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AtlanticEnvironmental

Farm Plan

Third Edition

The Atlantic Canada farming community is grateful to the Ontario FarmEnvironmental Coalition for sharing their EFP model and helping theAtlantic Farmers Council throughout the development of our farmenvironmental assessment and planning process. The OntarioEnvironmental Farm Plan Workbook has been restructured and adapted toour production systems and conditions.

For more information contact:

Atlantic Farmers CouncilP.O. Box 750Moncton, New BrunswickE1C 8N5

Editing: Technical Content:

John Schenkels - President, Atlantic Farmers Council, and N.B. Agriculture and Environmental Council

Barry Cudmore - PEI Federation of Agriculture and President, EFP Steering Committee

Zita Cullihall - NF & L Federation of AgricultureAnn Boswell - PEI Federation of AgricultureJim Burrows - NS Federation of AgricultureJoe Arbour - Environment CanadaMike Langman - NS Dept. of Agriculture & MarketingTeresa Mellish - PEI Dept. of Agriculture, Forestry & FisheriesChristine MacKinnon - PEI Dept. of Environmental ResourcesPaul Smith - NB Dept. of Agriculture & Rural DevelopmentTim Smith - NS Dept. of EnvironmentPatrick Toner - NB Dept. of EnvironmentJan van de Hulst - NF & L Dept. Forest Resources and Agri-FoodsJohn Eaton - Manager, Atlantic Farmers CouncilRonald Desjardins - East. Canada Soil & Water Conservation CentreDavid Lobb - East. Canada Soil & Water Conservation CentreLise Ouellette - East. Canada Soil & Water Conservation Centre

Plain Language Review - Yvonne Thyssen-Post, NS Dept. of Agr. & Mktg.

Original Concept: Farm *A*Syst, Madison, Wisconsin Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition

Original Design: Bayne Herrera Berman Communications Ltd., Ottawa

A T L A N T I C E N V I R O N M E N T A L F A R M P L A N W O R K B O O K

Table of Contents

Message from the Atlantic Farmers Council

Introduction

Your Guide to the Environmental Farm Plan Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IN 1

The Environmental Farm Plan Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IN 2

How to Use the Environmental Farm Plan Workbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IN 3

How to Choose the Sites for Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IN 5

Part 1 - Reviewing Your Farm Section FH - Farmstead and Homestead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FH 1

Resource List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FH 3Water Source and Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FH 5Pesticide Storage and Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FH 16Fertilizer Storage and Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FH 20Storage of Petroleum Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FH 22Management of Farm Wastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FH 27Energy Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FH 32

Section LP - Livestock and Poultry Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LP 1Resource List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LP 3Manure Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LP 5Manure Use and Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LP 9Milking Centre Washwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LP 13Livestock Yards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LP 15

Feed Storage and Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LP 16Noise and Odour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LP 19

A T L A N T I C E N V I R O N M E N T A L F A R M P L A N W O R K B O O K

Section SC - Soil and Crop Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SC 1Resource List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SC 3Field Crop Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SC 6Fruit and Nursery Crop Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SC 8Greenhouse Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SC 10Soil Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SC 13Nutrient Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SC 25Pest Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SC 29

Section ER - Sensitive Ecological Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ER 1Resource List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ER 3Stream, Ditch and Floodplain Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ER 5Woodlands and Wildlife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ER 9Wetlands and Wildlife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ER 11

Section WB - Windbreaks, Hedgerows and Shelterbelts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WB 1Resource List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WB 3Field Windbreaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WB 4Livestock Windbreaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WB 6Homestead Windbreaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WB 8Living Snowfences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WB 10

LegislationGlossaryConversion Tables

Part 2 - Developing your Action Plan

Introduction to the Action Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AP 1

Completing the Action Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AP 2

Action Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AP 6

A T L A N T I C E N V I R O N M E N T A L F A R M P L A N W O R K B O O K

Message from the Atlantic Farmers CouncilThe Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program is a most important initiativein the history of Atlantic Canada's agriculture. Thank you for choosing to getinvolve.

