Core Competencies for Agricultural Operation Strategy or Plan Development Certificate (AOSPDC)

The information contained in this document is derived from the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 and O. Reg 267/03 as amended. Every effort has been made to make it as accurate as possible, but is not authoritative. Please refer to the e-Laws website or the official volumes printed by Publications Ontario for the authoritative text of the act.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Category 1: General Information
  3. Category 2: Nutrient Management Strategy and Plan Preparation
  4. Category 3: Soil Fertility and Management
  5. Category 4: Management of Manure and Other Prescribed Materials
  6. Abbreviations and Key Terms
  7. Related Links

Introduction

The purpose of the nutrient management legislation is to provide for the management of materials containing nutrients in ways that will enhance protection of the natural environment and provide a sustainable future for agricultural operations and rural development. The Nutrient Management Act, 2002, Ontario Regulation 267/03, as amended, identifies a number of management practices that require a certificate or licence. This document identifies the skills and knowledge (defined as competencies) that are required for the Agricultural Operation Strategy or Plan Development Certificate (s. 100).

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has developed training courses that assist audiences in obtaining the skills and knowledge to fulfill a portion but by no means all of the required competencies. Training courses for this certificate include:

  • Fundamentals of Nutrient Management
  • How to Prepare a Nutrient Management Strategy and Plan
  • Nutrient Management Regulation and Protocols

It is expected that individuals wishing to obtain an Agricultural Operation Strategy or Plan Development Certificate (AOSPDC) already possess the basic knowledge and skill required to offer consulting services in agronomic practices. This certificate and these competencies focus on the requirements under O. Reg. 267/03, as amended. Candidates seeking certification may need to further develop their knowledge and skills by additional means (such as an agricultural degree, practical experience, self study, additional courses, etc.). There are also many OMAFRA technical publications that provide additional information for study purposes.

The main competencies listed in this document will be tested in the examination. The examination for the Agricultural Operation Strategy or Plan Development Certificate is based on the Nutrient Management Act, 2002, O. Reg. 267/03, as amended, the two associated Protocols and agronomic knowledge required to implement the nutrient management legislation. Candidates for the AOSPDC are directed to this list of competencies as a study guide. Individuals writing the exam will be provided with copies of the Nutrient Management Act, 2002, O, Reg. 267/03, as amended, the associated Protocols and the Nutrient Management Workbook, Publication 818, at the time of the exam for reference purposes.

These competencies complement the document entitled "Professional Guidelines for Nutrient Management Consultants." The performance guidelines go beyond the skills and knowledge outlined in the Core Competencies document and are intended to provide a consistent set of value-added principles for certified nutrient management consultants that reflect "best management practices" for the industry.

Under Section 109 of O. Reg. 267/03, as amended, the Director can amend, suspend or cancel a certificate or licence issued if the holder of the certificate or licence:

  • contravenes the Act or Regulation; or
  • in the opinion of the Director, has demonstrated incompetence or bad faith in carrying out the activity in respect to which the certificate or licence is issued.

It is the responsibility of each AOSPDC holder to maintain his or her knowledge and competency with respect to the Act and Regulation.

The competencies are organized into four main categories. The percentage of exam questions under each of the categories is as follows:

  1. General Information (15% - 20%)
  2. Nutrient Management Strategy and Plan Preparation (20% - 25%)
  3. Soil Fertility and Management (25% - 35%)
  4. Management of Manure and Other Prescribed Materials (25% - 35%)

