Ontario Farmers Gain EFP 5th Edition: July 14 Launch
By Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA)
TL;DR: Ontario farmers can now access an updated tool to assess and improve their environmental practices, focusing on sustainability, profitability, and productivity.
- Newest edition of EFP available since July 2025.
- Voluntary tool for environmental risk assessment.
- Focuses on biodiversity, climate, soil health.
- Includes farm review and action plan.
- Over 50,000 farmers have participated globally.
Why it matters: This updated framework helps farmers adapt to current environmental regulations and integrate new scientific best practices for more resilient and sustainable operations.
Do this next: Explore the new Environmental Farm Plan workbook to identify areas for improvement on your farm.
Recommended for: Anyone involved in farming in Ontario looking for a structured, comprehensive approach to environmental improvement and long-term sustainability.
The Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) is a comprehensive environmental assessment tool designed to help Ontario farmers evaluate and improve their farming practices across multiple areas of their operations. The fifth edition of the EFP became available to Ontario farmers starting July 14, 2025, marking a significant update to the program that was first established in 1993. This latest edition reflects current regulatory requirements and incorporates the latest scientific research on best management practices, making it a valuable resource for farmers seeking to enhance their environmental stewardship.
The EFP is a voluntary, confidential environmental risk assessment tool that enables farm owners of all sizes—from small operations to large commercial enterprises—to take a comprehensive whole-farm view and identify incremental improvements that support long-term sustainability, profitability, and productivity. Since its inception, more than 50,000 Ontario farmers have participated in the program, and it has gained international recognition as a model for supporting environmentally sustainable farming practices.
The updated fifth edition addresses emerging priorities and contemporary challenges facing Ontario agriculture. Key areas of focus include biodiversity conservation, farming in a changing climate, enhanced ground cover practices such as cover cropping for soil health, and species habitat connectivity. The new edition includes expanded content on climate adaptation strategies, such as managing flood plain zones, optimizing field drainage, and selecting crop and seed varieties that can withstand changing weather patterns and extreme weather events.
The EFP workbook consists of two integrated parts: the Farm Review and the Action Plan. The Farm Review section includes 23 worksheets that guide farmers through a detailed assessment of their farm's environmental conditions across multiple areas, including soil management, water wells, fuel storage, pest management, air quality, water quality, and biodiversity. Each worksheet contains approximately 20 questions, and farmers only need to complete the worksheets relevant to their specific farm operations. Through this assessment process, farmers evaluate the current level of environmental concern for various aspects of their farm and identify potential risks.
Once farmers complete the Farm Review worksheets, their ratings reveal areas where changes could reduce environmental risk and improve sustainability. Farmers then develop a customized Action Plan that identifies specific actions they will take and establishes realistic timelines for implementation. This action plan is driven by the assessment results and reflects the farmer's priorities and operational capabilities. The process helps farmers highlight their farm's environmental strengths, identify areas of environmental concern, and create practical, achievable improvements.
Participation in the EFP program is completely free for Ontario farmers. The program is funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year investment (2023-2028) totaling $3.5 billion from federal, provincial, and territorial governments. This funding supports initiatives designed to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resilience in the agriculture and agri-food sector. Funding programs may be available to assist farmers in implementing the improvements identified in their EFP action plans, helping to offset the costs of environmental enhancements.
The EFP can be used in conjunction with cost-share programs to begin implementing action plans, making it a practical tool for farmers seeking financial support for sustainability initiatives. The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) administers the program and encourages all farmers to complete the updated edition. Even farmers who have previously completed an earlier version of the EFP are encouraged to update their assessment to ensure that their decisions are based on current farm operations and environmental conditions.