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AEFP welcomes questions on anything to do with EFPs or the functions of the Company. We believe that having a transparent business process will continue to build producers' confidence that AEFP is in place for the benefit of producers and their operations. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we get.
Any producer wanting to operate over the long term will be managing risks such as market risks, production risks, and succession plans. Managing environmental risk is the next step in moving towards sustainability.
In developing an Environmental Farm Plan, producers will be:
Developing an Environmental Farm Plan is available to producers free of charge. All workshops, materials and coaching are provided at no cost to producers. Those participating in the workshops will also enjoy a full lunch at no charge.
The only costs associated with the EFP process are the producer's time to complete their EFP and the implementation of any management or production changes identified in the plan.
AEFP is committed to protecting the privacy of every program participant. In fact, we recognize that privacy is a major priority and a condition of EFP participation for many Alberta farmers and ranchers.
The EFP program is completely confidential. Program records use confidential identification numbers rather than farm names or locations. The ID number is the only identification information on the program records and AEFP does not have access to information linking the ID numbers to individual farm units.
The planning process involves producers attending two half-day local workshops led by an experienced EFP facilitator who is usually a producer as well. The first workshop introduces producers to the EFP planning process, explains the procedure, reviews the contents of the EFP workbook, and provides them with the tools to complete the actual plan on their own time at home.
Once producers have completed the first draft of their respective plans, they attend a second workshop, to review the process, ask any specific questions and share ideas on how to address identified risks.
The EFP program has gone to great lengths to ensure it is a completely confidential process. Producers are provided with their own confidential codes. The code, known only to the producer, is the only identifying reference on the completed plans.
Once plans are completed, producers are encouraged to submit plans to a review committee for comment and recommendation. The review committee is comprised of local producers hired by AEFP.
The review committee identifies any high-risk environmental practices not adequately addressed in the plan and suggests additional options for addressing specific risks.
After the plan has been reviewed and returned, the producer receives a farm gate sign and certificate, acknowledging their participation and interest in making agriculture more environmentally sustainable.
Producers can voluntarily implement any of the identified management changes on their own schedule.
The EFP is an awareness and education program, not a regulatory program. As such, AEFP is committed to maintaining a completely voluntary EFP process. Producers choose to enter the program and may leave it at any time, for any reason. The program is also confidential; the producer decides who will see his/ her plan.
AEFP believes a voluntary, confidential process will be the most successful approach for the program in Alberta. Albertans have a longstanding tradition of preferring voluntary approaches over regulations. Furthermore, many jurisdictions in North America have found that a voluntary approach results in more proactive plans because the participating farmers are preparing their plans out of a personal commitment to strive for excellence in their farm operations.
Some banks and insurance companies want to know what plans a farm has in place, like a business plan, a marketing plan, an environmental plan, and a food safety plan, because developing such plans is one way of showing that the farm is strongly interested in ensuring a sustainable operation.
Any requests from these institutions, however, has nothing to do with the EFP program mandate itself. Rather, these institutions recognize the effectiveness of the EFP program. The same thinking is behind the decision of federal and provincial governments to use EFPs as a basis for access to aid programs aimed at improving sustainability in the industry. Under the new Agricultural Policy Framework, most environmentally based incentive funding will only be available to farmers who participate in the EFP program.
AEFP does collect data from EFP participants, stakeholders, volunteers, contractors and staff. Users of the EFP program have invaluable first-hand knowledge about the challenges and opportunities in environmental stewardship in agriculture. The information from the Feedback Forms is vital to finding more effective ways to help the industry enhance agricultural sustainability.
AEFP uses the collected information:
AEFP does not use the collected data to identify or evaluate individual farms.
The information collected includes: municipalities in which participating farms are located; types of farm enterprises involved (such as beef, poultry, cereals, etc.); how long it takes participants to complete the steps in the plan development process (from attending the first workshop to having the plan reviewed by a review committee); comments and concerns about program delivery and the workbook; the main environmental challenges that participants face; and the barriers that participants face in implementing their plans.
AEFP is committed to protecting the privacy of every program participant. To maintain participant privacy, all program records use confidential identification numbers rather than farm unit names or locations. The ID number is the only identification information on the Feedback Forms, and it is the only identification information on the program records maintained by AEFP.
The head office does not have access to information linking the ID numbers to individual farm units. AEFP reports the collected information in aggregate. This means that the data from many farm units is combined together, with the municipality being the smallest classification level, so it is not possible to identify the information from individual farm units. Any information that could potentially be used to identify a specific farm unit will not be included in the reported statistics (e.g. if the farm unit is one of only three Saskatoon berry farmers in the municipality). Before any of the collected information is released, it will be reviewed for accuracy as well as social, political and legislative implications. AEFP will do everything in its power to ensure that all published information is easy to understand, provided in its proper context, and responsibly used.
AEFP staff, facilitators, volunteers and contractors have professional and ethical standards and procedures including procedures for maintaining the complete privacy of program participants. For more information, please read AEFP's privacy policy on the Web site.
The EFP program is a general program on environmental considerations related to all aspects of farming. Some other programs focus on specific topics in much more detail. The two approaches are complementary.
The EFP process provides information on these other programs, and producers who have participated in the EFP process sometimes take part in one or more of these other programs. These programs may also refer producers to the EFP program.
Currently the EFP program is in transition. Until details on the next generation of the program are developed, all workshops will be temporarily suspended.
Currently the EFP program is in transition. Until details on the next generation of the program are developed, all reviews will be temporarily suspended.