Farmers taking action for the environment

Saskatchewan Farmers Planning for the Environment

Over the past year, more than 5,000 Saskatchewan farmers have taken the time to prepare plans that address real and potential environmental issues on their farms. And hundreds more are lining up to do the same.

That kind of interest in the environment is good news to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The environmental Farm Plan (EFP) Program is a national initiative under the Environment Chapter of the federal-provincial-territorial Agricultural Policy Framework designed to help Canadian producers take a proactive approach to sustainable agricultural production.

"The EFP Program is helping position Canada as a world leader in environmentally responsible agriculture production," says Jason Fradette with AAFC in Saskatoon. "The environmental farm plans help ensure the production of safe, high-quality food, while helping to improve and protect the quality of the province's soils, water, air and biodiversity."

In Saskatchewan, the program is being delivered by the Provincial Council of Agriculture Development and Diversification Boards of Saskatchewan (PCAB) with in-kind support from Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. The process begins with an introductory workshop where participants use a workbook to conduct an environmental risk assessment of their farms. At a second workshop, they are guided through the preparation of an action plan to address any environmental issues they may have identified. Once complete, the action plan is reviewed and endorsed by a local peer-review committee.

"The response by Saskatchewan farmers has been excellent," says Shelanne Wiles Longley, EFP Program Coordinator for PCAB. "Since we began, we have held nearly 330 workshops with more than 5,000 producers attending. Of those, about 2,750 now have approved plans and have applied for financial assistance to implement beneficial management practices to address environmental issues on their farms.

"The process is entirely voluntary and completely confidential," says Wiles Longley. "No one knows who the plan belongs to except the facilitator helping the producer. That confidentiality is extremely important to producers."

In addition to PCAB's activities, a complementary EFP Program has been developed for First Nations agriculture producers, delivered by the First Nations Agricultural Council of Saskatchewan (FNACS).

"It is very important to everyone for First Nations farmers to be able to participate in the EFP process," says Keith LePoudre, General Manager for FNACS. "There are 75 First Nations communities in Saskatchewan and about 1.6 million acres of agricultural land being managed by First Nations. That amount could double with treaty land entitlement."

"In effect, First Nations land is held in trust for the people by the federal government, so anything we do is subject to the Indian Act," says LePoudre. "In developing environmental farm plans, we work with the Chief and Council in each community to incorporate their input while at the same time ensuring the special requirements for First Nations lands are met."

"So far, the response has been very positive." says Usne Butt, Manager of Agriculture and Environment for FNACS. "Environmental planning provides a real opportunity to make an impact on First Nations-owned land and we are in a position to promote attitudes towards agriculture and the land that are synonymous with the values taught by our elders."

Keith LePoudre says credit for developing the program must go to the Agriculture Task Force under the leadership of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Vice-Chief Guy Lonechild and Lester LaFond, Chair of the FNAC. Without their vision and efforts, he says, the program would not likely exist.

"Farmers are well aware of environmental issues and are keen to take a proactive role in addressing them," Wiles Longley says. "So far, water quality concerns seem to be getting most of the attention, with producers looking to improve their riparian areas and livestock wintering sites. Improving cropping systems is also important to them."

For more information on the Environmental Farm Plan Program in Saskatchewan, contact Shelanne Wiles Longley, EFP Coordinator at PCAB at (306) 955-5477; or Usne Butt. FNACS Manager of Agriculture and Environment, or Dennis LaPlante, FNACS EFP Coordinator by phone at (306) 978-8872.