Regulatory Modernization
What we do matters and we all have a role to play.
Advancing our industry requires us all to do the right thing, demonstrate our commitment, and to communicate proactively about our growth.
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Key Actions
Develop a farm safety strategy that outlines phases of implementation. This plan must build a long-term stable program that is built on education and communications to Manitoba producers:
-Development of Farm Safety Council
-Centralization of farm safety resources
-Development and rebuilding of Manitoba Farm Safety brand
-Develop and maintain partnerships for safety outreach opportunities
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Key actions:
Together with KAP’s commodity group members, industry stakeholders, and the department of MB Ag, and Resource Development build a labour plan that outlines the building blocks that are required to achieve the established goals, focused on engagement, awareness, and education:
-Development of a labour task force with key stakeholders.
-Develop synergies between all key sectors of Manitoba agriculture.
-Facilitating access to agriculture for new Canadians.
-Advocate and build awareness of labour issues, with a focus on policy makers.
-Build awareness to agricultural stakeholders regarding existing programming that provides tools and resources.
-Build awareness on how post-secondary education can be nimble and responsive to current workforce gaps.
-Partner with Manitoba educators to increase HR knowledge with agriculture students.
-Build upon ongoing KAP training opportunities for primary producers.
-Partner with Manitoba educators to increase knowledge and understanding of agriculture with non-agriculture audience.
-Work with government to ensure provincial nominee program meets sector needs.
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A) Work with key partners including MB Ag to create an EFP that is digital and accessible to producers to increase engagement of this tool:
-Communicate to KAP members.
b) Ensure this tool has a council of stakeholders to ensure this tool is managed and monitored for its useability over time:
-Work with government to ensure Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program meets sector needs.
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Key actions:
Work with governments as they engage with the industry in the development of sustainability and climate programs. With the goal of meeting policy objectives that allows for agricultural growth and development while meeting the needs of consumers domestically and internationally:
-Align key messages
-Collaborate on lobbying efforts
-Advocate for industry recognition for current and past environmentally sustainable practices
Regulatory Modernization
BUILDING A CULTURE OF FARM SAFETY
FarmSafe Manitoba is an initiative led by Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) to build and expand the culture of farm safety in Manitoba through awareness, education, and program delivery. Launched in 2022, FarmSafe Manitoba is a fresh new look at how we promote and engage with farmers regarding safety.
We strive to ensure all farmers across Manitoba have the information and tools available to make their farms a safe place to live and work, building upon existing resources and tools from all our partner organizations.
Our goal is to directly speak with and support Manitoba farmers to increase their safety awareness and help them follow both the law and best practices when it comes to farm safety. FarmSafe Manitoba works with various commodity and safety associations, funders of safety initiatives, and other safety stakeholders to ensure the best resources and support are made available for safety challenges across all areas of agriculture.
The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) is an education and awareness tool that helps farmers identify the agri-environmental assets and risks of their operation.
4R Nutrient Stewardship Program
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Since 2013, KAP, Fertilizer Canada, and the Government of Manitoba have partnered to promote 4R Nutrient Stewardship as the leading approach to sustainable nutrient best management practices in the province.
At a time when sustainability and environmental stewardship in agriculture is at the forefront, KAP is pleased to yet again be a signatory to this critically important agreement.
KAP has worked with our producer members from across the province to promote and encourage adoption of 4R principles on-farm. KAP has long supported these principles, which are also in keeping with the provincial government’s objectives for environmental performance and farmer productivity.
KAP recognizes that farmers, strive to ensure the sustainability of the lands that they work and harvest. Their farms are their livelihoods, and without the continued prosperity of the crops and products they produce, they could not continue to earn a living and generate the billions in economic activity that agriculture produces here in Manitoba.
Agriculture is an industry focused on science-based technology and practices. 4R nutrient stewardship represents exactly that. Whether it be variable rate application, regular soil testing, or reducing tillage, these are all science-based and impactful practices that farmers can apply on-farm.
Agriculture has the answer to working toward reducing emissions while maintaining and growing our yields. One of these tools as part of our partnership is the adoption of 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles.
The 4R MOU agreement will promote ongoing extension and training, data gathering on best management practices adoption, and further implementation of 4R Designation in Manitoba as a tool to ensure growers have steady, dependable access to 4R advice regarding their nutrient management decisions.
Environmental Farm Plan
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Environmental Farm Planning began in Manitoba in 2004 and continues to be a high priority for Federal and Provincial governments. The Environmental Farm Plan program is currently supported through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) and is delivered in partnership with the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP).
The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) is a voluntary, confidential, self-assessment of a farm. Environmental farm planning helps to identify risks on farms to develop action plans to address those risks. Launched in October 2022, the EFP program is now online to ensure that the administrative burden to producers is lessened and is more efficient.
By implementing Action Plans, producers can:
- improve air, water, and soil quality
- conserve biodiversity on Manitoba farmland
- contribute to environmental protection and conservation
- make Manitoba-grown commodities more marketable to environmentally conscious consumers around the world
- demonstrate due diligence by identifying environmental risks on their farm and implementing actions to reduce those risks
Other Initiatives
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The goals of the labour task group is to:
-build alignment across the diverse commodities in the province
-to reduce duplication and to increase collaboration with key stakeholders
-identify skilled labour to fill labour shortages
-bring alignment on solutions and potential opportunities to resolve labour gaps in agriculture
-managing people skills, diversity and inclusion, retention, skill development, and farm safety
-growing labour shortages and increase agriculture knowledge for school aged youth
-grow primary producers’ knowledge regarding labour, with a focus on building the CEO mindset
-attract future workforce to agriculture sector
-engage young producers in an educational setting regarding the importance of labour
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KAP is working closely with Cleanfarms’ to ensure that producers in Manitoba have to clarity, tools and access to the recycling container program.
This is to ensure that Manitoba producers have the most effective and efficient way to return and recycle their containers. This is a priority, as managing this waste is an important part of farmers environmental stewardship.
Cleanfarms’ empty pesticide and fertilizer recycling container program and grain bag and baler twine recycling program operates as one of Manitoba’s Industry Stewardship Program Plans. As this program becomes enhanced and evolves, Manitoba producers are represented to ensure future success and adoption.