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The Rural Voice, 2006-12, Page 66BRUCE Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca website: www.ofa.on.ca/bruce County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER 446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9 519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551 • The Rural Voice is provided to OFA Members in Bruce County by the BCFA Agriculture is embracing third edition EFP The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), now in its third edition, continues to be popular with the Ontario agricultural community, with 7,300 producers taking part since it was introduced in May 2005. Close to $35 million has been allocated for 7,600 projects across the three federal cost - share programs. Producers recognize the importance of keeping up-to-date with environmental issues, and education is a prime motivator to participate in an EFP workshop. EFP, delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) on behalf of the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition, offers a continuing education program with no enrolment cost for producers. Its attractiveness lies in its grass-roots, farmer -designed origins that offer current information on managing farm operations in environmentally sound ways. The EFP is a self-directed learning process where the producer is in charge of completing the risk assessment and the action plan development for their farm. This leads to heightened understanding of the issues, the expected standards and the practicality of available beneficial management practices. Increased funding for environmental cost -share programs now available through the Canada -Ontario Environmental Farm Plan is also a significant driver in continued EFP interest. Completion of the third edition workshop and a peer-reviewed, deemed -appropriate action plan are prerequisites for obtaining cost -share funding through these initiatives. Funding for EFP and the environmental cost -share programs is provided by Agriculture and Agri -Food Canada (AAFC) and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) under the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF). Since the EFP third edition was introduced in May 2005, more than 7,300 producers have participated in workshops. Almost half of these— some 3,500 farmers—have been through the program before. That says a lot for the popularity of the program, 62 THE RURAL VOICE first introduced in 1993. Implement dealers, well drillers and other farm -related businesses have also embraced the latest edition EFP, encouraging their farming customers to attend EFP workshops. Updated information and the availability of cost - share funding for environmental improvements are timely. Three cost -share programs are available in all farm communities across the province—Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program (COFSP), Greencover Canada (GC), and Tier 1 of the Canada -Ontario Water Supply Expansion Program (COWSEP). The cost -share amounts available in the 36 categories of beneficial management practices (BMP) are considerably greater than in previous EFP programs – 30 - 50 per cent up to $30,000, depending on the BMP category. With adjustments that were recently introduced for COFSP, up to $50,000 in cost -share funding may be available per farm entity. COFSP encourages producers to adopt BMP to reduce risks to water and air quality, to conserve and enhance soil resources and improve wildlife habitat. As of the end of mid-October 2006, COFSP had allocated $31 million for 6,200 projects across the province, representing 69 per cent of total funds available. Twenty-five BMP categories are eligible under COFSP. Most popular at the provincial level are improved cropping systems, improved manure storage, water well management, nutrient management planning, and improved pest management. Greencover Canada (GC) provides cost share for projects related to tree shelterbelt establishment, riparian area management and enhancing bio- diversity and wildlife habitat. Both provincially and locally, the majority of applications have focused on fencing riparian areas to remove livestock from BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE DIRECTORS' MEETING Monday, December 11 - 8.00 p m. Bruce County Administrative Building 30 Park Street, Walkerton Members are welcome to attend watercourses and introducing improved grazing management systems. Of $11 million available under GC, $1.75 million has been allocated for 680 projects as of mid-October, leaving substantial funding still available. The third program, Canada -Ontario Water Supply Expansion Program (COWSEP), has proven extremely popular. Provincially, the original farm project funds provided through the program are all allocated, but OSCIA is still accepting applications of intent, and federal partners are working at securing extra dollars. COWSEP aims to improve the capacity of agricultural producers to deal with low water situations through expanded water supplies. To date, close to 700 on-farm projects have received cost share commitments. With all the programs, allocated funds must be spent on the project within 15 months of the applicant receiving approval from OSCIA, or before November 30, 2007, whichever occurs first. That period of time provides ample opportunity to carry out the project and submit the claim through local OSCIA Program Representatives. For further information contact Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Guelph, phone 1-800-265- 9751 or check the website at www.ontariosoilcrop.org or call Jayne Dietrich, program representative for Bruce County Workshop Leader for Bruce County Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, phone/fax: 519-367-5930 or e-mail jayne.dietrich@ontariosoilcrop 0 Uhe %duce County Tededation o f LAgdieuQtude wouQd Mu to wish aQQ ow( members and thein tan Qtes a uedy otteltdy Chdistmas and a `eaQthy, CAdospettous and happy Jew Dead!