Responsibilities of Engineering Staff

Staff

• Managers:
  • Dan Carlow
  • Colleen Fitzgerald-Hubble
    
    
• Engineers:
  • Richard Brunke
  • Robert Chambers
  • Hala Chaoui
  • Steve Clarke
  • Jake DeBruyn
  • Finbar Desir
  • Hugh W. Fraser
  • Ben Hawkins
  • Don Hilborn
  • Harold K. House
  • Andrew Jamieson
  • John W. Johnson
  • Benoit Lebeau
  • Kevin McKague
  • Terrence Sauve
  • Helmut Spieser
  • John Warbick
  • Daniel Ward
  • Ping Wu
  • Vacant - Engineer, Soil Management

Dan Carlow

Manager, Innovation, Engineering and Program Delivery - West
Phone: (519) 271-7593
E-mail: dan.carlow@ontario.ca

Colleen Fitzgerald-Hubble

Manager, Innovation, Engineering and Program Delivery - East
Phone: (519) 826-3560 Fax: (519) 826-3259
E-mail: colleen.fitzgerald-hubble@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Program

• Manages the Engineering and Technology Unit which is comprised of environmental engineers and strategically assigned discipline program leads. Ensures that the ministry and its clients have access to leading-edge technical expertise and technology applications.
• The unit's focus includes: animal and crop care engineering, environmental engineering, resources management engineering, structural design engineering, decision supports systems, technology applications and farm implements.
• The unit has lead role in dealing with on-farm environmental abatement issues, such as:
  • surface and groundwater quality,
  • by-product/waste management including the development of and review of Nutrient Management Plans,
  • handling complaints on odours, noise, dust, light, vibration, smoke and flies,
  • Minimum Distance Separation (MDS), and
  • the Certificate of Compliance program.
• Manages and administers the Farming and Food Production Protection Act (FFPPA) including the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board. Deals with the scope of "normal farm practices" and restrictive municipal by-laws; develops protocols, ministry "position statements" and "directives, guidelines and policy statements" under FFPPA.
• Manages and administers the Farm Implements Act including the Ontario Farm Implements Board.
• Lead role on issues such as equipment sales, safety, performance, parts supply and warranty and resolution of disputes.

Responsibilites - Canada-Wide

• Chair of the Canada Plan Service (CPS) Management Committee. This unit manages a valuable resource of farm building design information produced by all provinces in Canada.
• Chair of the CPS Environmental Engineering (10000 Series) Committee. The CPS provides plans and management leaflet information for use by all provinces in Canada.

Richard Brunke

Engineer, Nutrient Management
Phone: (519) 873-4082 Fax: (519) 273-5278
E-mail: richard.brunke@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Regional

• Essex, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex and Elgin

Robert Chambers

Engineer, Swine and Sheep Housing and Equipment
Phone: (519) 846-3406 Fax: (519) 846-8178
E-mail: robert.chambers@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• OMAFRA Swine and Sheep Structures and Equipment Specialist.
• Provides engineering information on swine and sheep housing and equipment to producers and ag-industry throughout Ontario.
• Provides information in all areas of housing including: layout, building alternatives, ventilation, manure handling, feeding systems, deadstock handling, etc.
• Special interest areas include: animal welfare issues (i.e., sow and ewe housing), composting and environmental and worker health.
• Supplies information on options for new and expanding swine and sheep facilities.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in Waterloo and Wellington Counties. This includes: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) for new livestock and poultry barns; third party review of Nutrient Management Plans; and environmental abatement for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.

Hala Chaoui (A)

Engineer, Air Quality
Phone: (613) 679-4292 Fax: (613) 679-0929
Email: hala.chaoui@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• OMAFRA's Air Quality Engineer
• Participates in the development of regulatory and technical standards for Ontario's Agriculture industry.
• Prepares packages and presents information and training programs for various interest groups regarding nutrient management planning, livestock facility siting, neighbour relations, conflict resolution, regulatory compliance and rural urban - Interface issues to municipalities, interest groups, other resource Ministries, etc..
• Conducts "third party reviews" of Nutrient Management Plans submitted to municipalities for building permit applications.
• Conducts investigations and provides advice and recommendations for environmental abatement incident calls.
• Provides alternative dispute resolution services for rural - urban interface/neighbour disputes regarding agricultural practices through negotiation and mediation.
• Participates in the development and evaluation of engineering and technical standards for intensive livestock facilities and nutrient management practices.
• Participates with the development of GIs based decision support tools to track and evaluate livestock barn siting and nutrient management plan proposals.
• Participates in the development, evaluations, implementation and research concerning livestock environmental concerns and technologies, including odour, seepage and runoff of manure and riparian access.
• Conducts applied research to analyze/investigate the effects of ILO developments on communities and the environment.
• Conducts collaborative applied research and investigations to evaluate new and innovative resource conservation and environmental protection practices and procedures for sue and acceptance in Ontario's agriculture industry.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in Bruce and Grey Counties. This includes: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) for new livestock and poultry barns; third party review of Nutrient Management Plans; and environmental abatement for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.

