Getting the Facts on the New Agri-Environmental Risk Assessment

By Jamie Shanks, Communications Branch, Regina

Saskatchewan’s Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) was introduced over 20 years ago to help increase awareness of the impacts of agricultural practices on environmental sustainability, and to provide producers with a roadmap to implement best practices on-farm.

Over the past number of decades, producers have done just that—going above and beyond to ensure Saskatchewan agriculture is responsible and sustainable. As new technologies have been adopted at the farm level, and operations have become more sophisticated, the Ministry of Agriculture has also worked hard to ensure our practices align with industry needs. 

In December 2024, after consultations with users and stakeholders, the Ministry of Agriculture switched from EFPs to the new Saskatchewan Agri-Environmental Risk Assessment (SK AERA), which better meets the needs of today’s producers by providing accessible, streamlined information on agri-environmental best practices.

Here’s a short primer on what the SK AERA is (and isn’t!) and why it’s important.

What’s the SK AERA for?

For programs including the Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program, the Livestock Facility Emissions Program, and the Irrigation Efficiency Program, applicants must complete an attestation confirming they’ve reviewed the SK AERA in order to be eligible for funding.

Producers needing any advice and assistance with this process can contact one of the Ministry of Agriculture’s agri-environmental specialists, who are part of our network of extension specialists at regional offices across the province and provide support on all types of topics.

How does it work?

The SK AERA is a tool for producers to evaluate practices in soil and nutrient management; crop and pest management; water, biodiversity, and land use; handling and storage of farm inputs; waste, by-products, pollution and energy efficiency, and livestock and feed management.

Previously, Saskatchewan’s EFP served as an eligibility requirement to access cost-shared program funding under previous federal-provincial-territorial agriculture policy frameworks—however, it did not provide funding directly to producers itself. This remains the same for the SK AERA.

Is the SK AERA part of a nationwide policy or standard?

No—other provinces have EFPs or AERAs, but each is unique to their own individual jurisdiction and differs based on regional needs. There are, in fact, no national guidelines that provinces and territories must adhere to for this type of program.

The SK AERA is accepted as an eligible agri-environmental risk assessment by the federal government, and simply provides Saskatchewan producers with the information necessary to identify and address agri-environmental risks on-farm.

What about AgriInvest?

The SK AERA is an eligible AERA for the new federal AgriInvest requirement. This requirement states that participants with average allowable net sales (ANS) for the three preceding program years equal to, or greater than, $1 million must have a valid AERA in place to receive matching government contributions under the program. Following completion of the SK AERA form, producers will receive an email advising their submission is under review; if valid, the Ministry of Agriculture will issue a certificate within 5–7 business days advising that they have completed it and have a valid AERA in place.

Why was the EFP phased out?

The Ministry of Agriculture consulted stakeholders at length about the EFP and heard it was out of date, administratively burdensome, and no longer met the needs of industry and producers. Uptake had declined significantly over the past decade.

The new SK AERA offers a streamlined, more efficient and comprehensive risk assessment which has been well received by producers in the province.

Were people informed about the transition?

The Ministry of Agriculture communicated the change to the SK AERA to appropriate industry stakeholders throughout the past two years, and notices were also publicly posted on the government website in July 2024 to advise users of the coming transition.

What about my information that was previously submitted under the EFP?

All completed SK EFPs have been archived by program administrators, and producers can request a copy of their document by contacting the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1‑866‑457‑2377 or emailing ag.info@gov.sk.ca for assistance.