Strong potential benefits for producers developing an EFP
The foundation of a new, Alberta-focused, Web-based database of agro-environmental resources has been laid. EnviroAg Connect, anchored at www.EnviroAgConnect.ca, has been designed with the needs of producers, extension and other industry players in mind and is expected to grow to become a valuable opportunity for the agricultural industry.
The goal of EnviroAg Connect is to make it easier for producers and those who work with producers to find the necessary information, instruction, support and funding to make environmental improvements on their farms and ranches. The site is also designed to make it easy for people with resources to register their information in the database.
"As more and more farmers identify and address environmental risks on their farms in response to consumer and industry trends, a common obstacle is not knowing where to find help and guidance to address these risks," says Mike Slomp, executive director of the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Company (AEFP) which supported the launch of the site along with fellow stakeholders Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA).
"As participation increases, EnviroAg Connect holds potential to help fill that gap for producers and programs, such as EFP, that work directly with producers. It has always been the goal of the EFP program to educate producers on environmental stewardship using clear, user friendly tools, and EnviroAg Connect has the potential to play a key role in that mandate in the future. We look forward to seeing it evolve."
The database has been designed to be easy to use, bringing resources together in a searchable, user-friendly format. Visitors can search by management practices, type of resource or both and know quickly what resources, including people, events, courses, Web sites and funding, are out there to help them adopt beneficial management practices. "This listing can be expanded if suppliers who don't fit under these categories apply to be listed on the site," says Slomp.
Though new, EnviroAg Connect already has resources available. "Some of the Web sites listed include Groundwater Information Canada, which allows access to well drillers reports for well construction details and water quality information, and One Less Tonne, an on-line calculator to determine typical greenhouse gas emission reductions associated with a variety of actions," says Slomp.
"Some of the books listed include the Agricultural Land Resource Atlas of Alberta, a collection of agricultural resource maps, and Cattle Wintering Sites: Managing for Good Stewardship, a guide intended to give producers information about potential problems with wintering sites. There are also several resources relating to various Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs)."
Posting a resource on EnviroAg Connect is a simple process that starts by registering on the site. "This is just to make sure that the information posted applies to certain standards so producers and specialists get the information that is most relevant to them," says Slomp.
The user is then asked for the type of resource, its name and a variety of other key details. "It's a step-by-step process intended to help the individual posting the resource communicate the most pertinent information about the item in question."
"EnviroAg Connect is specific to Alberta, agriculture, and the environment, so it will be of most direct use to Albertans but will have value beyond Alberta as well," says Slomp. "Ultimately, though, the value of the Web site will depend on participation — the more industry players participate, the more they stand to benefit. We hope they will take advantage of this opportunity."
This article is reprintable with credit to AEFP as follows "Reprinted courtesy of the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Company; www.albertaEFP.com".
