The Rural Voice, 2003-05, Page 71
We've Listened on the OO Ontario
Nutrient Management Act
Regulations
As a result of consultations with many
interested parties, including farmers and
commodity group leaders, the Ontario
Government is revising its nutrient man-
agement regulations. /t will make them
clearer, more flexible and less comp/ex
administrative/y for farmers, while main-
taining key water and environmental pro-
tection objectives.
First point of contact
through OMAF
• The Ministry of Agriculture and Food will
be the first point of contact for on-farm
nutrient management issues, including
monitoring
• A protocol would be established whereby
the Ministry of the Environment would
have the ultimate authority to ensure
compliance with the regulations through
investigations and enforcement
All requirements take
effect at the time of a
farm's phase-in
The improvements provide existing farmers with
one date to:
• Meet land application standards
• Put their nutrient management plan in
place
The improvements include clear implementation
dates for the proposed regulations.
• July 1, 2003 will be the implementation
date for all new livestock farms and
those expanding into and within the
large farm category
• The implementation date for existing
large livestock farms will be 2005
Other farms will not be covered until 2008 at the
earliest, depending on recommendations from
the provincial advisory committee and the avail-
ability of cost -shared funding.
The Improvements:
:• First point of contact through Ministry of Agriculture and Food
•:• All requirements take effect at the time of a farm's phase-in
•: Ongoing consultation through provincial advisory committee
•:• Funding for existing operations
:• More flexibility for farmers to comply with standards
Ongoing consultation
through provincial
advisory committee
The province will establish a provincial adviso-
ry committee that includes farmers, environ-
mental scientists, municipal representatives
and others.
The committee will provide recommendations
on specific nutrient management issues,
including:
• When the proposed regulations would
apply to all types of farms except new live
stock farms, large livestock farms and
those expanding into the large livestock
category
• Restrictions regarding the siting and
construction of nutrient storage, and
manure handling and application near
municipal wells
• Seasonal outdoor feeding area standards
• Manure storage issues for existing
operations
• Decommissioning of manure storages
• Nutrient application on tile -drained land
• Nutrient application on shallow soils
• Odour -related setbacks and standards
• Winter spreading restrictions for nutrients
from the pulp and paper sector
At each phase-in, the Ontario Govemment will
consult with the agricultural community and
other stakeholders to ensure the scientific
basis of the regulations is up-to-date and appli-
cable.
Funding for existing
operations
• Availability of provincial cost -shared
funding to be forthcoming after discussion
with farm groups on appropriate funding
mechanisms
• Other farms to be phased -in on dates
recommended by the provincial advisory
committee and based on the availability of
provincial cost -shared funding
More flexibility for
farmers
• A simplified nutrient management plan will
now be available to a majority of farmers
• Reduced paperwork by permitting
more changes to operations before a new
nutrient management plan or strategy is
required
• Farmers will only need training and
certification to prepare plans; they will not
need to be licensed
There is more flexibility for operators with no till
crops and organic soils; and regulations are
being modified for all operators to better reflect
farm environmental best practices for:
• Winter: Winter spreading of manure and
feedlot snow permitted
• Slopes: Application restrictions on slopes
and measurement of slopes only apply
near watercourses
• Storage: Days of storage will be based on
temporary, in -barn and permanent storage
For more information on how the Nutrient Management Act
and its regulations affect your farm operation, please visit
www.gov.on.ca/omaf or call the Agricultural Information
Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300.
MAY 2003 3