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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-03-19, Page 27THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1997. PAGE A-7. Agriculture '97 Huron County leads way in nutrient management Determning the level of nutrients in anmal waste is a major factor in developing a site-specific nutrient management plan. By Janice Becker Citizen staff The concept of managing the nutrients, ie. liquid manure, which are added to agricultural land is not new. However, the intensive study, form filing, consultation and testing EFP outlines scenarios Continued from A-6 environmentally active as some, but we initially assumed our on- farm practices were satisfactory. Yet, we discovered some things could have an impact on the water quality, not necessarily upstream, but the water that's coming up our well," says Pollard. During the few hours the work­ shop takes, Pollard said Thompson shows participants through the EFP book which outlines scenarios cov­ ering all aspects of agriculture, from animal husbandry to horticul­ ture. "Specifically it was described as a self-evaluation of risk. That was the benefit for me. There are things that a person may think are fine, when in actuality they are simply marginal. You find out, that with just a little effort they could be improved," says Pollard. While the grant money available for participants, $1,500, was used by Pollard towards the purchase of a no-till drill, he says that taking part in the program has changed his point of view, his approach and his practices. For example, now when he uses the sprayer, he takes water to the field and mixes the solutions there, eliminating any potential for spills on the farm. "It's application of common sense. We're not toting this stuff all over the place." Also, any surplus herbicide is contained in its original jug to later be sprayed out on wheat stubble. Pollard, along with his wife, Anna, have begun building stone berms to slow down surface water erosion. "The land's not productive if the land's not there," he says, adding that it will also reduce municipal ditch clean-out costs. "I believe in looking past tomorrow. I thinking of that land being here years from now, not in Lake Huron." is an idea which is spreading across the province, with Huron County as a leader in policy development. “Nutrient management is just getting started,” says Doug Richards, swine advisor for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs office in Any changes made or planned aren't really difficult adjustments. "They're not things that are out­ lined in the workshop booklet, but it's changed my way of thinking," Pollard says adding, that many times before undertaking a task, he will pause to consider if there is a risk and if it can be minimized. "After all, it probably takes more time to clean up a mess than it does to prevent one." Change is often associated with cost and Pollard says that with the EFP "red flags" may go up regard­ ing money. "The idea is not to do the whole thing at once. There's no deadline other than the province's." While Ontario had set this March for completion of the program, Thompson says that a continuation was recently announced with assis­ tance from the Canada Adapt Fund. "The money is not a lot, but every­ one should be able to make one change with it," he says. "If everyone does just a little," adds Pollard, "it will help. Il is not too late to consider as individuals what impact we have. Environmen­ tally farmers can be leaders, not followers." "What I do may not show results, but it's not going to be detrimental. It's not going to turn anything around in a day, a week or a decade, but hopefully, it will make a difference." Considering that future, Pollard is once again reminded of the water quality. "There are a number of wells on this farm that have been filled in. But water can seep through the stones used to close them, and with the pipes uncapped it is a natural line to the water table, our water table, opening it to con­ taminants from surface run off." "This is not to suggest that any­ thing is ovcrapplicd on the fields, but you can't slop the rain." Clinton. “Someone has to take the lead and Huron County is doing that. Hopefully, they will make it work and it will be a plan others will fol­ low.” “Nutrient management will bene­ fit both the farmers and rural com­ munities,” he says. “This is our chance to be pro-active.” However, many may ask, “Exact­ ly what is nutrient management? What will it do for me? What is involved?” In the most basic of terms, nutri­ ent management studies what nutri­ ents are going on the land from the spreading of liquid manure. It looks at the capacity of that land to absorb and make use of the nutri­ ents and the acreage needed for a particular operation as well as developing an individualized plan for sustaining the property for future use. Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) By request from the Huron Coun­ ty Planning and Development Department, Jane Sadler Richards, senior consultant-agrology with Egologistics Limited, in Lucan, created a draft NMP as a discussion paper. “The definition of a NMP varies,” says Sadler Richards. However, she points out three com­ ponents which are the basis of any plan. The first step is to look at the production on the farm and to match the nutrients produced to the crop utilizing it in the field, she says. The economics of the busi­ ness are also factored in at this stage. The on-site review is standard, with a catalogue of the operation including the present situation and proposed changes. Any remedial Vanden Heuvel Construction Ltd. COMMERCIAL AND AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS • Poultry • Hog • Dairy R.R. 2, GODERICH, ONTARIO N7A 3X8 TELEPHONE 519-524-9176 FAX 519-524-9240 After 6 p.m. Call Ken at 519-522-1858 action which is required immedi­ ately is detailed in this section. Next, a chart outlining the pre­ sent and future components of the expected manure production is shown as well as an inventory of the manure handling system in use. The available cropland is charac­ terized to determine area, shape, distance to storage facility, crop rotation, soil makeup and nutrient content. The second phase is to develop an environmental management plan which considers the individual con­ ditions of the farm. Recommendations for handling, application and timing are defined. The final facet is the social aspect. It is not only the farmer who is affected, but the neighbours, Sadler Richards says. Producers have to try to limit the impact of an application. The consultant works closely with the farmer to incorporate all three components of the NMP. “It has to be^ practical and workable,” she says. There is a subcomponent which is also worked into the NMP. An emergency response plan is devel­ oped to determine who will be Continued on A-8 Central Rental & Supply Ltd. Bill Crawford ~ Manager Industrial & Farm Supplies Horse Tack & Supplies Small Equipment & Tool Rental Honda Engines — Two Way Radios ~ Cellular Phones ~ Paging — 26 Isaac St. Phone/Fax Clinton, ON N0M1L0 482-7930 ^X0NTARI0x PARTS Stephen (519) 523-4922 Londesborough, Ontario NOM 2H0 Fax: (519) 523-4765 “Specializing in Older Tractor Parts'9 STEELWAY PRE-ENGINEERED BUILDING SYSTEMS