Background

Because uptake of the EFP Incentive program (incentive claims for improvements made by participating farmers) lagged behind the participation in the EFP workshops, there was a real potential for there to be surplus funds from the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program by March 31, 1997. As of early August, 1996, 3164 EFP participants (plus another 500 from the pilot project) had EFP workbooks deemed appropriate, and 1431 incentive claims were received (as of August 7, 1996), utilizing $1,519,274 of the EFP Incentive. There were at least an additional 1734 EFP participants eligible for the EFP Incentive with a contingent liability of $2,601,000 (1734 X $1,500), but at the current rate of participation, it was projected that $538,687 would not be utilized by March 31, 1997.

To ensure these surplus funds were directed to other worthy projects, the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition sent out a request to their stakeholders requesting written submissions for proposals to utilize these funds for projects related to EFP agenda. Twenty-one proposals were received requesting $1,164,666. These proposals were reviewed by the EFP Contract Management Committee and a recommendation made to stakeholders on August 8, 1996 that 8 of the projects totalling $538,687 be approved for funding. These projects are summarized below and the stakeholders have recommended approval for funding to be utilized by March 31, 1997.

PROPOSALS RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING

1. Best Management Practices (BMP) Development

11 BMP documents are available to outline alternatives when addressing critical environmental issues. These documents include:

A First Look Farm Forestry and Habitat Management (Video Available) Field Crop Production Horticultural Crops Livestock and Poultry Waste Management Nutrient Management

Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Irrigation Management Integrated Pest Management Soil Management Water Management

Projected Results

Further documents to be developed for distribution to EFP participants include:

• Water Wells BMP

• No Till: Making It Work BMP

• Pesticide Storage and Handling BMP

• CD-ROM for Water Management BMP

• Meeting demand in support of EFP Program

• Revisions of EFP Workbooks

210,000 copies of BMPs have been distributed to date. It is anticipated that new copies will be distributed as follows:

96/97	97/98	98/99	99/2000
92,000	100,000	100,000	100,000

Project Lead

• Ontario Federation of Agriculture

• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

• Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Partners

Various other federal departments, government ministries and farm organizations as defined by the specific project.

Green Plan Funds Requested - $126,083

2. On-farm Groundwater Research Re: Baseline Leaching of Nitrogen

The Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition has formed a Groundwater Quality Working Group in recognition of the challenges and concerns on groundwater quality and quantity. Determining the base flows of nitrates in groundwater, the effects of various farming practices and development of best management practices to protect groundwater is a priority.

Projected Results

• Establish partnerships with up to 5 municipalities and include the Universities of Guelph and Waterloo to provide scientific expertise.

• Hire a coordinator to establish farm cooperators and facilitate the on-farm research and demonstration

• Determine baseline leaching levels for nitrogen.

• Establish and demonstrate best management practices required to minimize the impact of farming practices on groundwater quality.

Project Leadd- University of Guelph
Partners - Rural Water Quality Working Group
Green Plan Funds Requested  

3. Composting of Dairy Milkhouse Washwater, Manure Runoff, and Silage Juices

The study proposes to use fumed pile composting technology for research purposes. The technology is easily implemented, requires a minimum of labour and capital and has a high potential for widespread implementation on Ontario farms. This process will eliminate the need for large runoff storage facilities, reduce the manure spreading workload and compaction and eliminate the potential for surface and groundwater contamination of barnyard runoff..

Projected Results

• Vaporize the water portion of the runoff

• Remaining residues will be aerobically degraded by the active masses of bacteria within the composting manure

• Pathogens will be destroyed by 60 °C temperature

• Develop design criteria for implementing the process on Ontario farms

Project Lead - Ecologistics Limited
Green Plan Funds Requested - $ 33,900

View Report Summary
View / Download Report (678KB PDF format)

  4. Develop Policy on Water Taking Rights

In water recharge areas for municipal water supplies, there is growing pressure to restrict or inhibit agricultural practices to a greater extent than normal best management practices. Farmers are also worried that the rules will change over time with little forewarning. There is also potential conflict among water users within and outside agriculture. Policy needs to be established to determine rights with regard to water taking and a formula developed for compensation when traditional (common law) rights are restricted.

Projected Results

• Task force be set up to draft policy on water taking rights

• Formula be developed for compensation where land use is restricted

• Workshop be established to introduce the policy and formula to interested stakeholders

Project Lead- Rural Water Quality Working Group
Green Plan Funds Requested - $25,000

5. Cryptosporidium in Livestock, Manure Storages, and Surface Waters in Ontario

Waterborne pathogens (protozoans) such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium parvum have been identified as causing major health concerns in many communities in North America. These pathogens are hard to detect and standard drinking water treatment using chlorine is not effective. Livestock on farms is frequently targeted as the source, although humans and wildlife may also contribute to the problem.

The agriculture industry has a responsibility to verify the degree of linkage between livestock and pathogens in drinking water and to identify possible means of treatment.

Projected Results

• Literature review of protozoan contamination issues and review of possible connection to irrigation water and contamination of fruit and vegetables.

• List of protozoan contamination levels in typical streams, rivers and ponds in southwestern Ontario (using literature review).

• List of protozoan survival levels in typical manure storages in southwestern Ontario.

