Applications are now available for the Environmental Farm Action Program (EFAP). This program is the new beneficial management practice (BMP) incentive program that is part of the federal-provincial Growing Forward Environment Suite. The EFAP program will provide both technical and financial assistance to producers to support the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices in Manitoba.
Environmental action programming in Manitoba will be administered and delivered by Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI). Producers can now register at their local MAFRI Growing Opportunities (GO) Office for new EFP workshops.
In the past, more than 6,500 Manitoba producers took part in the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program that was part of the Agriculture Policy Framework. Of those, 5,611 statements of completion were issued, translating to over 8.8 million acres of land assessed by producers through the EFP process.
Applicants for EFAP must have completed an environmental farm plan or an equivalent agri-environmental plan and have received a valid statement of completion. Statements of completion are considered valid for a period of five years from the date of issue. The EFAP will operate for four years concluding with the end of Growing Forward on March 31, 2013.
The Environment Suite of the Growing Forward agreement is a four-year commitment from Canada’s federal and provincial governments towards assisting producers to continue to implement sustainable agriculture practices, building on the success of the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) which expired in 2008.
Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative, is investing $1.3 billion towards the agriculture and agri-food industry in Canada.
Further information on Growing Forward programs is available at any GO Office throughout the province or online.
