In short: the agri-environmental fertilization plan It determines, for each plot and each season, the crop and the spreading limits for fertilizing materials. It is required by the REA for the targeted farms and must be signed by an agronomist.
In this article:
What is a PAEF?
The agri-environmental fertilization plan is a document that determines, for each plot of a farm and for each growing season, the crop grown and the limitation on the spreading of fertilizing materials. It is one of the key obligations arising from the Farm Practices Regulation.
Who must have a PAEF?
An agricultural business must provide a PAEF if it operates a livestock facility with liquid management (slurry), a livestock facility with solid management producing more than 1,600 kg of phosphorus per year to the herd, or a spreading site with a total area greater than 15 hectares (excluding pasture or meadow areas).
What does a PAEF contain?
The plan specifies, plot by plot, the planned crops and spreading methods: fertilizer application rates, spreading methods and periods. It is based on soil nutrient levels established through analysis. Well maintained, it becomes a true planning tool, not just a formality.
Who signs the PAEF and monitors it?
Only an agronomist is authorized to sign a PAEF. According to the REA, the agronomist must also monitor the plan's recommendations and, at the end of the growing season, attach the report on the fertilization actually carriedout. The PAEF is closely linked to the phosphorus balance.
Prepare your PAEF more easily
A PAEF is built using farm data: plots, soil tests, yields, and spreading history. When the producer sends this information piecemeal, by email or on paper, the agronomist wastes time compiling it. By centralizing everything in My Forage System, the agronomist directly accesses up-to-date data from their client farms and prepares the AFEF (Agri-Environmental Fertilization Plan) faster. MSF provides the data; the agronomist retains responsibility for the plan. For the reference grid, the’Ordre des agronomes du Québec and MAPAQ font authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the PAEF mandatory for my farm?
Yes, if you manage slurry, produce more than 1,600 kg of phosphorus per year in solid manure, or spread on more than 15 hectares (excluding pasture and grassland).
How long does a PAEF cover?
It covers crops plot by plot over a maximum of five years.
Who can sign an PAEF?
An agronomist, exclusively.
What is the connection to the phosphorus balance?
Farms subject to a PAEF must also produce an annual phosphorus balance sheet signed by an agronomist.
In summary
The PAEF plans fertilization plot by plot to comply with the REA, and it is signed by an agronomist. Its preparation depends on the quality of farm data, which is why centralizing them in My Forage System make the work of both the producer and their agronomist easier. For an overview, see our guide to the agri-environmental regulation.