A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA website: www.ontario.ca/omafra.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN TURNS 25
Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Guelph – the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), one of Ontario agriculture’s flagship programs, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The EFP, which has been adapted across Canada and its workbook shared with more than 30 countries, provides training, self-assessment, and action plan development for 23 environmental areas on and around the farm and outlines best management practices.
Since EFP’s inception, over 40,000 Ontario farm businesses have voluntarily participated in almost 3,550 educational workshops, resulting in a total estimated investment of $390 million in on-farm environmental improvements, supported by associated incentive programs.
According to the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), which administers EFP and its related programs, government has contributed approximately one-third of that total and the remainder has come from farmers and other funding sources. Studies confirmed that additional environmental projects have been completed without off-farm funding support.
“The success of the Environmental Farm Plan is a remarkable accomplishment for the Ontario farm community and the government partners that have supported the program for the last 25 years,” said dairy farmer and OSCIA president Gord Green. “This is an achievement we can be proud of because it truly shows that Ontario farmers are environmental stewards who take their commitment to soil, air and water seriously.”
EFP’s origins can be traced back to action taken by farm organizations after reading political signals being sent by Ontario’s newly elected government in 1990, said then-OSCIA program manager, Harold Rudy, and the concern farmers felt over the prospect of proposed new environmental regulations.
“The farm leaders of the day got together to develop ways and means to address these concerns proactively,” he said. “It was suggested that we in the industry come together and define the environmental agenda as we move forward, which we did.”
They developed Our Farm Environmental Agenda which included a recommendation that every farm complete an Environmental Farm Plan. A special committee was set up to define the criteria and lay the ground work for what eventually became the EFP: a workbook, supporting workshop, and a local verification process for the action plans developed through the process.
For more information visit website http://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/ or call 519-826-4214.
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT COURSE
An online and in-class course in integrated press management for corn and soybeans offered for free until Aug. 31.
Starting on Aug. 31 successful completion of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Course for Corn and Soybeans will be required in order to purchase or plant neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed.
Following successful completion of the course, farmers will receive a certificate number. Farmers will need to submit their certificate number along with their Pest Assessment Reports to a sales representative, vendor or custom seed treater to purchase neonicotinoid-treated seeds.
Farmers that choose to use untreated seed (e.g. non-neonicotinoid treated seed) or fungicide only treated seed on their operations are not required to become certified. However, the training is available to all growers who are interested in learning more about IPM.
IPM training is designed to be flexible, accessible and convenient and will be delivered free of charge until Aug. 31.
Farmers can take IPM training in a classroom at various locations or online. Certification is valid for five years after the date of completion.
The online course requires a commitment of four hours over two days.
The half-day classroom course is offered in a traditional classroom setting with an instructor. The classroom course is offered across Ontario.
Instructors will present course material following the manual and will answer your questions to aid in your understanding of the topics.
Register today for the online course or find a course near you at: www.ipmcertified.ca
To learn more about the neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed regulation, visit: www.ontario.ca/neonics.
