Environment
Dairy farmers have a vested interest in the sustainability of their farms, their animals and their land, and are committed to providing excellent stewardship of the environment. Doing more with less means improved productivity, reduced waste, and managing resources responsibly. Under proAction, dairy farmers advance the principle of continuous improvement, so consumers can be confident that the milk they enjoy was produced with the long-term health of our environment in mind.
Environmental Protection and Resource Management at the Farm Level
All Canadian dairy farmers must meet provincial environmental regulations to safeguard natural resources. As part of the Environment module, farmers also develop individual plans to identify and mitigate risks on their farms, while pursuing practices to preserve our air, land, water resources, and enhance biodiversity.
Topics covered within these plans may include, but are not limited to, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, nutrient management, energy efficiency, pest management, soil conservation and health, water use and management, and woodlands and wetlands management.
RESOURCES FOR FARMERS
Dairy farmers have always been regarded as stewards of our natural resources, because effective environmental practices contribute to the continued, long-term success of their farms. Careful management of soil, water, pastures, wetlands and woodlands on farms will help ensure that future generations will be able to farm successfully.
The Environment module of proAction will foster the continued expansion of sustainability initiatives while allowing farmers to continue to produce high-quality milk safely and sustainably.
Note: All Environment requirements are mandatory as of September 1, 2021.
Validation Requirements
The Environment module’s five requirements aim to mitigate risks and promote positive action. Questions will be evaluated through self-declaration or by independent validators.
Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) and Plan d’accompagnement agroenvironnemental (PAA)
Do you have a valid provincial (individual) Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), Agri-environmental Support Plan (Plan d’Accompagnement Agroenvironnemental, PAA) or PAA-equivalent to identify and address environmental risks on your farm?
Environmental Questionnaire
Have you completed the questionnaire on soil health, greenhouse gases, biodiversity, silage seepage and plastic waste?
Milking Centre Wastewater
Is your milking centre wastewater managed with proper storage or a regulatory approved treatment system?
Manure Storage
Is your manure storage adequate to avoid contamination of surface and ground water and to avoid spreading manure on frozen, snow-covered or saturated ground?
Manure Management
Do you manage nutrients on your farm to make optimal use of manure and/or fertilizer on land?
