Environment
Dairy farmers have always been regarded as stewards of our natural resources, because effective environmental practices contribute to the continued, long-term success of their farms. Careful management of soil, water, pastures, wetlands and woodlands on farms will help ensure that future generations will be able to farm successfully.
The Environment module of proAction will foster the continued expansion of sustainability initiatives while allowing farmers to continue to produce high-quality milk safely and sustainably.
Note: All Environment requirements are mandatory as of September 1, 2021.
Validation Requirements
The Environment module’s five requirements aim to mitigate risks and promote positive action. Questions will be evaluated through self-declaration or by independent validators.
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Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) and Plan d’accompagnement agroenvironnemental (PAA)
Do you have a valid provincial (individual) Environmental Farm Plan (EFP), Agri-environmental Support Plan (Plan d’Accompagnement Agroenvironnemental, PAA) or PAA-equivalent to identify and address environmental risks on your farm?
Environmental Questionnaire
Have you completed the questionnaire on soil health, greenhouse gases, biodiversity, silage seepage and plastic waste?
Milking Centre Wastewater
Is your milking centre wastewater managed with proper storage or a regulatory approved treatment system?
Manure Storage
Is your manure storage adequate to avoid contamination of surface and ground water and to avoid spreading manure on frozen, snow-covered or saturated ground?
Manure Management
Do you manage nutrients on your farm to make optimal use of manure and/or fertilizer on land?
Fact Sheets
Videos (produced in 2015)
| Tie Stall | February 2015 | 1:37 minutes | Launch Video Player |
| Rotary Free Stall | February 2015 | 2:55 minutes | Launch Video Player |
| Free Stall Flush Robotic | February 2015 | 4:34 minutes | Launch Video Player |
| Free Stall | February 2015 | 4:20 minutes | Launch Video Player |
| Pond Fed Free Stall | February 2015 | 5:47 minutes | Launch Video Player |
| Why is Water Use Efficiency Important for Ontario Farms? | February 2015 | 4:46 minutes | Launch Video Player |