The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) has made it easier for producers to update their Environmental Farm Plan (EFP).
Farms with a third or fourth edition EFP are now eligible to renew through a new, one-day workshop.
“Farmers requested an efficient way to update their EFP and take their best management practice learning to the next level. This new option allows just that,” says Paul Reeds, OSCIA Regional Program Lead.
Since 1993, farm families have participated in the voluntary assessment to increase their environmental awareness in a two-day format. Through the EFP process, producers highlight their farm’s environmental strengths, identify areas of environmental concern, and set action plans to improve environmental conditions.
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“We’re able to condense the workshop to one day for past participants because we build on the information from their previous workshop,” said Reeds, who has led hundreds of EFP workshops and recently tested the one-day version.
“Participants arrive understanding the process and knowing the soil types and slope specifics of their farm, so we’re able to get right down to business.”
Workshops are held across the province throughout the year and are fully funded by federal and provincial governments.
OSCIA encourages farmers to renew their EFP every five years.
