Infosheet #12  Nuisances under the Farming and Food Production Protection Act, 1998

• Introduction
• Odours
  • 12-1 Storage of manure and other organic materials
  • 12-2 Application method for liquid manure and other liquid organic materials
  • 12-3 Application method for solid manure and other solid organic materials
  • 12-4 Number of field applications per year of solid or liquid manure, or other organic materials
  • 12-5 Timing and weather conditions at application of solid or liquid manure, or other organic materials
  • 12-6 Minimum Distance Separation II (MDS II) setbacks for livestock facilities, manure or organic material storages from nearby land uses
• Number of Potential Point Source Nuisances Within 1000 Feet of a Neighbouring Home
  • 12-7 Odour point sources
  • 12-8 Noise (or vibration) point sources
  • 12-9 Fly insect point sources
  • 12-10 Smoke point sources
  • 12-11 Light point sources (between period of 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise, when it is considered night)
  • 12-12 Dust point sources

Introduction

This infosheet provides background to Worksheet #12 of the Environmental Farm Plan Workbook. It outlines options you could adopt to address problem areas in your operation. In most cases you'll need more information before implementation: please refer to the resource materials listed in the infosheet, and consult OMAFRA Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) Technical Advisors.

All options are classed as Actions or Compensating Factors. Actions address the areas of concern identified, and will change the EFP rating to (3) or Best (4). Compensating Factors are alternatives that will adequately address the concerns, but will not change the rating in the EFP worksheets.

At the request of the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition, consisting of Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, AGCare, and the Ontario Farm Animal Council, the following people contributed to the development of Infosheet #12:

Jim Myslik, OMAFRA (Co-Chair)
Mike Toombs, OMAFRA (Co-Chair)
Murray Blackie, MOEE
Mac Traas, Ontario Chicken Producers' Marketing Board

The following people contributed to the revison (2004) of Infosheet #12

Hugh Fraser, OMAFRA (Co-Chair)
Bob Stone, OMAFRA (Co-Chair)
H. J. Smith, OMAFRA

Technical Editing Committee:
H. J. Smith, OMAFRA
Jim Myslik, OMAFRA
Bob Stone, OMAFRA

OMAFRA = Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
MOE = Ontario Ministry of the Environment

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Odours

Issue: 12-1Storage of manure and other organic materials

Manure and other organic material storages are the single largest source of ongoing odours on a farm. The type of storage and the size of exposed surface area indicate the degree of offensive odours generated.

What can you do?

Option #1 - Action

Place a cover on all existing manure and organic material storages:

• covers will reduce regular odours that result from wind, etc. and exclude rainfall which wets solid manure and other organic materials, making them more odorous, and which increases the volume of liquid to handle.

Option #2 - Action

Compost manure and other organic materials properly:

• leachate or runoff should be recycled back onto compost pile/row.

Option #3 - Compensating Factor

Existing liquid manure storage forms a crust across the entire surface, minimizing the odours generated (e.g., dairy manure):

• crust can be obtained for other animal types by placing a straw mulch on the surface
• maintain crust and minimize agitation by changing to bottom entry of manure
• if constructing a new storage, try to minimize the surface area by going to a deeper structure.

Option #4 - Compensating Factor

Manure and other organic material storage location meets or exceeds Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) II separation distances.

Option #5 - Compensating Factor

Neighbouring properties owned by farm operation.

For More Information:

• Odour Control on Livestock and Poultry Farms, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 03-011
• Guide to Agricultural Land Use, OMAFRA Publication 824
• Minimum Distance Separation I and II, OMAFRA March 1995
• Best Management Practices Book: Manure Management, Order No. BMP 16

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Issue: 12-2Application method for liquid manure and other liquid organic materials

Liquid manure and other liquid organic materials, as being spread, can give off strong odours. Early incorporation greatly reduces the amount of odours generated. The less often the liquid manure and other liquid organic materials are spread, the fewer times that odours are generated. Spreading should be done in as short a time as is reasonably possible.