Environmental farm plans are an industry driven initiative. The AtlanticFarmers Council has been working with major farm organizations throughoutthe region, as well as federal and provincial government departments, todevelop this initiative.

In May 1995, the Council published "Our Green Agenda", a booklet whichdescribes important environmental issues in the region and some measuresthat can address these issues. In this booklet, the farming community makes acommitment to take leadership to ensure that our families, communities andfuture generations inherit a rich and healthy natural resource base.

The Environmental Farm Plan initiative calls for each farmer in AtlanticCanada to complete an environmental assessment of their operation and todevelop an action plan tailored to the farm’s specific conditions. TheEnvironmental Farm Plan workbook is intended to facilitate this process. Afarmer organization has been designated in each province to coordinate theimplementation of the environmental farm plan program.

The objectives of the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) initiative are:- to have 75 % of the primary agricultural sector in Atlantic Canada

complete an EFP within 5 years;- to have 95 % of the primary agricultural sector in Atlantic Canada

complete an EFP within 10 years;- to establish a process for regular reviews and updates of the EFP's.

These high targets have been set by the farming community itself, through itsrepresentative organizations. Farmers are being asked to commit on avoluntary basis to the environmental farm plan process. A strongcommitment is required from all farmers and industry organizations to succeedin this initiative and make an important step towards sustainable agriculture inAtlantic Canada. Farmers and the agri-food industry can gain

important benefits from taking a leadership role to foster sustainableagriculture in our region. The EFP initiative promotes healthy farm families,wealthy rural communities, land stewardship, economic benefits from a richresource base and marketing benefits tied to a green industry.

Farmers have taken the lead role in the development of the EFP Program, andin the preparation of "Our Green Agenda" and the Environmental Farm PlanWorkbook. Cooperation from Departments of Agriculture and Environmentthroughout the region, both provincially and federally, and the Eastern CanadaSoil and Water Conservation Centre was also essential.

The Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition has very generously agreed toshare with us the good and bad aspects of their EFP experience. As well, apilot project carried out in P.E.I. in 1993 provided very useful feedback for theadaptation of the workbook.

Your Environmental Farm Plan is strictly confidential. The Atlantic FarmersCouncil will ask you to participate on an anonymous basis in an in-depthevaluation of the EFP process, its benefits on your farm and some informationfrom your farm plan to help document the need for better farm programs. Discussions have been carried out with officials from the department ofenvironment in each province to ensure the confidentiality of the farm plans.

It is important to remember that the program is completely voluntary anddirected by the farming community itself. Only farmers can make it a success. Thank you for being part of this progressive group.

John Sckenkels, N.B. Agri-Env. Council and Jim Burrows, Representative President, Atlantic Farmers Council N.S. Federation of Agriculture

Barry Cudmore, PEI Federation of Agriculture and Zita Cullihall, RepresentativePresident, EFP Steering Committee NF & L Federation of Agriculture

Part 1 - Reviewing Your Farm

A T L A N T I C E N V I R O N M E N T A L F A R M P L A N W O R K B O O K

Your Guide to the Environmental Farm Plan Program

The goal of the EFP program is to help you develop a practical plan foroperating your farm in a way that is environmentally responsible. Bydeveloping an Environmental Farm Plan, you are taking an important stepfor your farm's wealth and for the environment in Atlantic Canada.

A workshop will be organized in your region to help guide you through theEFP program. At the workshop, you will assess the soils on your farm andtheir ability to offset, or increase, potential risks to the environment. Thisworkshop will prepare you to complete the Farm Review worksheets in thisworkbook.

Once you have completed your farm review, you will consider differentsolutions for potential problems you identified. Several resources areavailable to help you in this process: extension services, other farmershaving experienced similar situations or adopted innovative technologies,publications, private consultants, results from research/demonstrationprojects, the department of environment, your watershed organization,suppliers, etc. Following this you can start to develop your Action Plan.

