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Nutrient Management

Regulation and Protocols

• O. Reg. 267/03 General Regulation under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002
  Protocols:
• Nutrient Management Protocol
• Sampling And Analysis Protocol For Soil And Land Applied Materials

Documents

Resources Information Bulletin: Ontario Government Making Progress with Regulation of Nutrient Management Across the Province Memo: Ontario Ministry of the Environment Acceptance of Accreditation Status (February 24, 2005) 1749e01 Interim Guidelines for the Production and Use of Aerobic Compost in Ontario, 2004

Link to more Nutrient Management documents on the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Web site

What is Nutrient Management?

Plant nutrients which are contained in both manure and chemical fertilizers are essential to a farm operation. When applied in proper quantities and at appropriate times, the nutrients will aid in achieving optimum crop yields. However, improper use of nutrients can lead to soil-nutrient and feed-ration imbalances and can cause water quality problems both locally and downstream. The objective of nutrient management is to use nutrients (mainly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) wisely for optimum economic benefit, while minimizing impact on the environment.
From "10 Steps To Complete A Nutrient Management Plan For Livestock & Poultry Manure", Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

The Nutrient Management Act.

The Nutrient Management Act passed on June 27, 2002. It addresses land-applied materials containing nutrients. This includes provisions for the development of strong new standards for all land-applied materials containing nutrients, a proposal to ban the land application of untreated septage over a five-year period, and proposed strong new requirements such as: the review and approval of nutrient management plans, certification of land applicators and a new registry system for all land applications.

The Act provides a comprehensive nutrient management framework for Ontario's agricultural industry, municipalities and other generators of materials containing nutrients, including clear environmental protection guidelines. It builds on the existing system by giving current best management practices the force of law, and creating comprehensive, enforceable, province-wide standards to regulate the management of all land- applied materials containing nutrients. The Act contains amendments to the Environmental Protection Act, the Highway Traffic Act, the Ontario Water Resources Act and the Pesticides Act, and consequential amendments to the Farming and Food Production Protection Act, 1998 to ensure consistency and give higher recognition to the standards.

Nutient Management Resources

Ministry of Agriculture and Food web site will keep you informed of progress on nutrient management standards development and technical aspects of nutrient management practices and technologies.

• See the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Nutrient Management Web Site.

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If you are having difficulty accessing a document, please contact the Ministry of the Environment at picemail@ene.gov.on.ca or phone the ministry's Public Information Centre at 1- 800-565-4923, in Toronto 416-325-4000 or by mail to the Ministry of the Environment, Public Information Centre, 135 St. Clair Ave. West, 1st Floor, Toronto, ON. M4V 1P5.

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