The Rural Voice, 2003-01, Page 42INCOME
TAX
SERVICE
• farm, business, or personal
• complete year-round service
including tax audit
representation
• E -File available
Over 20 years' experience
Quality work
at reasonable rates
"FREE CONSULTATION"
Stephen
Thompson
R.R. #2, Clinton
482-7551
CANADIAN
CO-OPERATIVE
WOOL GROWERS
LIMITED
Now Available
WOOL ADVANCE PAYMENTS
* Skirted Fleeces
* Well -Packed Sacks
For more information contact:
WINGHAM
WOOL DEPOT
John Farrell
R.R. 2. Wingham, Ontario
Phone/Fax 519-357-1058
3b THE RURAL VOICE
Alloomom
AgriTech
Managing our land and water resources
Janice
Becker is a
computer
enthusiast
and
journalist
firing near
Walton, ON.
The protection of the country's
water resource and the land that feeds
it has been uppermost in people's
minds for many years and more so
since the Walkerton tragedy.
Farming organizations, federal and
provincial agencies and citizens
groups have been working to
establish a nutrient management
policy which will protect water users
while not tying the hands of
agriculturalists and those dealing with
waste materials.
Phase 2 consultations and
information sessions for the Nutrient
Management Act are currently
underway. led by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Food and the
Ministry of the Environment.
By the reading of this column,
dates for consultation meetings in
January will be posted on the
ministry websites. The draft
regulations can also be obtained
through www.gov.on.ca/omaf and
www.ene.gov.on.ca.
Attendees of information sessions
for either Phase 1 or Phase 2, anyone
wishing to expression concerns
regarding the regulations, pose
questions or register for an opport-
unity to make a brief presentation at
one of the consultation meetings in
the new year, can log on to
www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/env_
reg/er/registry.htm. This is the site for
the environmental bill of rights
registry. Pre -registration for the
meetings can also be made by calling
1-877-424-1300.
Having attended an information
session in December, I found several
points of interest, attained an
education as to just what nutrient
generators and users have to deal
with as well as came up with a
question or two of my own.
Once the generator (operation
which produce nutrients) gets past the
issues of categorizing the farm,
(depending on type of animal,
number of animal units, nutrient units
produced and type of nutrient — dry
or liquid), it then time to deal with
land application guidelines.
There are several criteria that have
tentatively been set down to regulate
when and where the application of
nutrients can occur.
One component, which some may
not yet have heard about is the two-
year capture zone for municipal
wells. Studies are currently underway
in many parts of the province to
determine those draw -down
distances. Specific guidelines have
been established for setbacks from
private wells, municipal wells, single
residences, residential areas of at
least four homes and health care or
school facilities.
One of the most intriguing is the
restriction on applying fertilizer,
manure, biosolids or other agricult-
ural materials within 25 metres of the
wall of a single residence. However,
there is no reciprocating regulation
regarding the construction of a new
home within that distance from a
farmer's field. According to one
building official, a new home can be
built within 25 feet of a lot line,
thereby pushing back the application
zone for nutrients for an existing
operation.
Obviously, there are still bugs to
be worked out and it's up to those
involved, whether livestock farmers
and municipalities as generators or
greenhouse operators and mushroom
growers as users, to ensure that
governmental agencies are treating all
groups fairly and reasonably.
This is the opportunity for
everyone to speak up or as they say
"forever hold your peace". It doesn't
do much good to complain about the
regulations once the act is passed.
Your views might not
implemented into the policy but they
definitely will not even be considered
if those writing the regulations don't
know them. Get involved.
Please contact me at
jlbecker@wightman .ca or through
The Rural Voice's office with
feedback or topic suggestions.0