Remember that the Farm Review and the Action Plan belong only to you. They will help you identify potential problems that may effect theenvironment, and find solutions to reduce the risk.

As you work on your Action Plan, you will have to decide whether potentialproblems result from natural risks on your farm (e.g. soil type or depth towater table), or from the way you manage some part of your farm operations. You will have to determine what you need to do to solve these problems orcontrol them, either immediately or over the next number of years.

The coordinator of the EFP program in your province will review the planwith you and confirm its completion. A certificate of completion will thenbe issued. Call your provincial farm organization or commodity associationand find out how to get the most benefit from the program.

Follow the plan to make changes in your farm operations according to theschedule you have set. Update your plan to integrate new developments ortechnologies, or to make adjustments as conditions change in yourenterprise.

The following chart summarizes all of the steps in the Environmental FarmPlan process.

Introduction

IN 2

A T L A N T I C E N V I R O N M E N T A L F A RM P L A N W O R K B O O K

The Environmental Farm Plan Process

EFP Workshop. site evaluation (technical information). assess potential concerns

Complete Farm Review at home. review all farm operations. fill in all worksheets that apply

Look for solutions. consider possible actions/solutions. consult resource persons and litterature

Develop a realistic Action Plan . identify actions for high risk (3 or 4) rated situations. develop a time table for the action plan

EFP Review. coordinator review EFP with farmer. certificate of completion of EFP issued

Implementation of Plan. put plan into action. participate in evaluation survey. re-evaluate each year

IN 3

A T L A N T I C E N V I R O N M E N T A L F A R M P L A N W O R K B O O K

How to Use the Environmental Farm Plan Workbook

This workbook will help you analyse your farm in a new way. It asks you tothink about your land, your farm buildings, the products you use, and manyother things from a different perspective. It asks you to rate how each of thesethings could affect the environment - the air, soil, wildlife and water sources -around your farm. And, it asks you to consider new ways of operating thatwill decrease the risks to our precious natural resources.

The EFP Workbook has two parts - the Farm Review and the Action Plan.

GETTING READY

A) The first job in getting ready for your farm plan is to prepare a map ofyour farm structures and fields, and their location in relation to your farmwell and other water sources. Number your fields, so that you can groupthose which have similar characteristics or management practices. PageIN 5 explains how to choose the farmstead sites and the field groups.

Seven columns have been designed for farmstead sites or field groups (orindividual fields). The seventh column has been left blank. You can eitheruse it for a permanent site or field group, or you can use it whenappropriate for another site of specific interest, such as a fuel tank in afield, or a shed away from your main farm site, or your irrigation pond,etc. This allows you to consider a larger number of sites and even, fieldsor field groups. You must however keep in mind that the larger thenumber of sites or field groups you deal with, the more complex youraction plan will be. The challenge is to find a manageable level of detail.Ideally, you should limit to seven the total number of sites and fieldgroups. But there is room for a larger number of sites and groups, if youfeel it is needed.

Include the following information on the map: boundaries, field numbersand acreage (and the field group letter if fields have been regrouped),buildings and storages, wells and watercourses on or nearby your farm. Indicate the distance between potential contaminant sources and watersources.

B) The second step is to assess the soil and site characteristics of your farmfor soil erosion risks and water contamination potential. You should keepin mind that the assessment only refers to a risk factor or a potentialsource of contamination, not a current situation. Resource persons at thefirst workshop will help you to complete this section.

These two steps are essential as the information they provide will beneeded in various sections or sub-sections of the workbook.

The intent is to have these two initial steps finalized by the end of theEFP workshop, so that you can complete the review of your farm on yourown at home.