What can you do?

Option #1 - Action

If liquid manure and other liquid organic material are spread within 1,000 feet of residences, incorporate within 24 hours, weather permitting:

• inject manure/other liquid organic materials or spread by tanker low to ground and incorporate within 24 hours
• incorporation helps reduce nutrient loss.

Option #2 - Action

Incorporate liquid manure and other liquid organic materials within 24 hours, weather permitting:

• incorporation helps reduce nutrient loss
• inject manure/other liquid organic materials or spread by tanker low to ground and incorporate within 24 hours.

Option #3 - Action

Spread at least 1,000 feet from residences if the liquid manure and other liquid organic materials are not incorporated within 24 hours:

• complete spreading in as short a time as possible.

For More Information:

• Incorporation of Liquid and Solid Prescribed Materials, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 04-079
• Guide to Agricultural Land Use, OMAFRA Pub. 824
• Minimum Distance Separation I and II, OMAFRA, March 1995
• Best Management Practices Book: Manure Management, Order No. BMP 16

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Issue: 12-3 Application method for solid manure and other solid organic materials

The frequency of spreading and the incorporation of solid manure and other solid organic materials affects the degree of odours generated when spreading.

What can you do?

Option #1 - Action

Incorporate solid manure and other solid organic materials within 24 hours, weather permitting:

• incorporation will help reduce loss of nutrients.

Option #2 - Action

If solid manure and other solid organic materials are spread within 600 feet of residences, incorporate within 24 hours, weather permitting:

• complete spreading in as short a time possible.

Option #3 - Action

Properly compost manure and other solid organic materials and apply at appropriate rates:

• compost facility should be situated in an appropriate location and all leachate should be collected and recycled back to pile/row.

Option #4 - Action

Maintain at least 600 feet of separation distance from residences if solid manure and other solid organic materials are not incorporated:

• complete spreading in as short a time as possible.

For More Information:

• Guide to Agricultural Land Use, OMAFRA Pub. 824
• Minimum Distance Separation I and II, OMAFRA, March 1995
• Best Management Practices Book: Manure Management, Order No. BMP 16

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Issue: 12-4 Number of field applications per year of solid or liquid manure, or other organic materials

What can you do?

Option #1 - Action

Apply manure or other organic materials once or twice per year.

For More Information:

• Guide to Agricultural Land Use, OMAFRA Pub. 824
• Minimum Distance Separation I and II, OMAFRA, March 1995
• Best Management Practices Book: Manure Management, Order No. BMP 16

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Issue: 12-5 Timing and weather conditions at application of solid or liquid manure, or other organic materials

The weather, and the time and day of the week can affect the number of odour-generated problems/complaints.

What can you do?

Option - Action

Do not spread on hot, humid days with little or no breeze:

• avoid spreading on weekends, holidays, or the days leading up to them
• be aware of the impacts you may have on neighbours - use common sense.

For More Information:

• Odour Control on Livestock and Poultry Farms, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 03-011
• Temporary Field Storage of Solid Manure or Prescribed Materials, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 05-009
• The Farming and Food Production Protection Act and Nuisance Complaints, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 05-013
• What Rural Neighbours Can Expect from New Intensive Livestock Operations, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 04-047
• Farmer and Neighbour Relations Preventing and Resolving Local Conflict, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 05-001
• Legislation and Farming Practices, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 04-071
• Land Application of Liquid Manure in an Environmentally Responsible Manner, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 01-053
• Guide to Agricultural Land Use, OMAFRA Pub. 824
• Minimum Distance Separation I and II, OMAFRA, March 1995
• Best Management Practices Book: Manure Management, Order No. BMP 16

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Issue: 12-6Minimum Distance Separation II (MDS II) setbacks for livestock facilities, manure or organic material storages from nearby land uses

The number of neighbours, proximity of the neighbours, and types of neighbouring land use are all indicators of the potential for odour complaints.

