Energy, Mines, and Resources
Agriculture
Environmental Farm Plan and Farm Stewardship Program
The Environment Chapter of the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) provides support to implement initiatives aimed at stewardship of soil, air, biodiversity and water in and around farm land in the Yukon. One of these initiatives, the Canada-Yukon Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program provides assistance to the Yukon to encourage agricultural producers to complete a voluntary environmental farm plan for their farm.
The completion of an environmental farm plan allows a producer to gain a better understanding of the agri-environmental risks that may be associated with their farm operation. A completed Environmental Farm Plan remains the property of the producer and is not provided to either the federal or territorial governments.
To address risks identified in the Environmental Farm Plan, incentive funding is available under the Canada-Yukon Farm Stewardship Program for targeted on-farm actions or Best Management Practices. The producer will have to provide proof of a completed and reviewed Environmental Farm Plan (e.g. a copy of the EFP completion certificate issued by the Yukon Agriculture Branch and co-signed by a Planning Advisor) to be eligible to apply to this program.
The public demands high quality food that is produced in a clean environment. As in other industries, agricultural production practices are under scrutiny and the public is having a greater say in how the agriculture industry produces food. Though agricultural producers are making great efforts in environmental stewardship, governments and industry are facing increasing pressures to protect the environment. A comprehensive environmental program is required to ensure continued public confidence in the industry's environmental stewardship.
The first step in the comprehensive Yukon Territory environmental program is a territorial scan. This scan was completed in May 2004 and identifies environmental risks associated with soil, water, air and biodiversity. The next step is the completion of individual, voluntary, and confidential Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) which identify on-farm risks.
Canada - Yukon Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) Program
The Agriculture Branch will be the primary contact for producers who wish to participate in the EFP program. The Agriculture Branch will coordinate the “matching up” of planning advisors with producers interested in participating in the program. The Agriculture Branch and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will contract an independent BC certified planning advisor. Agriculture Branch and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada staff will also be available to provide technical assistance to individual producers who are completing environmental farm plans.
Participation by producers in the EFP process is voluntary and completed Environmental Farm Plans remain the property of the producer. At no time in the EFP process are copies of completed environmental farm plans provided to the federal or territorial government. Planning advisors, other non government persons and any others involved in the program sign confidentiality agreements that prevent them from sharing any information regarding individual farm plans.
Three Steps to (EFP) Program Design and Delivery
The Canada-Yukon Environmental Farm Plan program will involve three steps:
1. A trained and certified planning advisor meets with a producer and helps the producer complete an EFP:
- identify their natural risk - the soil and site characteristics of their operations;
- understand and assess their management practices; and
- develop an action plan to address the identified risks.
The planning advisor will tour the producer's operation and guide them through the workbook on a chapter-by-chapter basis, and where applicable, on a page-by-page basis. The planning advisor will highlight significant risks and identify alternative solutions to deal with those risks. The producer will sketch out a draft farm plan that addresses the most significant environmental risks while the planning advisor is on the farm. The producer will then complete the EFP on his/her own time and is free to consult with the planning advisor or other technical specialists (the planner will provide the producer with names of Agriculture Branch and AAFC specialists in different risk areas). When ready, the producer will contact the planning advisor to arrange for a review of their EFP.
2. If judged to be suitable by the planning advisor, the producer will be eligible to receive a farm gate sign and an accompanying EFP Statement of Completion Certificate, acknowledging their completion of a reviewed farm plan. At this point, producers will also be eligible for cash incentives to implement BMPs available through the Canada-Yukon Farm Stewardship Program or through other agencies.
If you would like to have a planning advisor contact you to begin the environmental farm planning process, please contact the Agriculture Branch.
3. Implementation of the Environmental Farm Plan – The producer is eligible to apply to the Canada-Yukon Farm Stewardship Program for incentive funding to implement practices on farm to address risks identified in the Environmental Farm Plan. The producer will have to include a copy of their EFP Statement of Completion Certificate to be eligible to apply to this program.
