Launched in 2003, the Canada - British Columbia EFP Program will complement and enhance the current environmental stewardship practices of British Columbian producers.

History  

After the signing of a bilateral agreement June 13, 2003, the Canada - British Columbia Environmental Farm Plan Program was initiated. It is a partnership between Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC), the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (BCMAL) and the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC). The program is to be delivered by the BCAC as a third party delivery agent.

EFP vision:

A sustainable agriculture industry in British Columbia

EFP values:

• Protection of the land
• Enhancement of the effectiveness and competitiveness of farms and ranches
• Open and transparent communication, except where protection of confidentiality is needed
• Building partnerships

EFP aims and objectives:

• Encourage farmers and ranchers to be better stewards of the land;
• Ensure the future of the BC agricultural industry through the further implementation of Beneficial Management Practices;
• Foster partnerships with agencies
• Be a proactive process to help farmers and ranchers identify environmental opportunities and risks on their own land;
• Be confidential and voluntary
• Raise awareness of progress being made on the land;
• Improve farm profitability
• Improve the public perception of agriculture
• Reduce conflicts between agriculture and environmental interest
• Reduce wildlife impacts to agricultural lands.

Members and structure:

The BCAC is the delivery agent, through its Environment Programs Committee, EFP Coordinators, producer organizations and producers.

Funding:

Agriculture Environment Stewardship Initiative funds delivered through the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC from AAFC have been made available for program initiation. The BCMAL supplies additional resources, such as personnel and facilities.

Contact Information

Dave Melnychuck, PAg,
Environmental Farm Planning Advisor
Telephone: 604-812-3276

The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) was introduced to complement and enhance the current environmental stewardship practices of British Columbian producers.

Geoexchange and solar thermal project studies are being conducted and can possibly be funded through the Environmental Farm Plan.

Further details can be found at: 

http://www.kmwpp.ca/climate_action/

Applications that need to be completed and returned NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 23RD and can be found on the right hand-side of the screen. Producers must fill in as much of the application as they can (even if not the whole thing) and submit it. 

Included in this section are documents and updates affiliated with the Environmental Farm Plan.

There have been upgrades to the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) and the Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) programs which will take effect on Janury 01, 2012.

These improvements include the following:

1. The B.C. Agriculture Research and Development Corporation (ARDCorp) will begin accepting applications for BMP funding on January 1, 2012. This represents a three-month jumpstart on the process, before producers become busy when spring arrives;
2. Producers can access more funds per project than ever before. Funding maximums are boosted in almost all of the beneficial management practices (BMPs) categories, ranging from a $5,ooo for composting of agricultural waste to $50,000 for recycling waste water. Funding maximums for most of the categories were doubled;
3. Neighbouring producers can share efforts in submitting an BMP application, provided they share the same BMP category, without having to share the funding maximum for that category (i.e., producers in the application may be able to claim the full funding maximum individually).

Additional information on these key updates can be found on the attached document.

 
For more information about the EFP-BMP Programs, application process, and eligibility criteria, please contact:

Heather Carriere
EFP Program Manager, ARDCorp
Tel: 604.854.4483
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
www.bcefp.ca