Environmental Farm Plan funding gets one-year extension
Keeping Farmers Green

Ontario farmers have been given the green light to continue with their projects to preserve and protect the environment through the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program.

The previous agreement between all funding partners had expired at the end of March, 2008, and word has just been received that an extension to that agreement has been approved.

"This is good news for Ontario farmers. It will allow them to continue with projects on their farms to preserve and protect the environment," says Geri Kamenz, President of Ontario's largest general farm organization, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

Participation in the program has continued to increase since the inception of the cost-share program in 2005. There have been a total of 12,270 farm participants completing 13, 726 environmental projects. Program officials confirm that for every dollar Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada contributes, $2.38 is invested by farmers. To date the farming community has spent almost $200 million and the government $58.5 million.

Over 30,000 Ontario farmers have completed environmental farm plans and some of the more common projects include: using GPS (Global Positioning System) technology in the fields to improve cropping; improved manure handling; adding vegetated buffer strips of land to protect source water and water well upgrades.

"This illustrates the commitment of Ontario farmers to ensure agriculture's footprint on the environment is minimized," says Kamenz.

Farmers interested in the variety of projects available under the program have to submit an application, undergo a peer review and indicate a willingness to contribute a portion of the costs in cash, in-kind or a combination.

For more information, visit the Ontario Federation of Agriculture Web site at www.ofa.on.ca.