The sector has been working to strengthen agriculture's role in preserving the environment. In the years ahead, the APF, through the Environment element, will help all farmers become even better stewards.

More environmentally sound agricultural production means improved air, water and soil quality, and the conservation of living things.

To step up the pace of addressing environmental challenges on the farm, producers will require financial assistance.

In June 2002, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief announced $100 million for a national Environmental Farm Plan initiative under the APF. More funding will be announced this year to provide support and technical assistance to producers over a five-year period.

Environmental scans, scheduled for this year and next, will identify high-risk areas and lead to the implementation of environmental farm plans.

Program details are being developed and will be available this spring.

Incentives will be available to those producers with environmental farm plans and where there are identified environmental risks. Targeted incentives will help them take remedial actions.

The aim is to have all farms in Canada scanned for risk. By 2008, more than 75 per cent of farms with identified need should have complete environmental plans.

Other key environmental initiatives announced last year include the following:

• Greencover Canada is a five-year, $110-million initiative to promote sustainable land use and expand the land covered by forage and trees. This will provide land conversion incentives to agricultural producers, improve grassland management, protect farm-water quality, reduce green-house gas emissions, enhance biodiversity and improve wildlife habitat.

• The $60-million National Water Supply Expansion Program will provide assistance to encourage agricultural groups and farmers to use sustainable practices, especially in areas where drought is a concern. A national scoping study is under way to determine water supply needs of farmers and rural communities, existing constraints and priorities for water supply expansion.

• A new National Land and Water Information Service will be set up to link existing sources of information and help support decision-making by farmers and other land managers.

• Pesticide Risk Reduction and Minor Use Programs, representing about $65 million, will provide improved access for producers to pesticide products aimed at reducing the risk to the environment. Field trials should start later this year.

While the federal government already invests heavily in environmental science, under the APF, additional resources will be targeted for research and technology. This will help scientists learn more about the impact of agricultural nutrients on water systems and develop new on-farm technologies producers can use to improve water quality.