Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about how their food is produced and the safety and quality of those products. Ensuring consumers that their food is coming from operations that take pride in their environmental sustainability can be a key marketing strategy for producers. Alberta has a reputation of producing healthy food in a healthy environment, making us a leader in world markets.
Why Implement an Environmental Farm Plan- Improves farm health and safety
- Builds acceptance of the operation among neighbours and the public
- Increases personal satisfaction and knowledge
- Adds value to the farm property
- Agriculture sustainability
- Reduces farm inputs like herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers, and fuel
- Demonstrates to the public, governments, regulators, lenders and/or investors that you are managing your environmental risks
- Increases your understanding of your legal requirements related to environmental issues
- Identifies what you are already doing well and pinpoints where improvements could be made
Environmental Farm Plan Process
1) Introduction & Preparation
- Participant expresses an interest to the local EFP resource person
- Participant preparation includes collecting soil reports and actual distances to water sources
- EFP Technical Assistant preparation includes searching for water well reports and aerial photos
2) Discussion with Resource Person
- Led by the local EFP resource person
- Participant: Learns to use the EFP workshop to assess his/her potential environmental concerns and receives information on technical resources
3) Completion of Farm Plan at Home
- Participant completes chapters that apply to his/her operation
- Identifies and prioritizes situations that need to be addressed in the Farm Plan
- Completes Farm Plan
4) Submission of Farm Plan for Review
- Participant submits Farm Plan to the local EFP resource person for review
- Resource person offers technical suggestions to strengthen the Farm Plan and ensures appropriate risk mitigation; and returns Farm Plan
5) Continuous Implementation of Farm Plan Improvements
- Puts Farm Plan into action through beneficial management practices and according to priority timetable
- Re-evaluates Farm Plan each year
You receive a workbook and CD free of charge with your participation in the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Program.
For producers the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan is a way of ensuring our hard work will be sustained for years to come on this land, and for consumers it's a way of being guaranteed that your food is healthy for you and is being produced in the most environmentally friendly ways. I'd say a definite win-win situation!
Source Cited: http://www.albertaefp.com/index.html
Photograph Source: http://farmhousephotography.blogspot.com/
