EFP facilitator's roots reach deep into the past
It doesn't take very long talking farming to Jim Goodwin to get a sense of history. Goodwin is the fourth generation of his family to farm the block of rolling land his great-grandfather homesteaded in the M.D. of Foothills in the 1900s.
Goodwin believes that if the next generation of farmers is going to maintain that sense of history, one thing they will have to do is build on the environment.
He completed his Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) for his own grain operation three years ago. That free, confidential and completely voluntary self-assessment of the environmental strengths and weaknesses on a farm or ranch brought into focus the value of environmental care.
With the age of his operation, Goodwin expected many problems arising from that EFP process. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, the layout of his 100-year-old farm was well planned and withstood modern tests well. There were fewer environmental risks identified than anticipated.
"Many of the risks addressed in the EFP program are also common sense," says Goodwin. "Even my great-grandfather knew you wanted a fair distance between the well and potential sources of contamination, such as the fuel tanks installed in later years."
That fundamental belief in promoting environmental and agricultural longevity inspired Goodwin to join the EFP delivery team as a member of the review committee in Strathmore. Review committees anonymously review completed farm plans and make suggestions and recommendations on implementing actions flowing from the plan.
Since then, Goodwin has switched from his review position to working directly with the EFP participants in the role of facilitator. It's a role that finds him using his experience in agriculture in a new and energizing way.
EFP facilitators help participants understand the EFP process and expectations and help familiarize participants with the workbook and support resources. Farming experience, like that of Goodwin, is something valued by the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Company, the non-profit organization which delivers EFPs in Alberta.
The EFP process starts by attending the first of two half-day workshops, held locally by regional workshop facilitators such as Goodwin, where producers receive the EFP workbook, the key tool of the process, and learn how to use it to build the foundation of an EFP. Producers then take the workbook home and work on the first draft of their plan on their own time.
They then attend a second workshop to review the process, ask questions and share ideas on how to address identified risks. Participants are then encouraged to submit their completed plans to a review committee for comment and recommendation.
After the plan has been reviewed and deemed appropriate, the producer receives a farm gate sign and certificate acknowledging completion of their plan and their interest in making agriculture more environmentally sustainable.
In the first years' experience for the EFP program, real success comes from two key things: the inspiration of the farmers and ranchers who come through the workshop process; and the quality of information they have to make good decisions.
Fundamental to this is the EFP workbook. Put together in 23 distinct chapters for ease of use, its content has been reviewed by the best technical specialists in the province. That technical information in the EFP workbook is, in turn, supported by a strong base of knowledge in the EFP program through technical assistants (TAs).
TAs help deliver EFPs in the same communities where they live and work so they're familiar with the unique local challenges farmers and ranchers face and can help them based on that knowledge. TAs can also be called upon for on-farm advice. This is particularly useful in the implementation stage which follows the completion of an EFP.
Finally, producers can get information directly from AEFP. The fastest, most complete resource 24 hours a day is the Web site www.AlbertaEFP.com where they'll find everything from the latest workshops to news, technical information and program background. They can also call the AEFP office toll-free 1-866-844-AEFP (2337).
"The bottom line is, however they do it, we encourage people to get involved in an EFP," says Goodwin.
This article is reprintable with credit to AEFP as follows "Reprinted courtesy of the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Company; www.albertaEFP.com".
