Changes to the Environmental Management Act

On February 28, 2019, a new Minister’s Regulation called the Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management, came into effect under the Environmental Management Act. This new regulation replaces the former Agricultural Waste Control Regulation and applies to all agricultural operations, with different requirements based on size, location, animal units, and soil nutrient levels.

One of the key changes includes a science-based approach to nutrient management. Excessive nutrients can have deleterious effects on soil quality, plant productivity, and adjacent water resources. Under the new regulation, different criteria will be used to determine soil sampling requirements and the need for a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) to be authored.  NMPs will be required to be authored by qualified professional for high risk sites, as determined by the location and soil test results. This regulation will be phased in over a ten-year period.

Click here for more details pertaining to the new regulation. Contact us to learn how SYLVIS’s qualified professionals can provide an NMP for your agricultural operations under the new regulation.