The Rural Voice, 2001-07, Page 37Response positive as
government unveils
Nutrient Management
Act 2001
Response across Ontario has been
generally positive since Brian
Coburn, Minister of Agriculture.
Food and Rural Affairs introduced
the Nutrient Management Act, 2001
on June 13.
"This proposed legislation closely
mirrors much of what Ontario
farmers and their organizations have
been seeking," said Bill Mailloux,
Vice -President of the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture (OFA).
Ontario Pork chair, Clare
Schlegel, commented. "We embrace
the principles of this new legislation
as our farm businesses depend on
sound environmental stewardship
practices. Many pork producers were
frustrated with the various and
changing requirements from different
levels of government. We look
forward to having one set of clear
requirements to work with."
Schlegel also stated, "The new
rules for farm practices and
environmental improvements will
require significant industry
investment to accomplish. We hope
that today's governments recognize
the benefits of these investments for
all of society and design the
appropriate programs to partner with
us to move the agricultural industry
forward."
Dairy Farmers of Ontario also
embraced the legislation, saying the
members of the organization look
forward to participating in the
• consultation process involved before
the bill receives final approval.
"We believe comprehensive
nutrient management legislation does
not need to have a negative impact on
the farm economy," said Gord
Coukell, DFO Chair. "Nutrient
management legislation and a healthy
and thriving farm economy are not
mutually exclusive."
Still, noted Paul Verkley, chair of
the Farm Environmental Coalition's
Nutrient Management Committee,
"the devil is in the details" and much
News
of the impact of the legislation will
come through the accompanying
regulations to be introduced later
after the bill has been passed.
Still, Verkley said. he was
"absolutely delighted with the scope
of the legislation." The provision for
a provincial enforcement was
welcome and would take the heat off
local municipalities trying to police
nutrient management plans. He was
also pleased the province bought into
the idea of local advisory committees
similar to the one first started in
Perth County and quickly adopted
next door in Huron.
Details of the bills include:
• mandatory Nutrient Management
Plans (NMPs).
• certification of commercial land
applicators of materials containing
nutrients.
• distance requirements for manure
and biosolids application near wells
and waterways.
• banning the land application of
untreated septage over a five-year
period.
• establishing and delivering
associated education. training and
certification programs.
• establishing a database system to
record land applications of materials
containing nutrients, with an initial
focus on biosolids and manure.
• establishing minimum quality and
application standards for land applied
nutrients.
The bill would provide for a
framework to phase in standards over
time. depending on the size of
operations and the kinds of practices
that are carried out.
At a minimum, the following
categories would be defined:
• Large livestock operations (e.g. 450
livestock units)
• Smaller livestock operations
• Other agricultural operations (e.g.
greenhouses, mushroom facilities,
cash crops)
The governments says proposed
Nutrient Management Act will:
• set out a comprehensive and
integrated approach to all land -
applied materials and the safe
disposal of deadstock;
• ensure that all land -applied
materials will be managed in a
sustainable. beneficial manner which
results in environmental protection:
• provide for clear, province -wide
standards so that farmers can invest
with confidence in their businesses:
and
• increase public confidence in a
sustainable future for agricultural and
rural development.
Response from municipalities has
been just as favourable as from farm
groups. The Association of
Municipalities of Ontario said it was
pleased the province had listened to
the pleas of municipalities not to
download enforcement of nutrient
management plans to the
municipalities.
Wayne Caldwell, a senior planner
with the Huron County Planning and
Development Department who made
presentations to the Galt Commission
and has been at the forefront of
nutrient management issues, said he
thought the legislation did a
remarkable job of targeting the key
issues in the problem of intensive
livestock and nutrient management
issues. His brief on behalf of Huron
County had suggested there be
different levels of expectations for
farms of different sizes and that has
been recognized in the proposed bill.
There also had been a request for
professionally trained staff to enforce
nutrient management plans and that
has been promised in the legislation.
But he agreed with Verkley that
only when the final regulations are
released will the real impact of the
bill be known.
"The regulations are likely to
offend people on both sides of the
issue," Caldwell said with those
opposed to large livestock operations
are likely to think they're not tough
enough. while some farmers are
likely to think they're too restrictive.
Still. he said, it's in everyone's
best interests to have rules that are
clearly spelled out. The right rules
have to be put in place that protect
the environment but are fair to people
who live by them. he said.
Caldwell also touched on another
area of interest to farmers: whether
the province will provide any
assistance to help farmers meet the
new requirements for nutrient
JULY 2001 33