Steve Clarke

Engineer, Energy and Crop Systems
Phone: (613) 258-8305 Fax: (613) 258-8392
E-mail: steve.clarke@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• Energy and Crop Systems Engineer, including alternative and renewable energy sources, forage crop storage/equipment, and agricultural plastic recycling.
• Develops, evaluates, demonstrates, trains and transfers engineering technology in energy systems, field crop storage and equipment, to the agriculture and food industry with the goal of improving efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability while ensuring a safe and healthy rural environment. This process includes conducting applied research, devising testing methodologies and techniques, developing functional specifications and verifying their adoption.
• Reviews government funding projects with respect to energy and crops engineering like Grow Ontario projects.
• Chairperson of the Crops Engineering Research and Services Sub-committee of the Ontario Agriculture and Food Engineering Research and Services Committee.
• Steering and Review Committee Member of Rideau Valley Rural Clean Water Program and City of Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program Steering and Review Committee
• CSA Technical Committee on Emergency Electrical Power Supplies for Buildings
• Chair of the Crops Engineering (7000 Series) Committee of the Canada Plan Service

Responsibilities - Regional

• Provides the lead field role, on behalf of OMAFRA, resolving problems in the area of odours, noise, dust, light, vibration, smoke, flies, surface and groundwater quality, waste management, nutrient management, pollution abatement; and dealing with issues pertaining to the Guide to Agricultural Land Use, Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) calculations, for Lanark, Renfrew, Ottawa, Grenville, Dundas, Leeds and Frontenac Counties.

Jake DeBruyn

Engineer, New Technology Intergration
Phone: (519) 826-4584 Fax: (519) 826-3259
E-mail: jake.debruyn@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• Develop and coordinate partnerships leading to the adoption of technology systems.
• Support in developing applications for funding programs for technology systems.
• Strong focus on innovative manure technologies and renewable energy projects and greenhouse gas and climate change initiatives in the livestock and manure management areas.
• Anaerobic digestion workshops and information development.
• On-farm energy audits program development.
• On-farm wastewater and water technology issues.
• NMAN nutrient management software development and delivery.
• Regulation development committees: Innovative Technologies, Agricultural Wastewater - under Nutrient Management Act.
• Applied research in the areas of odour emissions from livestock housing and land-applied materials.
• Technical Program Committee member, Integrated Solutions to Manure Management Conference.
• Gives speeches at public meetings pertaining to renewable energy, nutrient management, environmental impacts of agricultural operations, and livestock housing odour reduction.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in Halton, Peer and Simcoe counties. This includes: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) for new livestock and poultry barns; third party review of Nutrient Management Plans; and environmental abatement for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.

Finbar Desir

Coordinator, Farm Implements
Phone: (519) 826-3549 Fax: (519) 826-6611
E-mail: finbar.desir@ontario.ca

Responsibilities

• Implementation of the Farm Implements Act.
• Registration of farm implement dealers and distributors.
• Investigation and resolution of disputes between farmers, dealers and distributors relating to the sale, performance, safety, parts supply, warranty and repair of farm implements in Ontario.
• Management of farm implement issues referred to the ministry by stakeholder organizations (farmers, dealers, wholesalers, distributors).
• Inspection of dealerships to ensure that they comply with safety and other regulations relating to farm implements.
• Development of farm implement safety and performance standards through the Canadian Standards Association Technical Committee on Agricultural Machinery.
• Acting Secretary, Normal Farm Practices Protection Board. The Normal Farm Practices Protection Board, created under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act (FFPPA), hears complaints involving agricultural nuisances. Hearings are held to determine if the practice causing the disturbance is a normal farm practice.
• First point of contact for the Board: receive complaints, determine Board jurisdiction, and package information for Board members and parties to the hearing. Organize and facilitate hearings. Consult with parties to the hearing regarding the hearing process, necessary preparation etc., to ensure a fair hearing.
• Prepare, package and present FFPPA/Board information to Municipalities, producer groups, interest groups, OMAFRA and MOE staff, etc. as requested.

