Nutrient Management Pre-Approval Site Visits

What You Can Expect From A Pre-Approval Site Visit

A Pre-Approval Site Visit is a visit to a farm by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) staff to review and verify information submitted in a Nutrient Management Strategy (NMS). The purpose of the visit is to:

• Enhance the quality and integrity of the information that is submitted at the time of NMS review,
• Ensure the NMS accurately reflects the current and proposed operation,
• Assist the skills and development of the preparer by providing on-site feedback about the NMS
  submitted,
• Identify needs for training and information related to NMS preparation and submission, and
• Assess the performance of the consultant for certification purposes.

The site visit is not intended to assess the compliance of the submitted strategy with the regulatory requirements of the Nutrient Management Act.

The site visits give OMAFRA staff an opportunity to answer any questions producers and consultants may have regarding the Nutrient Management Act.

Who Conducts The Visits?

The OMAFRA regional Environmental Specialist or Agricultural Engineer (with an area of specialty for Nutrient Management or Non Agricultural Source Materials) conducts the site visit. The producer and consultant who prepared the plan are encouraged to attend the visit. Normally a visit will take between one - two hours to complete depending on the complexity of the operation.

Details from the NMS that will be reviewed:

• Distances to Sensitive Features
• Farmstead Sketch
• Manure Storage Capacities
• Nutrient Units
• Run-off Management Systems
• Setback Distances
• Size and Location of Livestock Housing Facilities.

Will The Visit Delay The Approval?

The site visit will not delay the approval process if the consultant and the farmer are readily available for the visit at a mutually agreed upon time. The field staff will arrange to have the visit completed while the NMS is in the queue waiting to be reviewed. Once the visit is completed the producer and the consultant will get a copy of the report written and will be informed of any actions that are required. The report will also be submitted to the person reviewing the NMS to help answer any questions.

Remember!!

On-Farm Reality = Nutrient Management Strategy

Producers and consultants are responsible for the information provided in a NMS. When signing off on a NMS you are indicating that the regulations have been met and will be followed.

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