Category 1: General Information

  1. Identify the purpose and the goals of the Nutrient Management Act, 2002.
  2. Describe the roles and responsibilities of the following people and identify when their services are required:
    • Professional Engineer
    • Professional Geoscientist
    • Consultant with an Agricultural Operation Strategy or Plan Development Certificate
    • Farm Operator
    • Broker
  3. Discuss the importance of communication between stakeholders such as professional engineers, certified consultants, farm operators, etc.
  4. Identify sources of information that will help stakeholders to keep current with nutrient management program changes.
  5. Describe the consultant's obligations to clearly communicate the details of the Nutrient Management Strategy (NMS) and Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) with his or her client (e.g., legal implications of a NMS/P; farmer's legal obligations; content of the NMS/P; etc.).
  6. Explain why it is important to clearly communicate with clients about timeline requirements for development and submission of NMS/P.
  7. Describe the importance of verifying that the NMS/P is an accurate description of the agricultural operation, and identify how this can be done.
  8. Determine which regulatory framework is appropriate to a given situation (e.g., Environmental Protection Act, Nutrient Management Act, 2002, O. Reg. 267/03 and Protocols, municipal bylaws, etc.).
  9. Describe and use key terms used in the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 and O. Reg. 267/03, as amended. (Note: The list of terms in the Definitions section at the end of this document is not a comprehensive listing of key terms.)
  10. Identify the different categories of farms affected under O. Reg. 267/03 and the requirements for each.
  11. Identify the triggers of cessation that will require the renewal of a NMS and a NMP.
  12. Identify the requirements in O. Reg. 267/03 that apply to all farms regardless of the type or size of the operation.
  13. Identify items that are defined as agricultural source materials.
  14. Identify items that are defined as non-agricultural source materials.
  15. Identify the records that are required to be kept and the purpose of those records.
  16. Identify the importance of addressing possible adverse effects in a NMS and NMP.
  17. Recognize how best management practices over and above regulatory requirements can be used to address possible adverse effects.
  18. Identify the types of actions that would jeopardize the status of a certificate (i.e., amendment, suspension or revocation).

Category 2: Nutrient Management Strategy and Plan Preparation

Nutrient Management Strategy (NMS)

  1. Determine when a NMS is required based on farm characteristics.
  2. Identify who can prepare a NMS, and the qualifications they require.
  3. Identify the required components of a NMS.
  4. Identify the allowable destinations for prescribed materials in a NMS.
  5. Accurately describe a permanent nutrient storage system.
  6. Accurately describe a temporary solid nutrient storage system.

Nutrient Management Plan (NMP)

  1. Determine when a NMP is required based on farm characteristics.
  2. Identify who can prepare a NMP, and the qualifications they require.
  3. Identify the required components of a NMP.

Both NMS/P

  1. Recognize situations where additional documentation might be required in a NMS and a NMP.
  2. Recognize what records are required under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 and what additional records might be beneficial for Nutrient Management planning.

Identification of Land in the Farm Unit

  1. Identify options when determining what constitutes a Farm Unit.
  2. Calculate Nutrient Units generated on a Farm Unit.
  3. Accurately and completely describe all of the properties in a Farm Unit.
  4. Accurately describe the physical location of the properties of the Farm Unit within a municipality.

Phosphorous Index (P-Index) and Nitrogen Index (N-Index)

  1. Describe the term P-Index and explain how it can be used in Nutrient Management planning.
  2. Identify the factors that influence the P-Index.
  3. Identify the circumstances where and when a P-Index calculation would be indicated.
  4. Describe the term N-Index and how it can be used in nutrient management planning.
  5. Identify the factors that influence the N-Index.
  6. Identify the circumstances where and when an N-Index calculation would be indicated.

Mapping Skills

  1. Identify and use various sources of information to determine field characteristics.
  2. Calculate slope.
  3. Determine the starting point to measure setback distances from watercourses.
  4. Use soil survey data and maps in nutrient management planning.
  5. Determine slope classes from a soil map (by reading soil map symbols).
  6. Determine soil series and soil texture by reading and interpreting soil map symbols.
  7. Determine the Hydrologic Soil Group(s) of the land included in the Farm Unit.
  8. Identify elements required on a Farm Unit sketch.
  9. Identify elements required on a field sketch.

Contingency Planning

  1. Recognize common situations that need to be addressed in a Contingency Plan.
  2. Recognize how the implementation of a contingency plan can affect a NMS, a NMP, or both.
  3. Identify who must be called in event of a spill.

Category 3: Soil Fertility and Management

Soil Physics

  1. Describe the relationship between soil texture, slope, water infiltration and runoff.
  2. Recognize soil physical characteristics and how they relate to potential soil productivity, crop suitability, soil texture, structure, drainage, and timing of processes.
  3. Identify which soil series to use in a field where two or more soil series are found.