FARM REVIEW

The farm review or environmental risk assessment has been divided in fourmajor sections:

- farmstead and homestead- livestock and poultry management- soil and crop management- sensitive ecological resources- windbreaks, hedgerows and shelterbelts

IN 4

These sections are then subdivided into a number of specific topics.Pick out the sections and topics that apply to your home farm and any othersite you may want to review. You can move any section you don't need to theback of the book. However, sections FH (Farmstead and Homestead) and ER(Sensitive Ecological Resources) must be completed on all farms.

Use the following process to complete each section for your farm:

! Read over the topics. Fill out only the questions that apply to your farm. Leave the others blank.

! Fill in information from the farm map and soil and site characteristics.

! For each question, there are descriptions associated to 4 differentenvironmental risk ratings. The risk rating can refer to either naturalconditions or current situations. Each description has a number rating:

Low - 1 (low risk) - 2 - 3High - 4 (high risk)

The Low risk (1) rating shows conditions that protect the environment orhave the lowest potential for environmental damage. A High risk (4) ratingshows conditions that have the highest potential to affect the environment.

Circle the number or description that illustrates the best the conditions on yourfarm. Mark the rating number for each site or field group in the box at theright of the table.

NOTE # 1: Departments of Agriculture and Environment in each provincehave prepared the Environmental Regulations Handbook for Agriculturewhich apply to agricultural activities and operations within that province. Therating criteria take into account as much as possible regulations. As these varybetween provinces, it was not always possible to totally reflect regulations.Furthermore, the rating criteria are based on best management practices andthey often exceed regulations. In cases where rating criteria are belowregulated standards, the regulations apply.

Farmers need to refer to the Agricultural Legislations and RegulationsHandbook in their province. Federal laws or municipal bylaws may alsoapply. Contact your local government office for more information.

NOTE # 2: Metric units of measure are used in the EFP Workbook. If youwish to work in different units, see the Conversion Table enclosed.

ACTION PLAN

! When you have filled out all the worksheets that apply to your farm,attend EFP workshop, consult resource persons and material to exploresolutions to concerns identified in the evaluation.

!! High risk (3 or 4) ratings show what areas of your farm operationsneed some changes to prevent potential environmental problems.

! Review the evaluation criteria for Low Risk (1 or 2) in each question tohelp you decide what you can do to solve or control potential problems.

! Remember this is your Action Plan. It must suit you and your farmconditions.

! When you have completed your action plan, call the farm organizationresponsible for the EFP program in your province to find out how tosubmit your plan for review.

! After the Action Plan has been reviewed, make the changes identified inthe plan according to the timetable you have established.

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A T L A N T I C E N V I R O N M E N T A L F A R M P L A N W O R K B O O K

How to Choose Farmstead Sites or Field Groups for the Review

FARMSTEAD SITES

Farmstead sites are places where there are permanent structures or buildings,such as: home, equipment shed, pesticide storage facility, well, barn,livestock shelter, etc. Most farms normally have one farmstead site wherethe various buildings and structures are grouped. Some farms may howeverhave buildings or structures on different sites. You could also designate as asite a neighbour’s well or the municipality well to assess the potential impactof your farm’s activities on this site.

Any area which has a fixed source of potential contaminants should also beconsidered as part of a farmstead site (e.g. livestock yard, compost site).

Locate the farm structures on your farm map and measure or estimate thedistance to the nearest water source(s).

Your home farmstead should be listed as site "A". List your sites on theFarmstead Sites chart on the farm map. Remember to keep the same letterfor each farmstead site as you go through the worksheets.

FIELD GROUPS

Locate and number your fields on the map. If you manage a number of fieldsin a similar way, you may want to list these fields together as one fieldgroup. For example, if a group of fields have similar soil characteristics (soiltype and slope) and cropping system (e.g. row crops and rotation system),they could form one field group. Keep in mind that your review may not beas accurate if you group fields that are not similar.

List your field groups or fields on the Field Groups chart on the farm map. Remember to keep the same letter for each field group as you go through theworkbook.

If you have grouped fields together, put on the farm map the letter of thefield group on all the fields included in the group.

Jerome Damboise