Agriculture Odour Management in Ontario Amadou O Thiam P.Eng Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Odour Management Conference & Technology Showcase Toronto, September 14 & 15 2015
Profile of OMAFRA Stakeholders Ontario agricultural sector Over 200 commodities produced; $8.86B gross farm cash receipts Accounts for ¼ of Canada s agricultural production Home to the majority of Canada s Class 1 agricultural land Ontario food processing sector Second-largest manufacturing sector in Ontario, Accounts for 40% of Canadian food processing capacity Buys 70% of the production from Ontario farms 2
Statistical Snapshot of Primary Agriculture in Ontario Number of Farms 51,950 1 Farm Operators 74,840 1 Farm Cash Receipts $12.1 Billion 2 Exports $11.9 Billion 3 Land Area 12,668,236 acres 1 1 Source: Statistics Canada, 2011 Census of Agriculture. 2 Source: Statistics Canada 2013 3
Number of Census Farms and Farm Area, Ontario, 1991-2011 16.0 80,000 14.0 68,633 67,520 70,000 Million Acres 12.0 10.0 8.0 59,728 57,211 51,950 60,000 50,000 40,000 # of farms 6.0 30,000 4.0 20,000 2.0 10,000 0.0 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 0 total farm area (acres) Farms Number of farms and farm area are decreasing Worldwide trend of urban consumption of agricultural land Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture 4
Number of Ontario Farms by Industry Group (North American Industrial Classification System), 2011 Other types, 5737, 11.0% Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture, 2372, 4.6% Fruit and tree-nut, 1548, 3.0% Dairy cattle and milk production, 4036, 7.8% Beef cattle, including feedlots, 7105, 13.7% Vegetable, 1531, 2.9% Hog and pig, 1235, 2.4% Tobacco farming, 137, 0.3% Hay farming, 5600, 10.8% Poultry, 1491, 2.9% Sheep and goat, 1446, 2.8% Horses and equine, 3894, 7.5% Livestock and Poultry : 37% (20 000 livestock ) Grain and Oilseed, 15818, 30.4% Source: Statistics Canada, 2011 Census of Agriculture. 5
Agriculture Odour source Barn 66% Manure Storage 17% Manure Application 17%
5 most common farm odour complaints Storage & spreading of manure Storage & spreading of non-manure materials Temporary field storage of manure/other material Composting of manure & other materials Emerging green energy systems Farm Odour: 40% of 160 complaints 98% of cases are resolved through conflict resolution and implementation of BMP 7
Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) Formulae
What is MDS? Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) is a land use planning tool developed by OMAFRA in the 1970 s. MDS calculates a setback between a livestock operation and other surrounding land uses, and visa versa. Intent is to minimize nuisance complaints due to odour and thereby reduce potential land use conflicts between livestock facilities and other land uses. MDS is applied at the time of a building permit application or a land use planning approval.
How Does MDS Work? The MDS Formulae is made up of two separate but related formulae (MDS I & MDS II) MDS I calculates a separation distance between proposed non-farm development and an existing livestock facility MDS II calculates a separation distance between a new or altered livestock facility and existing development and is applied at the time of a building permit application. 10
How Does MDS Work? The separation distances calculated by the MDS formulae vary according to a five factors: Factor A Relative Odour Potential (i.e. how smelly?) Factor B Number of Nutrient Units (i.e. how many livestock?) Factor C Orderly Expansion Factor (i.e. how big an increase?) Factor D Manure or Material State (i.e. solid vs. liquid?) Factor E Encroaching Land Use Factor (i.e. what s being proposed?) 11
Farming & Food Production Protection Act (FFPPA) FFPPA protects farmers against nuisance complaints providing they follow normal farm practices. There are seven nuisances listed under the Act noise, odour, dust, light, vibration, smoke and flies The Act also protects farmers from municipal bylaws restricting normal farm practice.
Normal Farm Practices The Act defines normal farm practice as a farming practice which: is consistent with proper, acceptable customs and standards of similar operations; or uses innovative technology according to proper, advanced farm management practices. The Nutrient Management Act can also establish normal farm practices through its regulations.
Conflict Resolution Process is mandatory Before the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board (NFPPB) can consider an application for a hearing, the case must first go through the Farm Practices Conflict Resolution Process. 98% of cases are resolved through conflict resolution by OMAFRA s agricultural engineers or environmental specialists.
Enablers: Raising Awareness / Communications Field workshops & research Best Management Practices Guides 15
OMAFRA agricultural engineers and environmental specialists Geographic Areas of Responsibility W N E Kenora Renfrew S Prescott and Russell Ottawa - Carleton Rainy River Thunder Bay Algoma Cochrane Timiskaming Sudbury ParryNipissing Sound Manitoulin Lambton Bruce Huron Wellington * Clinton Halton Perth Waterloo * Stratfor Hamilton d Oxford - Wentworth Brant Middlesex Niagara * * London Woodstock Haldimand-Norfolk Elgin * Midhurst Simcoe Victoria Peterborough Lennox & Grey Addington * Markdale Northumberland Dufferin Durham Prince * BrightonEdward York Peel Muskoka Metro Toronto Haliburton Hastings Lanark Frontenac Leeds-Grenville Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry * Kemptville 15 agricultural engineers 7 environmental specialists 15 MOECC AgEO Kent Essex.
In Summary Agriculture and food processing are important contributor to Ontario Economy Livestock production produces odour emissions that induce several cohabitation problems OMAFRA Role: Collaborate Influence work of others Engage stakeholders Program delivery Share knowledge & expertise OMAFRA will further strengthen partnerships in research, data collection and monitoring, policy and program development, knowledge translation and transfer, and communications. 17
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