Home PEI Farmers Rise to Conservation Challenge 
May 20, 2004—Sixty PEI farmers are concerned enough about the environment to take things into their own hands. Now their environment friendly approach to farming is influencing approximately 40,000 acres of arable land which equates to almost 10 per cent of the agricultural production on PEI.
Through two PEI Agri-Conservation Clubs, introduced by the PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association in 2001, the farmers have adopted a mission to come together to improve their farms, communities and environment by learning and adopting better farming practices that will make them more sustainable.
Members represent a mixed group of commodities, including dairy, beef, swine, poultry, grain, forage, blueberry, carrot, corn, soybean, canola and potatoes. Farm operations in the club range from large to small. The clubs have been beneficial in bringing together farming innovators, those who long ago saw the benefits of sustainable agriculture, to share their experience with those who are just now starting out on their Environmental Farm Plans.
Each club has a coordinator who assists, informs and advises club members on conservation issues. Addressing farmers’ Environmental Farm Plans is the main tool the coordinator has to help form strategies to meet club objectives and goals. Environmental Farm Plans, introduced by the PEI Federation of Agriculture, are documents voluntarily prepared by individual farm managers and their families to help identify areas of potential environmental risks on their farm.
Among the goals of the club are:
- Identify environmental concerns and encourage producers to take pro-active measures in environmental protection
- Reduce nutrient loading of streams and groundwater
- Reduce risk of pesticide contamination of our environment: air, soil and water
- Improve the public image of agriculture
- Increase dialogue between producers and other groups interested in sustainable development
- Improve farm waste management
Nine agencies and private nonprofit conservation organizations have collectively funded the clubs. Ducks Unlimited Canada (www.ducks.ca) is participating because of the known beneficial outcomes for wildlife that sustainable agriculture practices offer.
For more information:
Patti Ann Baird, pbaird1@pei.sympatico.ca
Agrologist
Eastern Club
Tel: (902) 566-4740
Justin Rogers, jrogers@pei.sympatico.ca
Agrologist
Western Club
Tel: (902) 859-1223
Leigh Patterson, l_patterson@ducks.ca
Corporate Media Relations Specialist
Ducks Unlimited Canada
(204) 467-3306
Tel: 1-800-665-DUCK
