1

Agri-Environmental

Programs in OntarioImproving Our Measures of

Environmental Performance

2010 Land Grant & Sea Grant National Water Conference

February 21-25, 2010, Hilton Head

Darryl Finnigan, M.R.M., B.Sc.(Ag)

Program Analyst – Environmental ProgramsProgram Coordination, Research & PartnershipsEnvironmental Management BranchFood Safety & Environment DivisionOntario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)darryl.finnigan@ontario.cahttp://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/environment

2

Presentation Outline

1. Agriculture in Ontario

2. Agri-environmental programs

3. Measuring program performance

4. Learning from other jurisdictions

5. Moving forward

3

1. Agriculture in Ontario

Ontario:

• One third of world’s freshwater

• 12.9 million people

• 38% of Canada

• 5.4M in Greater Toronto

• 1,076,395 km2 (1.5x Texas)

• Most agriculture in southern part of province

• 6.0% of land used for farming

4

Top Commodities 2008*

*Based on Market Receipts, 2008 Source: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/stats/agriculture_summary.htm#commodities

Fruits &

Vegetables

11%

Dairy

14%

Dairy Products

14%

Tobacco

2%Eggs

2%

Other

10%

Hogs

10%

Cattle

10%

Floriculture &

Nursery

9%

Poultry

6%

Soybeans

5%

Corn

4%

Wheat

3%

5

2. Agri-environmental programs

1. Regulatory Approach

• Nutrient Management Act, 2002

• EPA, OWRA, other environmental laws etc

2. Stewardship Approach

• Best Management Practices

• Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan

• OMAFRA Great Lakes Program

• OMAFRA Lake Simcoe Program

• Greenbelt Farm Stewardship

• Biogas and green energy programs

See also: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/environment

6

• Demonstrating to Ontarians that government programs are helping achieve a cleaner environment

is a priority of the Premier

• In the 2009 Ontario Public Service Framework For

Action, Driving Change, Delivering Results report, the Secretary of Cabinet stated that

“performance measurement is critical to demonstrate

results and identify areas for improvement.”

Source: http://www.mgs.gov.on.ca

3. Measuring Program Performance

If you don't know where you're going, you might not get there

--Yogi Berra

� “Environmental targets were set …� … but the Department cannot yet measure

their achievement”Targets:

1. residual nitrogen in the soil2. risk of water contamination by nitrogen3. risk of water erosion4. emissions of greenhouse gases5. organic carbon in agricultural soil6. wildlife habitat on farmlands

Source: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_200812_03_e_31820.html#hd5e

It's déjà vu all over again (Yogi Berra)

11

Top 12 On-Farm BMPs# of Projects (based on allocations, COFSP Year One)

38

63

65

82

91

93

122

124

151

170

194

215

0 50 100 150 200

Erosion Control Structures (Riparian)

Cover Crops

Shelterbelt Establishment

Energy Conservation Measures

Product & Waste Management

Resource Planning

Improved Manure Storage and Handling

Farmyard/Horticultural Runoff Control

Water Well Management

Upland and Riparian Area Management

Improved Cropping Systems

Precision Agriculture

Total: 1829 approved projects

(Some) Outputs ...

12

... but what about Outcomes?

The challenge is with measures of environmental outcomes

• We want to be able to say, our programs worked because:

• The water is cleaner• The air is cleaner• The soil is healthier• Biodiversity is improved• Greenhouse gases were reduced

But … it’s very challenging!

• Challenges: attribution, scale, time-lag, data, modelling versus monitoring

13

Since 2005: Grant recipients must document outputs and "to the extent practicable" outcomes …

1. OUTPUTS: activities or deliverables • number of workshops• number of nutrient management plans • number of on-farm projects

2. OUTCOMES: measurable impacts or results

(short, medium, and long-term)• Increased knowledge• Documented adoption of BMPs• Documented reduction of phosphorus loading

US EPA: Outputs versus Outcomes

Source: http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/ECOCOMM.NSF/webpage/measuring+environmental+results

14

EPA identifies the following five types or categories of performance measures:

• A project measures its Output relative to a Baseline• Outcomes flow from outputs, and are compared to Targets• Targets are pursued to realize Benchmarks

US EPA

Source: http://tinyurl.com/yf943xl

1. Baselines2. Outputs3. Outcomes4. Targets5. Benchmarks

15

4. Learning From Other Jurisdictions

Jurisdictional Scan of Agri-Environmental Performance Measures (2009/2010)

Project:

• Report on approaches to performance measures by government agencies

• Review of agri-environmental performance

measures literature

• Examine social indicators [eg. Prokopy et al, 2009, Journal of Extension]

• Apply knowledge to adjust programs (adapt)

Objectives:

To better understand performance measures by examining approaches outside of Ontario

Purpose:

16

“Performance Measures”“Environmental Indicators”

“BMP Verification”

16

17

Environmental Indicators

• Must be meaningful • Generally understandable

• Data readily available

Source: http://www.jswconline.org/content/60/1

18

Source: http://tinyurl.com/ygfkwna

OECD

19

Environmental Indicators

Outcome 4: Environmental cost of the food

chainHeadline

> H4a River water quality: nitrate and phosphate levels in rivers> H4b Greenhouse gas emissions

Core> 4.01 Fertiliser use> 4.02 River water quality

> 4.03 Pesticide use> 4.04 Pollution incidents

> 4.05 Waste> 4.06 Good agricultural and environmental condition

> 4.07 Energy use> 4.08 Air quality

Source: https://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/indicators/default.htm

UK - DEFRA

19

20

• National Agri-Environmental Health Analysis and Reporting Program (NAHARP)

• To improve and develop a suite of agri-environmental indicators to assess and report on important environmental issues that the Canadian agricultural sector faces

1. Environmental farm management2. Soil quality3. Water quality4. Air quality5. Biodiversity6. Food and beverage industry

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Source: http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1181580464260&lang=eng

21

22

• National Agri-Environmental Standards Initiative (NAESI) [2004-2008]

• Establish non-regulatory national environmental performance standards

• Ideal Performance Standards

• Achievable Performance Standards

• Watershed Evaluation of BMPs (WEBs) information from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Source: http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1209128121608&lang=eng

Environment Canada

23

• Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)• National and Watershed Studies• Quantify natural resources effects of conservation practices

Source: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/NRI/ceap/

USDA

Source: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/perform.html

24

25

28

• Many challenges: Attribution, Scale, Time-lag, Data, Modelling versus monitoring

• Need to coordinate and enhance output measures to move toward outcome measures

• Learn from measures and adjust programs (adapt)

• Enhance use of national indicators at regional scales

• Learn from other jurisdictions

• Move toward a more comprehensive framework

of performance measures

• “Tell the story” to demonstrate results

Moving Forward …

Thank you!

darryl.finnigan@ontario.ca

29