Have you ever wondered how your equine operation may be negatively impacting the natural environment? Have you considered making improvements on your property like fencing along streams and ponds, planting trees for windbreaks or habitat enhancement, or constructing a new manure storage, but are concerned about the cost?

If you have answered 'yes' to the above questions, then consider attending a free Environmental Farm Plan Workshop. Environmental Farm Plan workshops are delivered by local Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association representatives to assist participants with the completion of worksheets which assess the level of your operation’s environmental risk. Some examples of the categories addressed in the plan, include manure storage and handling, stream, ditch and floodplain management, wetland, woodlands and wildlife management.

Once the worksheets are complete, the landowner creates an action plan to identify land management improvement opportunities and priorities on the property. In addition, the action plan highlights how the improvements are to be made. Once the action plan is complete, it is reviewed by a committee, made up of local peers. If the plan is accepted by the peer review committee, you may proceed with implementing one or several projects of your choice to reduce the environmental risk of your operation.

In an effort to assist you with the cost of implementing your environmental improvement projects, your local Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association will inform you about funding available through the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program. Traditionally, only farms which possessed valid farm business registration numbers were eligible for the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program funding. This excluded many smaller equine operations that did not view themselves as farm businesses and did not generate greater than $7,000 of gross income from the operation. However, the eligibility criteria for the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program has recently changed and a valid farm business registration number is no longer a requirement. Now, small equine operations can simply submit a copy of their Property Assessment Notice from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), confirming the property is classified as 'Farm Taxable: Full.' You will also need to provide proof of individual membership in the one of the following farm organizations: Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario or National Farmers Union-Ontario.

If your property is not currently classified as agricultural or you are not a registered member in one of the three general farm organizations, you have options. For properties zoned agricultural, including all subclasses (i.e. rural or small agricultural holdings) that engage in agricultural activity, and this includes raising and maintaining horses, it is possible to have the classification of at least a portion of your property changed from commercial or rural residential to agricultural, by submitting a Request for Reconsideration to MPAC. For more information on this process contact MPAC by calling 1 866-296-6722. To enroll yourself as an individual member in one of the three general farm organizations, contact them at the telephone numbers provided below:

• Ontario Federation of Agriculture: 1 800 668-3276
• Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario: 519-837-1620
• National Farmers Union: 306-652-9465

Please note that individual memberships do not provide RST exemption. Only property owners who gross greater than $7,000 of farm income annually and have a valid farm business registration number are eligible for RST exemption.

There are a number of other programs that can help you implement your approved Environmental Farm Plan, too. Contact your local Conservation Authority for details on technical and financial grant opportunities. Not sure which of the 36 Conservation Authorities you should contact? Check out the provincial map and contact listing on the Conservation Ontario website at www.conservation-ontario.on.ca.

(Credit Valley Conservation Authority)