Best Management Practices Series

What is a "best management practice?"

• a practical, affordable approach to conserving a farm's soil and water resources without sacrificing productivity

Who decides what qualifies as a best management practice?

• a team of farmers, researchers, extension staff and agribusiness professionals.

The Best Management Practices Series is...

An award-winning series of innovative publications:

• presenting affordable options for protecting soil and water resources on the farm;
• supporting individual farm planning and decision-making in the short and long term;
• harmonizing productivity, business objectives and the environment;
• available in both English and French;
• each book presents a range of circumstances and options to address a particular environmental concern - use the information to assess what's appropriate for your property.

Cover to cover, every BMP book will help you:

• understand an environmental issue in context of your operation or property
• see options for addressing an issue that work with your circumstances
• plan and put into action farm-proven, environmentally responsible management practices
• increase efficiencies - in resource use and production
• improve property now and for future generations
• demonstrate stewardship to neighbours
• created long-term plans and sharpen day-to-day decision-making
• enrich natural areas.

Let BMP books be your best-used, ready-reference guides.

Step into the BMP library, and see what belongs as useful guides on your shelves...

How Do I Obtain a Book?

Hardcopies of publications can be ordered through ServiceOntario (effective March 3, 2008)

Online at ServiceOntario Publications

By phone through the ServiceOntario Contact Centre
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

416-326-5300
416-325-3408 (TTY)
1-800-668-9938 Toll-free across Canada
1-800-268-7095 TTY Toll-free across Ontario

Order in person through a public access terminal available at ServiceOntario Centres located across the province

BMP 01 - Farm Forestry and Habitat
Management (1992)

This early book in the BMP Series introduces a range of practical measures to sustainably manage farm woodlands for off-farm sales, on-farm use, woodlot health, and wildlife habitat protection and enhancement. A useful overview, the book's general content is explored in-depth in several subsequent BMP titles.

BMP 02 - Field Crop Production (1993)

A detailed, broad-ranging view of crop production systems and how to improve their sustainability, yield, and economic viability is presented. The book lays out the basics of soil, nutrient and pest management, tillage systems, and conservation cropping and structures.

BMP 06 - Soil Management (1994)

Soil Management is a practical guide for farm managers and professional agronomists - helping them solve every day cropland soil problems. It covers the basics on soil properties, diagnostics for soil problems and BMPs to prevent and correct problem soil conditions. A DVD version of the book is underway.

BMP 07 - Water Management (1993)

This comprehensive introduction tours a typical farmstead (the home, the barn, natural areas, storages, and the well), identifying potential problem areas and what to do to reduce impacts and preserve quality and supply.

BMP 08 - Irrigation Management (Revised 2004)

Irrigation shouldn't waste your time, money, or water. Get the latest on scheduling strategies, the pros and cons of sprinkler, drip, and sub-irrigation systems, water-saving tips, and special applications. Includes extensive crop-specific charts.

BMP 09 - Integrated Pest Management (1996)

This introduction to IPM explains the basics, including pest monitoring, identification, and thresholds. Control options, as site and crop options, biological control, crop rotation, pest removal, trap crops, nutrient and water needs, and pesticide timing and application, are described.

BMP 10 - Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management (1996)

Healthy fish and wildlife habitat on rural property has many benefits, and BMPs for improving habitat are compatible with cropland BMPs. Full of info for farmlands, woodlands, wetlands and other transitional areas, and aquatic areas. Prevention and control of nuisance wildlife are also covered.

BMP 11 - No-Till: Making It Work (1997)

No-till takes know-how of soil and residue management, specialized equipment, weed, disease and pest control, and crop selection. Whether you want to strip-till, slot-plant, pre-till, or ridge-till, this book is helpful for beginners and no-till veterans.

BMP 12 - Water Wells (Revised 2003)

If you own a water well, this book can help you protect the quality of water you and your family relies on. Explains well components, maintenance, new well construction requirements, and procedures for unused wells.

BMP 13 - Pesticide Storage, Handling and Application (1998)

Growers seeking to create or refine a safe and practical system will find this a helpful overview. Structures, handling techniques, transportation, mixing and loading, spills management, and approaches to spraying, calibration, and maintenance are explored.

BMP 14 - Nutrient Management Planning (2007)

This essential companion for anyone completing a nutrient management plan explores the process in-depth. Learn how ti inventory nutrient sources, interpret results, plan application, keep records, monitor and adjust.

BMP 15 - Buffer Strips (2004)

Well-managed buffer strips go a long way to filtering farmland runoff before it enters streams, wetlands, ponds and lakes. This has many benefits for water quality, erosion prevention, soil water-holding capacity, fish and habitat quality, livestock health, and drain maintenance. This book explains how to establish, maintain, and improve buffer strips according to the topography and land uses on your property.

BMP 16 - Manure Management (2005)

Make the most of this important on-farm nutrient. This book explains what's in manure, how to mitigate concerns re: storage, odours and runoff, and how best to plan, set up and time its application.

BMP 17 - Greenhouse Gas Reduction in Livestock Production Systems (2006)

The good news is that many existing BMPs for livestock production also reduce GHG emissions. This book presents BMPs for breeding, feeding, housing, quality control, grazing and manure storage to further reduce emissions.

BMP 18 - Woodlot Management (2007)

Existing farm woodlots brim with potential: for timber, fuelwood, specialty products, income in kind, as well as important environmental and wildlife benefits. But it takes planning and management to make the most of them, and this book will show you how.

BMP 19 - Streamside Grazing (2007)

Properly planned and managed, streamside grazing can benefit the environment through improved buffers and layout. This book will help you develop a workable grazing management plan for your property to balance production and environmental goals.

BMP 20 - Managing Crop Nutrients (2008)

This book will help growers determine what nutrients they have, what ones they need, when they're needed and how to apply them for maximum efficiency and minimal risk to the environment.

BMP 21 - Agroforestry Series Volume 2: Establishing Tree Cover (2009)

Whether as crop trees, as windbreaks and fencerows, within buffer strips, in pasture, or intercropped with field crops,trees offer tremendous economic and environmental value. Learn how trees and plantings grow, and what treespecies need to flourish. Look to this book for sets of BMPs for planning, planting, establishing, andmanaging tree cover for a variety of functions.

BMP 22 - Deadstock Disposal (2009)

How livestock mortalities are disposed of has implications for the environment, animal and public health, and consumer confidence. This book will help producers compare options for pickup, incineration, in-vessel disposal, burial and composting, and implement regulation-compatible BMPs.