The environmental farm plan binder and information package - All producers participating in the farm planning process will receive a copy of the Canada-Yukon EFP binder and information package. The binder contains comprehensive information on natural and management-based risks and forms the main reference for producers in the completion of their farm plans.
Canada - Yukon Farm Stewardship Program
The objectives of the Canada-Yukon Farm Stewardship Program (CYFSP) are to remediate risks identified in the EFP, build awareness about environmental problems in and around farmland, and act as a preemptory mechanism to reduce potential agri-environmental risks. Access to stewardship funding is unlocked once an EFP has been completed by the producer, and reviewed and "deemed appropriate" by the planning advisor.
The incentive dollars available from the CYFSP include the Critical Areas component of the Greencover Canada program, as well as the beneficial management practices portion of Greencover's shelterbelt component.
The Agriculture Branch and EFP Planning Advisors will be the initial point of contact for producers wanting to access funding and provide information on the program including eligibility requirements. The Agriculture Branch will coordinate the distribution of applications to eligible producers and verify that a plan is reviewed, deemed appropriate, and eligible for the program.
Eligible applicants for the CYFSP include agricultural producers, partnerships, corporations, and cooperatives and non-profits.
The following funding is available under the CYFSP:
| BMP Category Description | BMP Practice Code | BMP Practice Description | Cost Share |
Caps |
| Improved Manure Storage and Handling (01) | 0104 | Containment systems for solid manure (includes covers) | 30% | $5,000 |
| Manure Treatment (02) | 0202 | Composting of manure | 30% | $5,000 |
| Manure Treatment (02) | 0204 | Engineering design work (this practice code will stand alone if project does not proceed for economic, technical or environmental reasons (CEAA) | 30% | $5,000 |
| Manure Land Application (03) | 0301 | Specialized/modification to equipment for improved manure application | 30% | $3,000 |
| In-Barn Improvements (04 | 0401 | More efficient livestock watering devices and cleanout systems to reduce water use and decrease manure volumes | 30% | $4,000 |
|
Farmyard Runoff Control (05) |
0502 | Construction of impermeable base and roof for minimizing runoff from livestock pen areas and confinement areas (feed bunks, water infrastructure, walls and electrical costs are not eligible) | 50% | $4,000 |
| Relocation of Livestock Confinement and Horticultural Facilities (06 | 0601 | Relocation of livestock facilities such as corrals, paddocks, and wintering sites away from riparian areas | 50% | $4,000 |
| Wintering Site Management (07) | 0701 | Shelterbelt establishment (planting and establishment costs for trees and shrubs for the year of planting and one year after the planting year, or the termination of the NFSP funding, whichever comes first) | 50% | $5,000 |
| Wintering Site Management (07) | 0702 | Portable shelters and windbreaks | 50% |
$5,000 |
| Wintering Site Management (07) | 0703 | Alternative watering systems (i.e. solar, wind or grid power) | 50% |
$5,000 |
| Wintering Site Management (07) | 0704 | Field access improvements: alleyway/access lane upgrades | 50% |
$5,000 |
| Wintering Site Management (07) | 0705 | Fence modifications | 50% |
$5,000 |
| Product and Waste Management (08) | 0801 | Improved on-farm storage and handling of agricultural products (e.g. fertilizer, silage, petroleum products, and pesticides) | 50% | $10,000 |
| Product and Waste Management (08) | 0802 | Improved on-farm storage, handling, and disposal of agricultural waste (e.g. livestock mortalities, fruit and vegetable cull piles, wood waste) | 50% | $10,000 |
| Product and Waste Management (08) | 0803 | Composting of agricultural waste (e.g. livestock mortalities, fruit, vegetable, wood, straw residue) | 50% | $10,000 |
|
Riparian Area Management (10) |
1001 | Alternative watering systems (i.e. solar, wind or grid power) to manage livestock |
50% |
$5,000 |
|
Riparian Area Management (10) |