Hugh W. Fraser

Engineer, Horticultural Crop Protection and Post-Harvest
Phone: (905) 562-1618 Fax: (905) 562-5933
E-mail: hugh.fraser1@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• Horticultural Crop Protection & Post-Harvest Engineer
• Works with growers and agribusiness on engineering topics related to the protection of horticultural crops in the field from the effects of birds & wildlife, hail, rain, cold injury, etc.
• Works with growers and agribusiness on engineering topics related to the post-harvest handling of horticultural crops, including; rapid cooling methods (forced-air, hydrocooling, vacuum cooling, icing); packing and packaging; reusable plastic shipping containers; and short or long term storages.
• Chair of Engineering Publications Committee, responsible for determining needs, finding authors and budget for OMAFRA's Engineering Factsheets & Publications.
• Member of the Food Engineering Subcommittee of the Ontario Agriculture & Food Engineering Research and Services Committee, the Ontario Grape & Wine Research and Services Sub-Committee, and the Tender Fruit Research & Services Subcommittee who help set priorities for research & service needs.
• Current applied research includes: bird control using netting in grapes; working with ways to reduce the noise nuisance effects of equipment used to protect horticultural crops; and improved methods of disposing of on-farm livestock mortalities.
• Coordinates revisions to the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) formulas which are used to site livestock facilities away from incompatible uses, and incompatible uses away from livestock facilities.
• Special interests include: mediation of farm disputes dealing with environmental issues; the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) formula; performing cost-benefit and payback analyses for new technologies; temporary field storage of manure; and sound level measurement
• Member of the Canadian and American Societies of Agricultural Engineers.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in the Region of Niagara, Haldimand County, and the City of Hamilton (formerly Hamilton-Wentworth). This includes: the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) formula for new livestock and poultry barns, third party review of Nutrient Management Plans (NMP); and environmental abatements for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke in the Farming and Food Production Protection Act (FFPPA).

Ben Hawkins

Engineer, BMP Technical Integration and Transfer
Phone: (613) 475-4558 Fax: (613) 475-3835
E-mail: ben.hawkins@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• Engineer, Best Management Practices Technical Integration and Transfer.
• Provides advice to landowners and Ministry of Environment (MOE) on surface and groundwater quality, waste management, nutrient management and pollution abatement problems.
• Deals with issues pertaining to the Guide to Agricultural Land Use, Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) calculations and the Certificate of Compliance program. These issues are dealt with according to the procedures as outlined in documents such as the OMAFRA/MOE "Protocols for Handling Farm Pollution Incidents."
• Provides training to municipal personnel, consultants, landowners and other interested parties on MDS II calculations, Environmental Farm Plan III and the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.
• Provides third party review of Nutrient Management Plans.
• Writes, edits and reviews factsheets and Best Management Practices (BMPs) books.
• Provides engineering advice on a variety of topics.
• Member of the Healthy Watershed Program for the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority
• Member of American Society of Agricultural Engineers and Canadian Society of Agricultural Engineers.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in the Regions of York, Durham and Sudbury; Counties of Lennox and Addington, Prince Edward, Hastings, Haliburton, Victoria, Peterborough and Northumberland and the Districts of Kenora, Algoma, Cochrane, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Timiskaming, Muskoka and Thunder Bay. This includes: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) for new livestock and poultry barns; third party review of Nutrient Management Plans; and environmental abatement for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.