What can you do?

Option #1 - Action

Ensure all new livestock facilities, manure or organic material storages meet MDS II separations.

Option #2 - Action

All existing facilities meet MDS II setbacks except those to a lot line or to a road allowance:

• although existing facilities might not meet MDS II setbacks, plan ahead so that new and expanded ones will
• voice your concerns to township councils when there is a proposed change of land use near your farm.

Option #3 - Compensating Factor

There are 3 or less residences at or near farm boundaries.

For More Information:

• Guide to Agricultural Land Use, OMAFRA Pub. 824
• Minimum Distance Separation I and II, OMAFRA, March 1995
• Odour Control on Livestock and Poultry Farms, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 03-011
• The Farming and Food Production Protection Act and Nuisance Complaints, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 05-013
• What Rural Neighbours Can Expect from New Intensive Livestock Operations, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 04-047
• Farmer and Neighbour Relations Preventing and Resolving Local Conflict, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 05-001

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Number of Potential Point Source Nuisances Within 1000 Feet of a Neighbouring Home

Issue: 12-7 Odour point sources

Although odours result from normal farm practices, the risk of receiving complaints from neighbours is lower as the number of point source odours decreases. Minimize the number of point source odours on the farm and manage remaining odours to reduce impact on the neighbours.

What can you do?

Option #1 - Action

Reduce the number of point source odours to two or less.

Option #2 - Compensating Factor

For the remaining point source odours practice good management techniques to lessen impact on neighbours.

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Issue: 12-8 Noise (or vibration) point sources

Although noise or vibration results from normal farm practices, the risk of receiving complaints from neighbours is lower as the number of point source noise or vibration decreases. Minimize the number of noise or vibration point sources on the farm and manage remaining noise or vibration to reduce impact on the neighbours.

What can you do?

Option #1 - Action

Reduce the number of noise or vibrations point sources to two or less.

Option #2 - Compensating Factor

For the remaining noise or vibration point sources practice good management techniques to lessen impact on neighbours.

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Issue: 12-9 Fly insect point sources

Although flies result from normal farm practices, the risk of receiving complaints from neighbours is lower as the number of fly point sources decreases. Minimize the number of fly point sources on the farm and manage remaining flies to reduce impact on the neighbours.

What can you do?

Option #1 - Action

Reduce the number of fly point sources to two or less.

Option #2 - Compensating Factor

For the remaining fly point sources practice good management techniques to lessen impact on neighbours.

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Issue: 12-10 Smoke point sources

Although smoke results from normal farm practices, the risk of receiving complaints from neighbours is lower as the number of smoke point sources decreases. Minimize the number of smoke point sources on the farm and manage remaining smoke to reduce impact on the neighbours.

What can you do?

Option #1 - Action

Reduce the number of smoke point sources to two or less.

Option #2 - Compensating Factor

For the remaining smoke point sources practice good management techniques to lessen impact on neighbours.

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Issue: 12-11 Light point sources (between period of 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise, when it is considered night)

Although light results from normal farm practices, the risk of receiving complaints from neighbours is lower as the number of light point sources decrease. Minimize the number of light point sources on the farm and manage remaining light to reduce impact on the neighbours.

What can you do?

Option #1 - Action

Reduce the number of light (night time) point sources to two or less.

Option #2 - Compensating Factor

For the remaining light point sources practice good management techniques to lessen impact on neighbours.

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Issue: 12-12 Dust point sources

Although dust results from normal farm practices, the risk of receiving complaints from neighbours is lower as the number of dust point sources decreases. Minimize the number of dust point sources on the farm and manage remaining dust to reduce impact on the neighbours.

What can you do?

Option #1 - Action

Reduce the number of dust point sources to two or less.

Option #2 - Compensating Factor

For the remaining dust point sources practice good management techniques to lessen impact on neighbours.

Infosheet Table of Contents

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