Have you Heard about the Provincial Environmental Plan?

The Provincial Environmental Plan (PEP) is a voluntary, commodity-based version of an Equivalent Agri-Environmental Plan (EAEP).  Manitoba Canola Growers Association (MCGA) is offering this option to producers as a complementary alternative to individual Environmental Farm Plans (EFPs).  The PEP will target a single environmental priority common to all canola producers in Manitoba.

Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) are the respective lead agencies co-managing the PEP in Manitoba, in partnership with the MCGA.

A requirement for participation in this plan is that producers attend one facilitated workshop.  Technical presentations and group discussion will be used to create awareness of unique environmental priorities associated with canola production in Manitoba and the management options that can be utilized to address these priorities.  Participation in the MCGA PEP allows access to a financial incentive program designed to assist producers with the implementation of specific BMPs on their farms.   

Cost-shared incentive funding is available to producers who participate in the MCGA PEP.  This funding will assist canola producers with the implementation of 5 Beneficial Management Practice (BMP) that address a single environmental priority common to all canola producers in Manitoba.  The funding is available through the Canada-Manitoba Farm Stewardship Program (CMFSP) until March 2008.

For further information and to pre-register, contact Jewel Mazur, PEP Coordinator: 204.573.4992  or e-mail: pep@mcgacanola.org

For workshop date and location updates, visit mcgacanola.org

Provincial Environmental Plan (PEP) Brochure

Provincial Environmental Plan Summary

What is the PEP?
The MCGA Provincial Environmental Plan (PEP) is a voluntary commodity-based version of an Equivalent

Agri-Environmental Plan (EAEP) as defined by the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF). MCGA is offering

this option to producers as a complementary alternative to individual Environmental Farm Plans (EFPs).

The PEP will target a single environmental priority common to all canola producers in Manitoba. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) are the

respective lead agencies comanaging the PEP in Manitoba, in partnership with the MCGA.

Why?
The goal of this plan is to have canola producers adopt specific Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs)

that address a single environmental priority. Through this collective effort, cumulative environmental

benefit can be achieved and significant change on the landscape is possible. A BMP is defined as any agricultural practice which:

1. Ensures the long-term health and sustainability of land-related resources used for agricultural production;
2. positively impacts the long-term economic and environmental viability of the agricultural industry; and
3. minimizes negative impacts and risk to the environment.

Participation in the MCGA PEP allows access to a financial incentive program designed to assist
producers with the implementation of specific BMPs on their farms.

How do producers access funding dollars through the PEP?
The PEP has a strong agri-environmental awareness component. A requirement for participation
in this plan is that producers attend a facilitated workshop. Technical presentations and group
discussion will be used to create awareness of the unique environmental priorities associated
with canola production in Manitoba and the management options that can be utilized to address these priorities. Cost-shared incentive funding is available to producers who participate in the MCGA PEP.
This funding will assist canola producers with the implementation of 5 BMPs that address a single
environmental priority common to all canola producers in Manitoba. This funding is available
through the Canada-Manitoba Farm Stewardship Program (CMFSP) until March 2008. Therefore,
BMP projects must be completed before that time to receive funding. Any projects that cannot
be worked on in the winter will have to be completed by Fall 2007.

To receive funding from the CMFSP, you must:

1. Participate in a PEP workshop or arrange a meeting with the PEP coordinator;
2. Receive a Statement of Completion;
3. Submit project applications to CMFSP for eligible BMP practices;
4. Receive a project approval letter from CMFSP;
5. Complete the BMP project and submit invoices to CMFSP;
6. CMFSP will reimburse eligible expenses.

Proposed Environmental Priority and BMPs
The MCGA Board of Directors has assessed the impact of canola production in Manitoba on air, water,

soil and biodiversity. The proposed environmental priority to be addressed through the PEP is water

quality specific to nutrients and pesticides. The proposed list of BMPs selected to address this

environmental priority include:

The proposed environmental priority and list of BMPs will be refined at upcoming PEP workshops based
on input from participating producers.

How does the PEP compare to an individual Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)?

The PEP is complementary to the individual EFP. Producers who complete either of these plans have

access to financial incentives through the Canada-Manitoba Farm Stewardship Program (CMFSP). Both programs focus on agri-environmental awareness and the development of plans to address

environmental priorities on-farm. Producers who complete the MCGA PEP programwill have access to incentive funding for 5 specific BMP categories that address a single environmental priority common to Manitoba canola producers. Producers who complete an individual EFP have access to all 30 BMP

categories, which address a greater range of environmental priorities.

If a producer participates in the PEP, can he/she still complete an individual EFP, and vice versa?
Yes. However, each farm unit is still only eligible for a maximum of $50,000 of incentive funds
over the life of the program. Importance of the PEP to the Manitoba Canola Industry The MCGA Board of Directors views the PEP as an excellent opportunity for their membership. With canola being a high

input crop in terms of both nutrient and crop protection products, the PEP provides a unique opportunity

for canola producers to engage in an environmental awareness program that allows for greater implementation of BMPs which address an environmental priority specific to canola production in

Manitoba. Since the MCGA membership manages approximately 2 million acres of canola in Manitoba

each year, the potential for increased agrienvironmental awareness among producers and cumulative environmental benefi t on the landscape is signifi cant with the implementation of this plan.

For more information:
email PEP Coordinator,
pep@mcgacanola.org