces food. Though agricultural producers are making great efforts in environmental stewardship, governments and industry are facing increasing pressures to protect the environment. A comprehensive environmental program is required to ensure continued public confidence in the industry's environmental stewardship.

The first step in the comprehensive Yukon Territory environmental program is a territorial scan. This scan was completed in May 2004 and identifies environmental risks associated with soil, water, air and biodiversity. The next step is the completion of individual, voluntary, and confidential Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) which identify on-farm risks.

Canada - Yukon Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) Program

The Agriculture Branch will be the primary contact for producers who wish to participate in the EFP program. The Agriculture Branch will coordinate the “matching up” of planning advisors with producers interested in participating in the program. The Agriculture Branch and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will contract an independent BC certified planning advisor. Agriculture Branch and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada staff will also be available to provide technical assistance to individual producers who are completing environmental farm plans.

Participation by producers in the EFP process is voluntary and completed Environmental Farm Plans remain the property of the producer. At no time in the EFP process are copies of completed environmental farm plans provided to the federal or territorial government. Planning advisors, other non government persons and any others involved in the program sign confidentiality agreements that prevent them from sharing any information regarding individual farm plans.

Program Design and Delivery - Three Steps

The Canada-Yukon Environmental Farm Plan program will involve three steps:

1. A trained and certified planning advisor meets with a producer and helps the producer complete an EFP:

• identify their natural risk - the soil and site characteristics of their operations;
• understand and assess their management practices; and
• develop an action plan to address the identified risks.

The planning advisor will tour the producer's operation and guide them through the workbook on a chapter-by-chapter basis, and where applicable, on a page-by-page basis. The planning advisor will highlight significant risks and identify alternative solutions to deal with those risks. The producer will sketch out a draft farm plan that addresses the most significant environmental risks while the planning advisor is on the farm. The producer will then complete the EFP on his/her own time and is free to consult with the planning advisor or other technical specialists (the planner will provide the producer with names of Agriculture Branch and AAFC specialists in different risk areas). When ready, the producer will contact the planning advisor to arrange for a review of their EFP.

2. If judged to be suitable by the planning advisor, the producer will be eligible to receive a farm gate sign and an accompanying EFP Statement of Completion Certificate, acknowledging their completion of a reviewed farm plan. At this point, producers will also be eligible for cash incentives to implement BMPs available through the Canada-Yukon Farm Stewardship Program or through other agencies.

If you would like to have a planning advisor contact you to begin the environmental farm planning process, please contact the Agriculture Branch.

3. Implementation of the Environmental Farm Plan – The producer applies to the Canada-Yukon Farm Stewardship Program for incentive funding to implement BMPs to address risks identified in the Environmental Farm Plan. The producer will have to include a copy of their EFP Statement of Completion Certificate to be eligible to apply to this program.

Program requirements are contained in the application form ( 174 KB) and accompanying application guide ( 165 KB). No work under this program may proceed until environmental reviews are completed and approval letters are received by applicants. Work carried out prior to project approval is not eligible for program funding.

The environmental farm plan binder and information package - All producers participating in the farm planning process will receive a copy of the Canada-Yukon EFP binder and information package. The binder contains comprehensive information on natural and management-based risks and forms the main reference for producers in the completion of their farm plans.

Canada - Yukon Farm Stewardship

The objectives of the Canada-Yukon Farm Stewardship Program (CYFSP) are to remediate risks identified in the EFP, build awareness about environmental problems in and around farmland, and act as a preemptory mechanism to reduce potential agri-environmental risks. Access to stewardship funding is unlocked once an EFP has been completed by the producer, and reviewed and "deemed appropriate" by the planning advisor.

The incentive dollars available from the CYFSP include the Critical Areas component of the Greencover Canada program, as well as the beneficial management practices portion of Greencover's shelterbelt component.

The Agriculture Branch and EFP Planning Advisors will be the initial point of contact for producers wanting to access funding and provide information on the program including eligibility requirements. The Agriculture Branch will coordinate the distribution of applications to eligible producers and verify that a plan is reviewed, deemed appropriate, and eligible for the program.

Eligible applicants for the CYFSP include agricultural producers, partnerships, corporations, and cooperatives and non-profits.

The following BMP categories are eligible for funding under the CYFSP

A. Product and Waste Management

Objectives
To improve on-farm storage, handling and disposal of fertilizers, petroleum products and pesticides.

Eligible Activities

• Modification or construction of environmentally safe fertilizer, pesticide or petroleum product storage facilities. New or modified facilities must meet technical and regulatory requirements such as impermeable base, floor, wall and roof materials, and containment provisions.

Eligible Costs

• Improved on-farm storage and handling of fertilizers, petroleum products and pesticides. Cost share 30% up to a $3,000 cap per farm.

