Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Environmental Management Service Standards

Our Mandate

The Environmental Management Branch provides knowledge and expertise to its stakeholders through coordination of environmental sustainability programs, knowledge translation and transfer, development of collaborative partnerships and the development of multiple access points for technical information.

The drainage program (which includes the Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure Program and the Tile Drainage Loan Program) is to encourage the development of agricultural land in an environmentally responsible manner by providing financing for both municipal and private drainage projects.

The Farm Implements Registration Program registers distributors, manufacturers and dealers of farm machinery in Ontario, as required by the Farm Implements Act.

The mandate of the Nutrient Management Program is to administer the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 and associated regulations. The purpose of the Act is:

"... to provide for the management of materials containing nutrients in ways that will enhance protection of the natural environment and provide a sustainable future for agricultural operations and rural development."

Our Services

1. Drainage - We administer the Tile Drainage Loan Program, which provides loans to landowners who want to install tile drainage systems on their agricultural land. We also administer the Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure Program, which provides grants to municipalities for the construction, repair, improvement and maintenance of drainage systems constructed in accordance with a municipal by-law, passed under the authority of the Drainage Act.
2. Farm Implements Registration - We provide the following services to farm machinery companies (distributors, manufacturers and dealers):
   • information packages (online and hard copy) on the Act and the registration program
   • register companies which apply for registration and issue registration certificates
   • issue registration renewal notices at least six weeks before registration renewal is due
   • respond to questions about the act and the registration process
   • publish lists of registered farm machinery companies
3. Nutrient Management - We provide the following services:

   Approvals for Nutrient Management Strategies and Plans (including NASM Plans) for agricultural operations

   • Certificates:
     • Agricultural Operation Strategy or Plan Development Certificate
     • Agricultural Operation Planning Certificate
     • Broker Certificate
   • Licences:
     • Prescribed Materials Application Business Licence
     • Nutrient Application Technician Licence

Our Service Standards

Subject to operational exigencies, in the usual course of business*, standards for each of the program services are outlined below:

Drainage Tile Loan - We aim to process fully completed tile loan applications within 30 business days of being received.

Drainage Grant Program - We aim to process fully completed grant applications for the Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure program received in a fiscal year before deadline announced for that grant (ie. last business day of January for superintendents and maintenance grants, Feb. 15 for construction grants) will be processed by the end of that fiscal year.

Farm Implement Registration - We aim to mail out fully completed registration renewal packages to the client at least six weeks before the registration expiry date.

Farm Implement Registration - We aim to issue registration certificates within 45 business days of receipt of fully completed application.

Farm Implement Registration - We aim to send out application packages within 10 business days of receiving a request.

Nutrient Management - We aim to approve fully completed Nutrient Management Strategies and plan applications within 50 calendar days of receipt.

Nutrient Management - We aim to issue certificates or licences to applicants who have successfully completed all requirements within 10 business days.

Nutrient Management - We aim to approve fully completed Non-Agricultural Source Material (NASM) plan applications within 50 calendar days of receipt.

Results 2017-18

Program/Service	Service Standard	Target (%)	Actual (%)
Drainage Tile Loan Program	We aim to process fully completed tile loan applications within 30 business days of being received.	75	100
Drainage Grants Program	We aim to process fully completed grant applications for the Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure program received in a fiscal year before deadline announced for that grant (i.e. last business day of January for superintendents and maintenance grants, Feb. 15 for construction grants) will be processed by the end of that fiscal year.	75	77
Farm Implement Registration Program	We aim to mail out fully completed registration renewal packages to the client at least six weeks before the registration expiry date.	75	100
Farm Implement Registration Program	We aim to issue registration certificates within 45 business days of receipt of complete application.	75	100
Farm Implement Registration Program	We aim to send out application packages within 10 business days of receiving a request.	75	100
Nutrient Management	We aim to approve fully completed Nutrient Management Strategies and plan applications within 50 business days of receipt.	80	58
Nutrient Management	We aim to issue certificates or licences to applicants who have successfully completed all requirements within 10 business days.	90	100
Nutrient Management	We aim to approve fully completed Non-Agricultural Source Material (NASM) plan applications within 50 calendar days of receipt.	80	38

Feedback/Complaints

Feedback and complaints are handled as outlined below:

1. Drainage: Complaints or feedback may be directed to the Drainage Coordinator. Contact information is provided on all program correspondence. Feedback can also be made through the OMAFRA website.
2. Farm implement registration feedback can be made through the OMAFRA website.
3. Nutrient Management program feedback and complaints should be forwarded to the Nutrient Management  Team Lead. Contact information is provided on all program correspondence and on the OMAFRA website.

We want to provide the best service that we can and your feedback helps us to improve. If you have comments, questions or concerns about our service we encourage you to let us know. Please contact us by calling the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or use the Feedback Form or send an e-mail to ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.