Don Hilborn

Engineer, By-Products and Manure
Phone: (519) 537-7928 Fax: (519) 539-5351
E-mail: don.hilborn@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• Byproduct Management Specialist Engineer
• Works with farmers, nutrient management planners, building officials, building contractors, food processing companies, consulting engineers and neighbours on the issue of byproduct management on agricultural lands.
• Develops and supports OMAFRA Nutrient Management Information Systems including NMAN, MSTOR and MDS Software including linkage to University of Guelph's Mclone software.
• Develops and supports design criteria for manure storage sizing.
• Develops and provides support for phosphorous, nitrogen and pathogen indices/management tools for use in Nutrient Management Planning in Ontario.
• Undertakes applied research in several areas, such as manure tank leakage, manure application system design, manure and co-substrate treatment systems and macropore movement of nutrients.
• Member of several provincial committees dealing with nutrient management including Ontario Farm Environmental Committee (OFEC), Ontario Pork Environmental Committee and Environment Canada P3 Committee.
• Develops and interprets regulations for storage, treatment and application of organic materials.
• Develops and supports Best Management Practices (BMP) for storage, treatment and application of organic materials
• Develops and supports technologies for manure and co-substrate treatment with emphasis on Anaerobic Digestion Systems capable of producing renewable energy
• Member of Canadian Standards Association (CSA) committee on the development of a voluntary environmental standard for Canadian Hog Farms.
• Organizer for 10th World Conference on Anaerobic Bioconversion
• Gives talks at public meetings pertaining to OMAFRA policies, manure treatment, transfer and storage, nutrient management and environmental impacts of agricultural operations.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional co-contact for environmental issues in Oxford and Brant Counties. This includes; the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) formula for new livestock and poultry barns, third party review of Nutrient Management Plans (NMP); and environmental abatement for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under Farming and Food Production Protection Act (FFPPA).

Harold K. House

Engineer, Dairy and Beef Housing and Equipment
Phone: (519) 482-1488 Fax: (519) 482-5031
E-mail: harold.house@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• Dairy and Beef Housing and Equipment Engineer
• Provides engineering information on dairy and beef housing and equipment to producers and agricultural industry throughout Ontario.
• Provides information in all areas of housing including: layout, building alternatives, ventilation, manure handling, feeding systems etc.
• Special interest issues include: cow comfort, cow mattresses, other related comfort issues, and robotic milking and feeding
• Supplies information on transition options for dairy expansion.
• Co-author of OMAFRA's Free Stall Housing Manual, used for training producers, contractors, and equipment suppliers in new free stall technology.
• Co-author of OMAFRA's Tie Stall Housing Manual, used for training producers, contractors, and equipment suppliers in new tie stall technology.
• Member of the Canada Plan Service Beef Committee (CPS 1000 Series) and Dairy Committee (CPS 2000 Series). The CPS provides current and consistent structural information for use by all provinces in Canada.
• Member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Dairy Housing Committee (SE-403).

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in the counties of Bruce and Huron. This includes: the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) formula for livestock and poultry barns, third party review of Nutrient Management Plans (NMP) and environmental abatements for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act (FFPPA).

Andrew Jamieson

Engineer, Water Management
Phone: (519) 846-3402 Fax: (519) 846-8178
E-mail: andrew.jamieson@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• OMAFRA's Water Management Engineer
• Works primarily with contractors, consultants, government agencies, Conservation Authorities on issues related to water management, drainage, irrigation, water wells, water quantity, farm ponds, and water quality.
• Develops and delivers technical information relating to water management (drainage, irrigation, water supplies etc.).
• Course trainer of Tile Drainage Contractors in Ontario (installation and design).
• Provides training for consultants, contractors, OMAFRA staff and other professionals.
• Chair of the Rural Environment Engineering subcommittee of the Agriculture and Food Engineering Research and Services Committee. Member of the Ontario Water Management and Service Committee. Vice chair of the Agriculture and Food Engineering Research and Services Committee. These groups help set priorities for research and service needs in Ontario.
• Technical editor, writer and information resource for the Environmental Farm Plan Program.
• Expertise in nutrient management planning and in proper fuel storage, handling, and legislation.
• Involved in the development and review of technical information for Best Management Practices books.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in Waterloo and Wellington Counties. This include: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) and the Farming and Food Production Protection Act. This includes: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) for new livestock and poultry barns; third party review of Nutrient Management Plans; and environmental abatement for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.

John W. Johnson

Engineer, Civil Systems
Phone: (519) 873-4096 Fax: (519) 873-4062
E-mail: john.william.johnson@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• Civil engineering systems, responsible for structural design issues on Ontario farms (examples: ungraded lumber, roof failures and corrosion of steel building components). Produces design information for incorporation into the Ontario Building Code and the National Farm Building Code.
• Provides training and advice to Chief Building Officials and Farm Building Contractors in Ontario.
• Provides limited design information for farmers across Ontario. Carries out practical on-farm research projects.
• Head of the Canada Plan Service Co-ordination Unit. This unit manages a web-site at www.cps.gov.on.ca and a valuable resource of farm building design information produced by all provinces and territories in Canada. Member of the Canada Plan Service (CPS) Management Committee and Chair of the Building Engineering (9000 Series) Committee. The CPS provides current and consistent structural information for use by all provinces in Canada.
• Chair of the Livestock Engineering subcommittee of the Ontario Agriculture and Food Engineering Research and Services Committee. This group recommends the priority of specific building research needs in Ontario.
• Member of the Canada Expert Committee on Agricultural Structures, dealing with structural issues in Canada.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in Elgin, Lambton and Middlesex counties. This includes: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) for new livestock and poultry barns; third party review of Nutrient Management Plans; and environmental abatement for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.