B. Irrigation Management

Objectives
To promote the efficient use of water in irrigation systems.

Eligible Activities

• Adoption of a new irrigation system/practice which incorporates increased water efficiency. Funding will be provided to assist a producer to change to a more water use efficient irrigation system. Funding will not be provided for establishing a new irrigation system that involves increased irrigation acres.

Eligible Costs

• Irrigation equipment modification/improvement to increase water use efficiency (low pressure low clearance sprinkler system components, trickle or drip system components, irrigation monitoring equipment)
  Cost share 30% up to $5,000 per farm.

C. Irrigation Management Planning

Objectives
To promote the efficient use of water in irrigation systems.

Eligible Activities
Planning activities that increase water use efficiency and minimize adverse environmental impacts.

Eligible Costs

• Consultant fees to conduct irrigation management planning and produce a report for the producer. Planning and decision support tools (software, aerial photos) are also eligible. Cost share 50% up to a $2,000 cap per farm.

D. Invasive Alien Species Control

Objectives
To use accepted plant control techniques for species that are both invasive and alien and are located in and around farmland. A technical review committee will identify the highest priority invasive alien plant species suitable for CYFSP incentive funding.

Eligible Activities

• Cultural control, planting of perennial forages that withstand competition from invasive species;
• Mechanical control, physical removal of plants; and
• Integrated weed management.

Eligible Costs

• Cultural control, mechanical control, and integrated weed management for control of invasive plant species. Cost share 50% up to a $2,000 cap per farm.

E. Nutrient Management Planning

Objective
To ensure a balance between the application of nutrients to meet production needs and the protection of soil, air and water resources. This initiative provides financial incentives to develop nutrient management plans.

Eligible Activities

• Planning activities specifically aimed at action items identified in a farm plan that pose or may pose a risk to the environment.

Eligible Costs

• Consultant fees to conduct nutrient management planning and produce a report for the producer. Planning and decision support tools (software and aerial photos). Cost share 50% up to a $2,000 cap per farm.

F. Preventing Wildlife Damage

Objective
To provide financial, technical and logistical support to producers affected by nuisance wildlife. Incentive funding will be available to landowners to help prevent wildlife damage, especially for practices or infrastructure which provide long term solutions. Incentive funding will help counter practices which remove or alter habitats, thus benefiting many species of wildlife.

Eligible Activities

• Fencing of feed storage areas; and
• Forage buffer strips.

Eligible Costs

• Strategic fencing to prevent wildlife damage to stored feed;
• Forage buffer strips. Convert cropland to forage around wetland/dugouts where waterfowl cause recurring damage (note this BMP is unlikely to work for ungulate damage); and
• Cost share 30% up to a $7,000 cap per farm.

G. Riparian Area Management (Greencover Critical Areas Component)

Objective
Managing agricultural land near water. Agricultural beneficial management practices allow a producer to maintain economic productivity, while at the same time enhancing the condition and function of riparian areas.

Eligible Activities

• Buffer establishment along water bodies; and
• Fencing along water bodies to manage grazing.

Eligible Costs

• Buffer establishment: forages, shrubs, trees – planting, weed control and mulch. Fencing to manage grazing and improve riparian condition/function. Cost share 50% up to a $5,000 cap per farm.

The amount of program funding received by a single farm over the term of the program shall not exceed $15,000.

General Information:

There is a separate application form (174 KB) for the Canada–Yukon Farm Stewardship Program. Applications are also available at the Agriculture Branch office.

Mail completed and signed applications to:

National Farm Stewardship Program (NFSP)
408 – 1800 Hamilton Street
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 4L2

Applicants should retain a copy of their application for their records.

Financial Assistance under the CYFSP is paid directly from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Claims procedures and directions with regards to submission of invoices will be forwarded to applicants along with the approval letters.

No work under this program may proceed until environmental reviews are completed and approval letters are received by applicants. Applicants should allow 4 to 6 weeks (more in some cases) for approvals to occur. Work carried out prior to project approval is not eligible for program funding.

For assistance in completing the application please call: 1.800.667.8567.

Funding Under Greencover Canada programs

A. Land Conversion

Objective
To provide advice and financial incentives to convert environmentally sensitive land to perennial cover.

Eligible Activities

• Converting environmentally sensitive land to perennial cover.

Eligible Costs

• $20 per acre for seeding or planting tame forage or trees and signing a Contribution and Land-Use Agreement, or $75 per acre for seeding native species and signing a Contribution and Land-Use Agreement; and
• $25 per acre after you establish the perennial cover, and after Greencover Canada advisors/planners inspect it and issue a Certificate of Stand Establishment (Greencover Canada will adjust this payment to account for any seeding overpayment).

For additional APF information, please contact the Agriculture Branch.

 

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