1002 | Buffer establishment and planting of forages (planting and establishment costs for trees and shrubs for the year of planting and one year after the planting year, or the termination of the NFSP funding, whichever comes first) |
50% |
$5,000 |
|
Riparian Area Management (10) |
1003 | Fencing to manage grazing and improve riparian condition/function |
50% |
$5,000 |
| Improved Cropping Systems (14) | 1403 | Precision farming applications: GPS information collection, GPS guidance (i.e. autosteer, lightbars, software) , manual and variable rate controllers for variable fertilizer application | 30% | $5,000 |
|
Cover Crops (15) |
1501 | Establishment of non-economic cover crop | 30% | $2,000 |
|
Cover Crops (15) |
1502 | Equipment modification for inter-row seeding of cover crops (e.g. relay crops) | 30% | $2,000 |
| Improved Pest Management (16) | 1603 | Biological control agents | 30% | $2,000 |
| Irrigation Management (18) | 1801 | Irrigation equipment modification/improvement to increase water or nutrient use efficiency | 30% | $5,000 |
| Irrigation Management (18) | 1802 | Equipment to prevent backflow of altered irrigation water into water sources | 30% | $5,000 |
| Invasive Alien Plant Species Control (20) | 2001 | Integrated approaches (cultural, mechanical, and biological) for control of invasive plant species (e.g. leafy spurge, purple loosestrife, scentless chamomile) | 50% | $2,000 |
| Preventing Wildlife Damage (23) | 2301 | Forage buffer strips | 30% | $7,000 |
| Preventing Wildlife Damage (23) | 2302 | Fencing or netting to protect stored feed, concentrated livestock, high-value crops, drip irrigation systems, and other agricultural activities | 30% | $7,000 |
| Nutrient Management Planning (24) | 2401 | Consultative services to develop nutrient management plans, planning and decision-support tools | 50% | $2,000 |
| Irrigation Management Planning (29) | 2901 | Consultative services for planning improved water use efficiency and reduce environmental risk of existing irrigation systems, planning and decision-support tools | 50% | $2,000 |
The amount of program funding received by a single farm over the term of the program shall not exceed $15,000.
General Information:
Program requirements are contained in the application form (
118 KB) and accompanying application guide (116 KB). No work under this program may proceed until environmental reviews are completed and approval letters are received by applicants. Work carried out prior to project approval is not eligible for program funding.
Mail completed and signed applications to:
C/O Yukon Agriculture Branch
Department of Energy, Mines and Resources
Canada-Yukon Farm Stewardship Program (CYFSP)
PO Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
Applicants should retain a copy of their application for their records.
Financial Assistance under the CYFSP is paid directly from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Claims procedures and directions with regards to submission of invoices will be forwarded to applicants along with the approval letters.
No work under this program may proceed until environmental reviews are completed and approval letters are received by applicants. Applicants should allow 4 to 6 weeks (more in some cases) for approvals to occur. Work carried out prior to project approval is not eligible for program funding.
For assistance in completing the application please call: 1.800.667.8567.
Funding Under Greencover Canada Programs - A. Land Conversion
Objective
To provide advice and financial incentives to convert environmentally sensitive land to perennial cover.
Eligible Activities
- Converting environmentally sensitive land to perennial cover.
Eligible Costs
- $20 per acre for seeding or planting tame forage or trees and signing a Contribution and Land-Use Agreement, or $75 per acre for seeding native species and signing a Contribution and Land-Use Agreement; and
- $25 per acre after you establish the perennial cover, and after Greencover Canada advisors/planners inspect it and issue a Certificate of Stand Establishment (Greencover Canada will adjust this payment to account for any seeding overpayment).
Agriculture Branch
Phone: 867.667.5838
Toll Free: 1.800.661.0408 ext. 5838
Fax: 867.393.6222
Email: agriculture@gov.yk.ca