COLDWATER – Bruce Stanton, Member of Parliament for Simcoe North, on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today announced that 7,500 Ontario farms have completed Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) in the past two years.

"The Environmental Farm Planning Program in Ontario assists our most important environmental stewards – our farmers – and challenges them to achieve the highest possible standards of environmental sustainability," said MP Stanton. "Canada’s New Government is committed to supporting concrete actions to improve our environment, and Ontario producers have been doing their part by reducing the impact of agricultural operations on the environment."

"This initiative confirms the position of Ontario as a source of safe, high quality food produced in an environmentally responsible manner," said Leona Dombrowsky, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "The Ontario government is proud to support all of the Ontario farmers who have voluntarily completed Environmental Farm Plans."

The announcement took place at Ego’s Farm Market and Greenhouses, where participation in the EFP program resulted in reduced water and fertilizer use by converting to drip irrigation systems, enhanced riparian buffers and windbreaks, and improved recycling of greenhouse and nursery plastic.

The Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program (COFSP) provides assistance to producers in implementing their EFP. The Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan and COFSP Program receive $59 million, over five years, in federal funding for on-farm beneficial management practices. Applications to the COFSP can only be made once producers have successfully completed an EFP. The program runs until March 31, 2008.

"Ontario farmers are very supportive of the Environmental Farm Plan program," said Geri Kamenz, chair of the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition. "Over 70 percent of the farmers in the province have participated in this internationally recognized program since it began in 1992, investing over $100 million of their own money in farm environmental improvements."

"EFP is spurring positive environmental change on the agricultural landscape," said Frank Hoftyzer, President of the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association. "Having 7,500 producers through the program with peer reviewed and deemed appropriate action plans is a significant milestone that signals a clear commitment by Ontario producers to incorporate environmental beneficial management practices into their farm production plans."

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is working with provincial and industry partners to develop programs and promote farming practices which contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment for all Canadians and safe, healthy food for consumers.

Orillia Packet and Times Article on the EFP Announcement - click here.

For more information on AAFC’s stewardship programs, visit www.agr.gc.ca or for more information on Environmental Farm Plans in Ontario, please visit http://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/cms/en/
Programs/Programs.aspx?menuid=11.


For more information, media may contact:

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-759-7972
1-866-345-7972

Ted Yeomans
Press Secretary
Minister Strahl's Office
613-759-1059

Tom Rekstis
Communications Director
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
519-826-3174