Saskatchewan and Manitoba could be penalized for lagging behind other
provinces in implementing farm environmental plans, said Cecilia Olver,
vice-president of the Agricultural Producers Association of
Saskatchewan.
“We’re years behind on this, so that could hurt us,” she told delegates
at APAS’s mid-term convention in Saskatoon June 14.
“It may impede our ability to get funding.”
Olver represents APAS in meetings to create a new federal-provincial
agricultural policy framework that is to include the five pillars of
Read Also
Coloured bean production down, whites are up
Bean prices have been slumping and the outlook is for more of the same.
risk management, food safety, science and innovation, renewal and
environment.
The framework was agreed in principle by federal-provincial agriculture
ministers last summer.
Farmers would be required to have environmental stewardship plans in
place within five years to access government aid. There is to be money
available to help farmers change their operations for environmental
reasons.
Olver stressed the need for Saskatchewan to get up to speed with other
provinces, saying APAS could help create workbooks and promote delivery
structures to implement environmental plans.
Farm environmental plans are voluntary, but there are already more than
20,000 farmers in Ontario with plans in place.
She is concerned about the policy being based on plans as of 1991. A
lot of development was in place in other provinces before that date.
Olver said it might appear they are polluting less than Saskatchewan,
where much industry expansion in agriculture has occurred since that
time.
“We want to make sure that Saskatchewan can develop under the best
management practices,” said Olver. “If we started to develop feedlots,
it could be perceived as adding damage to the environment.”
