For release: October 15, 2004
Government Helps Farmers to Better Protect the Environment
Dates for Compliance Matched to Availability of Funding
GUELPH - The Ontario government is providing the province's large
livestock farmers with additional time to access funding through the Nutrient
Management Financial Assistance Program, Minister of Agriculture and Food
Steve Peters announced today.
"The legislation is designed to help farmers better protect Ontario's
water sources by putting in place clear and consistent rules," said
Peters. "The farming community has suffered financial hardships in
the last year. To make accessing funds more straightforward and helpful
for farmers, we've changed the deadline for the program- that's good for
farmers, good for the environment and good for all of us."
The government has amended a regulation under the Nutrient Management
Act to match the compliance date with the availability of $20 million
in funding. Ontario's existing 1,200 large livestock operators must be
in compliance with the act by December 31, 2005.
"We know this financial assistance program is important to Ontario's
agricultural community. That's why we took the time to get the details
right. We're pleased that the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association
(OSCIA) has agreed to deliver this program," said Peters.
"Our organization has a long and effective history when it comes
to farmer-to-farmer education and awarenesss-building," said Steven
Eastep, OSCIA president. "We're pleased to build on our long-standing
relationship with both local farmers and the provincial government and
partner in the delivery of this initiative that will enhance the agriculture
sector's environmental stewardship."
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and OSCIA will work with
affected farmers to assist them in understanding the requirements of the
amended regulation and how to access the program.
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Contacts:
Mary Devorski
Minister's office
(416) 326-3077
(416) 606-8303 (Mobile)
Charles Lalonde
Resources Management Branch, OMAF
(519) 826-3577
BACKGROUNDER
Nutrient Management Financial Assistance Program
The Nutrient Management Financial Assistance Program (NMFAP) is a $20
million initiative designed to help farmers pay the costs associated with
becoming compliant with the Nutrient Management Act. The act provides
clear and consistent environmental protection guidelines for Ontario's
agricultural industry, municipalities and other generators of materials
that contain nutrients.
NMFAP is retroactive to May 18, 2004, and will share the costs of projects
completed by the end of 2005. To provide the province's large livestock
farmers with additional time to access this funding, the Ontario government
has amended the regulation under the act to align compliance dates with
the availability of funding.
With these changes, existing large livestock operators are required to
submit a Nutrient Management Strategy by July 1, 2005, however, to access
the funding, farmers must submit this strategy by March 31, 2005. Nutrient
Management Plans have a later deadline of December 31, 2005, at which
time large livestock producers must be compliant with the act. OMAFRA
Staff will provide technical assistance to producers in the development
of their strategies and plans.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) has contracted with
the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) to deliver the
program. The OSCIA is the natural choice to deliver NMFAP due to its long
history of facilitating responsible and economical approaches to the management
of soil, water, air and crops, its previous partnership with the Ontario
government in the delivery of land stewardship programs, and its success
in the delivery of the Environmental Farm Plan.
The financial assistance program is targeted to approximately 1,200 existing
large livestock operators (e.g. livestock operations with more than 1,800
hogs or 165 dairy cows) and will share the costs of a number of eligible
items, including:
- New and/or improved manure storages and handling
- Farmyard runoff control and outdoor confinement areas
- Nutrient management plan development
- Water well management
- Vegetative buffer strip establishment
- Cropland erosion control structures
- Manure treatment technologies
- Technologies to recover nutrients from agricultural washwaters
- In-barn modifications to reduce the volume of manure
- On-farm nutrient product and waste management technologies.
Certain specific costs will be ineligible for funding, including:
- Repair and maintenance of buildings and equipment
- Complete units of farm equipment
- Tile and surface drainage
- Feed and feed rations
- Legal fees
- Land costs
- Transportation costs
- Practices not related to nutrient and water management
- On-going maintenance or opportunity costs associated with the implementation
of Nutrient Management Plans.
The NMFAP will provide eligible farmers with up to 45 per cent of the
funds necessary to make the required environmental improvements on their
operations. When combined with the financial assistance that will be available
from the federal government under the Agricultural Policy Framework, up
to 75 per cent of a farmer's total costs could be covered.
Additional program details, including information on how to apply to
NMFAP, will be made available at information sessions to be held through
November. These sessions, coordinated by the OSCIA, will be targeted to
the 1,200 existing large livestock operators and will help those farmers
better understand the regulation and what it means for their individual
operations. OMAFRA Staff will also be on hand to provide technical assistance.
Producers with questions around the information sessions should call
the OSCIA at 1-519-826-4214. Existing large livestock producers who have
questions about the NMA and regulations are reminded to call the nutrient
management toll-free line at 1-866-242-4460.
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Contacts:
Harold Rudy
Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association
519 826-4214
Charles Lalonde
Resources Management Branch, OMAF
519 826-3577