Benoit Lebeau

Engineer, Nutrient Management (Bilingual)
Phone: (613) 258-8257
E-mail: benoit.lebeau@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Regional

• Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds-Grenville, Renfrew, Ottawa-Carleton, Prescott & Russell,United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry

Kevin McKague

Engineer, Water Quality
Phone: (519) 537-8491 Fax: (519) 539-5351
E-mail: kevin.mckague@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• Engineering contact for provincial initiatives related to source water protection and questions relating to agricultural impacts on rural water quality.
• Prepares training materials and co-leads training courses pertaining to Ontario's nutrient management planning software (NMAN).
• Provides technical support to producers, consultants, municipalities and others using the nutrient management planning software NMAN.
• Assists in the preparation of technical, educational, and factsheet material related to nutrient management and agricultural best management practices (BMPs).
• Field and watershed scale modelling specialist as it relates to rural non-point source pollution and the impacts of selected agricultural management practices on rural water quality.
• Certified Professional Erosion and Sedimentation Control Specialist (CPESC).
• OMAFRA representative on the Watershed Management Pilot Project Inter-Ministerial Working Group. Technical team member on selected Watershed Management Phase II Pilot Projects:
• As part of a team, conducts on-farm and applied research in the areas of manure and nutrient management to verify components of the NMAN software. Examples include:
  • On-farm partners in nitrogen use efficiency study to verify nitrogen removal rates of corn and soybeans and evaluate the economic impact of following a NMP.
  • Field measurement of runoff quantity and quality from uncovered solid manure storages and yard areas designed in accordance with the nutrient management regulations

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in Brant and Oxford counties. This includes: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) for new livestock and poultry barns; third party review of Nutrient Management Plans; and environmental abatement for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.
• Water Resources Engineer with the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority/Maitland Valley Conservation Authority Source Water Protection Team.

Terrence Sauve

Engineer, Farmstead Optimization and Safety (Bilingual)
Phone: (613) 679-4703 Fax: (613) 679-0929
E-mail: terrence.sauve@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• OMAFRA Farmstead Planning, Health and Safety Specialist.
• Provide engineering information on health & safety and biosecurity to farmers and to the agricultural industry throughout Ontario.
• Develop, evaluate, demonstrate and transfer engineering technology to the agriculture and food industry to improve its efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability while ensuring a safe and healthy rural environment.
• Conduct and interpret research, establish standards and develop, test and recommend appropriate technologies to ensure safe, efficient and sustainable agriculture and food industry.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in Prescott-Russell, Stormont and Glengarry Counties. This include: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) and the Farming and Food Production Protection Act. This includes: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) for new livestock and poultry barns; third party review of Nutrient Management Plans; and environmental abatement for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.

Helmut Spieser

Engineer, Field Crop Conditioning and Environment
Phone: (519) 674-1618 Fax: (519) 674-1564
E-mail: helmut.spieser@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• OMAFRA's Field Crop Conditioning and Environment Engineer.
• Works primarily with producers in Ontario, nozzle manufacturers, product companies and researchers. Provides information for farmers across Ontario on a broad range of topics including; mechanics of droplet behavior, nozzle selection, droplet size, nozzle selection, drift management options and new spray application technology. Produces information for farmers in the form of written articles, factsheets, educational videotapes and in-field demonstrations. Provides training to: college students, farmers, professional applicators, and crop input suppliers.
• Works primarily with producers and equipment suppliers in Ontario. Provides information on the effective drying and storage of various grain crops. Under adverse growing conditions maintaining good grain quality into storage becomes difficult. Produces information for farmers in the form of written articles, factsheets, educational videotapes and infield demonstrations. Provides training to; college students, farmers, equipment suppliers, and crop input suppliers.
• Member of the Crops Engineering Research and Services subcommittee of the Ontario Agriculture and Food Engineering Research and Services Committee. This group recommends the priority of specific equipment research needs in Ontario
• Member of the Professional Applicators' Institute. This group provides education and training to professional applicators in all aspects of spraying.
• Chair of the Application Technology working group of the Canadian Weed Science Society. This working group tries to enhance the understanding of all aspects of spray application by researchers, industry partners and others as it impacts weed control.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in Essex County and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. This includes: the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) formula for new livestock and poultry barns, third party review of the Nutrient Management Plans (NMP) and environmental abatements for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke in the Farming and Food Production Protection Act (FFPPA).

