| | An array of government, industry and environmental agencies are involved in providing environmental stewardship programs for Alberta’s agricultural producers and processors. Although they all share the general goal of enhancing stewardship, each program has its own particular approach, objectives, eligibility criteria and activities. So how do you find the program that best meets your specific needs?
As a key step in answering this question, AESA Council hosted the Putting the Pieces Together Workshop in April 2004. The two-day workshop was developed by a team of three AESA Council members — Dennis Bergheim, Cindy Chiasson and Brenda Schoepp — with assistance from AESA Program staff and others.
Bergheim says the workshop’s purpose was “to discuss current programs and how we can more effectively serve Alberta’s agriculture and food industry in achieving environmental stewardship.”
He adds, “With all the different stewardship programs available, it can be difficult and frustrating for producers and even for extension agents to know the proper access to the various programs. If we can get all these programs under one umbrella… where people could easily access this information, it would address a lot of concerns from people trying to find the right programs for what they need.”
Representatives from about 30 agencies involved in stewardship programming attended the workshop. On the workshop’s first day, agency representatives outlined their programs. On the second day, participants discussed options to provide access to clear, consistent, well-organized information on stewardship extension. Bergheim explains, “This information is needed by producers and extension agents for making decisions, developing plans and adopting new practices and systems.”
Workshop participants identified several priority actions, including the following:
- Make the workshop an annual event to continue the collaborative process to improve stewardship programming.
- Develop a web-based, searchable database for use by extension agents and others to provide information on programs, available resources, publications and skill sets.
Bergheim says, “It’s very important for the agriculture and food industry to continue to encourage and support environmental programs to ensure that we’re doing our part in environmental stewardship, and to continue working with all partners to achieve this goal.”
Locally based, targeted programming
Like many stewardship programs, AESA’s Farm Based Program aims to encourage adoption of environmentally responsible practices by producers. However, it has several unique features, allowing it to fill an important role that strengthens local extension programs.
“The Farm Based Program emphasizes local solutions to local concerns, partnering, and measurable results,” says Karen Cannon, AESA Program Manager.
Under this program, local agencies like municipalities and producer groups apply for grants based on the three-year plans they prepare for their programs. Cannon explains, “To develop a three-year plan, each agency does a needs assessment to determine the extension needs of their producer clients. From that assessment, they determine the goals or priorities they’d like to concentrate on, and then develop objectives, an action plan and ways to measure how much progress they are making toward their goals.”
The Farm Based Program’s grants focus on manpower funding so agencies can hire rural extension staff to conduct their stewardship programs. As well, the program also provides training for these extension agents on key issues.
Cannon says, “Rural extension staff work closely with individual producers, targeting those issues that are priorities for the local producers.” She adds, “This approach works really well because the rural extension staff can take the time to build relationships, and gain the trust and confidence of farmers.”
She believes AESA’s manpower focus is one reason why, in a recent survey of Alberta producers, 39% of respondents said they had made changes to their practices within the past three years as a direct result of attending stewardship extension events, and 34% intend to make a change within the next three years.
One of the criteria for Farm Based funding is that the agencies must partner with other stakeholders to develop their plans and deliver their programs. This requirement encourages agencies to work toward mutual goals, to share ideas, information and resources, and to avoid duplication of effort.
AESA’s emphasis on collaboration doesn’t stop with the grants provided at the local level. AESA Council and provincial AESA Program staff work closely with other federal, provincial, industry and environmental agencies to cooperate on programs and projects, to develop complementary activities, and to share information. |
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