• List of protozoan contamination levels in manure runoff, in subsurface runoff (via macropores in tile drains) and in milkhouse waste systems.

• Comparison of results with other regions and interpretation of effects of different manure management systems on protozoan losses to water courses (completed using lab results and existing sources of information).

Project Lead - Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Partners

• Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Ontario Land Resource Unit

Green Plan Funds Requested - $ 82,000

View / Download Report in PDF Format - 184 KB 

 

6. Quantifying Groundwater Nitrogen Impacts under an Ongoing BMP Investigation

Groundwater evaluation frequently involves the use of a single-point piezometer. There is strong evidence that wide variations in groundwater nitrate concentrations occur both seasonally and over the length of a field. A single point piezometer may grossly over or under estimate the nitrate concentration.

This project will be established under twinned sites currently managed in an Agriculture and Agri-Food project funded by the Green Plan program and being conducted by Ecologistics. The results will be compared to results from a single piezometer study.

Projected Results

• An accurate comparison of groundwater impacts under the twinned management plans being evaluated in the ongoing BMP study.

• Comparison and evaluation of the single piezometer monitoring strategy typically used in BMP evaluations with the results of proposed research.

• A poster displaying an accurate view, based on field information, of what nitrate in groundwater looks like suitable for presentation to farm groups.

• A contribution towards the long-term research goals of attaining an accurate conceptual model upon an appropriate monitoring strategy for BMP and other field scale evaluations.

Project Lead- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Partners

• Department of Earth Sciences - University of Waterloo

• The Fertilizer Institute of Ontario

• Ecologistics Ltd.

• Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Green Plan Funds Requested - $ 88,331

View/Download Report (864 kb pdf format)  

7. Assessing The Nitrogen Losses from Late Season Application of Liquid Dairy Manure

There have been some studies of late in Manitoba that show if manure is applied late in the fall when the soil temperatures are low, there is little organic nitrogen breakdown. Late Fall application of manure could be used as an important manure management tool if proven to be non-detrimental to the environment. There would also be an added benefit of having the manure nutrients readily available for uptake by the plant in the spring.

Projected Results

• Literature review of nutrient losses in particular the fate of nitrogen under cold and freezing conditions

• The selection of several sites to obtain a data base for the studies

• Sampling of manure, plant tissue, soil nitrate, soil temperature, soil type and tile outlet nitrogen

• Publication of the results

Project Lead: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Alfred College
Partners: University of Guelph
Green Plan Funds Requested:

View Executive Summary
View / Download Report (64KB PDF format)  

8. Enhancing Ontario Farm Environmental Quality Through Improving Efficiency of Nitrogen Utilization In Field Crops

This project proposes to enhance Ontario farm environmental quality through improving efficiency of nitrogen utilization in field crops. Technology will be developed to more accurately predict soil nitrogen availability.

Project treatment parameters include several rates of N (including 0 N), conventional and conservation soil tillage systems, typical crop rotations with and without forage legumes for each respective region/soil, and variable site topography and soil organic matter, across four major soil types ranging from coarse textured to Brookston clay. The project will be integrated with other researchers/objectives to maximize the utility and cost sharing of field studies. This project has been initiated by the University of Guelph/OMAFRA and the Ontario Corn Producers' Association. The funding for this project will allow expansion beyond the Elora site to include Harrow, Ridgetown and Kemptville sites.

Projected Results:

• Analysis of soil N. soil organic matter, and plant tissue samples

• Data entry/analysis/summarization of findings

Project Lead: Ontario Corn Producers' Association
Partners:

• University of Guelph

• Ontario Field Crops Research Coalition

• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Green Plan Funds Requested: $ 40,073

View / Download Report (20 KB PDF format)

Contingency In The Event Of Greater Or Lessor Participation In The EFP Incentive

A. Greater Participation in EFP Incentive

Participants in the EFP program have been informed that the funding is available on a first come first serve basis. When available funds for the Incentive program have expired, applications will be held for consideration to future sources of funding. The Ontario Adaptation Council is being approached for funding to continue support of the EFP program beyond April 1, 1997. Subject to prior approval, EFP Incentives projects could be funded at any time the Canada-Ontario Green Plan funds expire.

B. Less Participation in the EFP Incentive

If EFP Incentive participation is less than anticipated, a surplus of funds would develop. The Best Management Practices project is in a position to utilize another $412,000 on short notice if the need arises.

PROPOSED BUDGET SUMMARY 1997 - 2000

Program Component	Funds Requested
Best Management Practices (BMP)Development	$126,083
On-Farm Groundwater Milkhouse Research Re: Baseline Leaching of Nitrogen	$100,000
Composting of Dairy Milkhouse Washwater, Manure Runoff, and Silage Juices	$ 33,200
Workshop of Water Taking Rights	$ 25,000
Investigations of Pathogens in Surface Water Sources and Links to Livestock Waste Management	$ 82,000
Quantifying Groundwater Nitrogen Impacts Under an Ongoing BMP Investigation	$ 88,331
Assessing the Nitrogen Losses from Fall Application of Liquid Dairy Manure	$ 44,000
Improving Efficiency of Nitrogen Utilization in Field Crops	$ 40,073
Total	$538,687

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Last Revised: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 07:17:16 AM