Rocky View County-based farmers and agricultural producers who are committed to environmental stewardship will get a chance to benefit from a voluntary, whole farm, self-assessment tool this month to determine and mitigate potential environmental risks on their property.
The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) permits farmers to work alongside trained EFP technicians to develop their own personal action plan during a workshop hosted by Rocky View County (RVC) on Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
According to Matthew Chilakos, agricultural services officer with RVC, the in-person workshop (which will be hosted at Rocky View County Hall in Balzac) is an opportunity for landowners to fill out individual environmental farm plans.
“Rather than doing it in one-on-one sessions, we’re hosting a group event where County residents can come and get help filling out their environmental farm plans,” he said.
Chilakos shared EFPs are voluntary, whole-farm, self-assessment tools that help producers identify their own environmental risks on their property and help them to develop plans to mitigate that risk.
The workshop will also increase residents’ understanding of legal requirements related to potential environmental issues. For example, participants may learn about red or blue listed species (endangered or of special concern) that could reside on their property, he said.
The EFP program began in 2003 and has since been delivered by the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta.
“Maintaining a healthy environment is essential to the success of Alberta’s agricultural producers,” read a statement on Alberta EFP’s website. “Protecting water, air and soil quality is key to the sustainable production of crops and livestock and to leaving a healthy and productive farm for the next generation.”
According to Alberta EFP, an action plan will help farm owners identify what they are currently doing well and also pinpoint where improvements could be made to their operations.
“By addressing these risks, you increase operational efficiency while reducing farm costs, which results in increased profit for you,” the website continued.
With an EFP completion certificate, participants become eligible for funding under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, according to Chilakos.
“Having an EFP demonstrated to the public governments and lenders and or investors that you are managing your environmental risk,” he added. “It’s just a good all-round program.”
He added that in participating in the workshop, the details of each individual EFP stay confidential between the attendee and the technician.
“[There is] no outside body. The data doesn’t get collected, it doesn’t get stored anywhere, it's just your own self-evaluation tool,” he shared. “They used to be in paper format, but now it’s gone digital so it’s just a lot easier to carry over year after year, and generation to generation.”
The agricultural services officer added the workshop is free to attend and will include a lunch provided to all registered participants.
He added attendees will need to bring a laptop or tablet and any relevant information they have about their farm, such as water sources and water bodies. Those who are renewing their EFP and have an older binder of information are encouraged to bring that as well.
The workshop is hosted in partnership with Foothills Forage and Grazing Association and the Municipal District of Big Horn. For more information or to register for the workshop, visit eventbrite.ca or rockyview.ca