John Warbick (A)

Engineer, Water Quality
Phone: (519) 426-4920 Fax: (519) 428-1142
E-mail: john.warbick@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• OMAFRA's Irrigation and Agricultural Water Use Engineering Specialist.
• Lead contact for questions regarding agricultural water use (including irrigation) and water management.
• Provides agricultural water use (e.g. irrigation, etc.) and water management technical advice and expertise to Ontario farmers as well as all other persons involved/affected by water use in the agricultural industry.
• Develops and delivers technical information for workshops, technical manuals, information leaflets and web pages relating to water management (irrigation, livestock watering, water supplies etc.).
• Engineering contact for Ontario Low Water Response and Irrigation Advisory Committees.
• Undertakes applied research on irrigation technology, efficiency, optimization and best management practices.
• Gives presentations at meetings pertaining to irrigation best management practices, technical aspects of irrigation, agricultural water use and water management.
• Involved in the development and review of technical information for Best Management Practices books.
• Ontario Director for the Canadian National Committee of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (CANCID).

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in Norfolk County. This includes: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) for new livestock and poultry barns; third party review of Nutrient Management Plans; and environmental abatement for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.

Daniel Ward

Engineer, Poultry and Other Livestock Housing and Equipment
Phone: (519) 271-0536 Fax: (519) 273-5278
E-mail: daniel.ward@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Provincial

• OMAFRA Poultry and other Livestock Housing and Equipment Engineer
• Provides engineering information on poultry housing and equipment to producers and agriculture industry throughout Ontario.
• Provides information in all areas of housing including: layout, building alternatives, ventilation, manure handling, feeding systems, etc.
• Provides expertise in environmental abatement involving odours, noise, dust, light, vibration, smoke and flies. Provide expert witness/ technical support at the Farming and Food Production Protection Act challenges related to "normal farm practices" and /or restrictive municipal by-laws.
• Provide training to municipal personnel, consultants, producers and any other interested parties on Nutrient Management planning, Minimum Distance Separation, etc.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA regional contact for environmental issues in Perth County. This includes: the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) formula for new livestock and poultry barns, third party review of Nutrient Management Plans (NMP) and environmental abatements for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke in the Farming & Food Production Protection Act (FFPPA).

Ping Wu

Engineer, Food Safety
Phone: (519) 826-4363 Fax: (519) 826-3259
E-mail: ping.wu@ontario.ca

Responsibilities - Regional

• Waterloo, Wellington, Grey, Dufferin,Simcoe

Vacant

Engineer, Soil Management

Responsibilities - Provincial

• OMAFRA Soil Management Engineer
• Develops and delivers technical information relating to soil management. Provides training related to soil management for consultants, contractors, government staff and farmers.
• Provides information on soil management engineering, soil stability and degradation and design of soil conservation structures.
• Provides leadership on design and installation of soil related treatment systems such as vegetated filter strip systems and constructed wetlands for agricultural washwaters.
• Technical editor, writer and information resource for the Environmental Farm Plan Program.
• Expertise in nutrient management planning, milking centre washwater management, household wastewater systems, pesticide storage structures and stream/ditch/floodplain management.
• Develops and review, technical information for Best Management Practices books
• Applied research in areas such as vegetated filter strip systems, flow paths and erosion control structures.
• Presents information at public meetings on nutrient management related topics, pollution abatement, vegetated filter strip systems and soil conservation.
• Member of Canadian and American Societies of Agricultural Engineers.

Responsibilities - Regional

• OMAFRA's regional contact for environmental issues in Northern Ontario and the Regions of York and Durham; and in the Counties of Lennox-Addington, Prince Edward, Hastings, Haliburton, Victoria, Peterborough and Northumberland. This includes: Minimum Distance Separation (MDS II) for new livestock and poultry barns; third party review of Nutrient Management Plans; and environmental abatement for farm noise, odour, dust, vibration, flies, light and smoke under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act.