Soil Sampling and Analysis

  1. Identify the OMAFRA accredited soil analysis methodologies.
  2. Identify appropriate soil sampling methodologies for a given situation, as per the Sampling and Analysis Protocol.

Soil Fertility

  1. Interpret an OMAFRA accredited soil test.
  2. Recognize how soil and nutrient properties influence nutrient mobility.
  3. Identify ways that nitrogen and phosphorous may be lost from the soil.
  4. Recognize how the cropping system influences soil fertility levels and the method and timing of nutrient application.
  5. Determine N-credit from previous crop.
  6. Identify ways to deal with variations in topography within the field.
  7. Identify ways to deal with variations in soil test results within the field.
  8. Recognize how nutrient availability affects the crop response to the application of a given nutrient.
  9. Recognize the basic concepts of nutrient uptake by different species of crops.
  10. Identify the effects of high soil nutrient levels on groundwater and surface water quality.

Fertilizer Management

  1. Recognize how fertilizer placement and timing of application affect nutrient availability.
  2. Interpret and use the guaranteed nutrient analysis of commercial fertilizer materials.
  3. Use fertilizer nutrient analysis to determine nutrient application rates.
  4. Identify the importance of nutrient applicator calibration.
  5. Recognize the relationship between production inputs and crop yield.

Nutrient Balances

  1. Estimate the nutrient removal by field crops at varying yields.
  2. Define and calculate the agronomic balance.
  3. Define and calculate the crop removal balance.
  4. Identify the circumstances in which crop removal balance must be calculated, and the rationale for doing the calculation.

Category 4: Management of Manure and Other Prescribed Materials

Storage

  1. Identify appropriate runoff management options for solid manure storage.
  2. Identify possible exceptions to the minimum 240-day storage requirement.
  3. Identify the criteria for a temporary field nutrient storage site.
  4. Calculate the volume of a manure storage facility based on the size and type of operation.
  5. Identify and evaluate acceptable storage facilities for prescribed materials with respect to the size and type of the operation.
  6. Identify safety and risk issues associated with various manure storage types and sizes.
  7. Recognize how manure storage type affects the nutrient content of manure.
  8. Identify and apply the criteria for locating nutrient storage facilities.
  9. Identify the minimum storage design requirements for prescribed materials.
  10. Recognize restrictions pertaining to livestock access to surface water in an outdoor confinement area.
  11. Identify regulatory requirements for dealing with snow from an outdoor confinement area.
  12. Recognize ways to manage runoff from fields, yards, storages, and outdoor confinement areas.

Manure Sampling and Analysis

  1. Recognize the importance of manure sampling/analysis.
  2. Describe how to obtain a representative manure sample.
  3. Identify components of manure that may have possible negative impacts.
  4. Identify factors that might cause variation in manure analysis within or between farms.
  5. Interpret and use a manure analysis report.

Land Application of Manure and Other Prescribed Materials

  1. Calculate maximum allowable non-agricultural source materials spreading rates.
  2. Recognize situations requiring establishment of a 3 m vegetated buffer zone.
  3. Calculate usable acres for prescribed material application as they are affected by application setbacks.
  4. Identify and evaluate appropriate setback distances to regulated features such as surface water, wells, etc.
  5. Recognize opportunities for prescribed material application, such as late summer, early fall, etc., and discuss their pros and cons.
  6. Calibrate prescribed material application equipment for a variety of situations.
  7. Describe the pros and cons of different application methods of prescribed materials.
  8. Define liquid and solid prescribed materials.
  9. Calculate the nutrient contribution from prescribed material in the first year following application and over time, based on a laboratory analysis report.
  10. Estimate nutrient loss under different situations, such as number of days to incorporation, season of application (spring, fall, etc.), bare soil, crop residue, standing crop, etc.
  11. Recognize areas that may be environmentally sensitive to prescribed material application.
  12. Identify the regulatory requirements for direct flow application systems.
  13. Identify the winter spreading restrictions for the application of prescribed materials and recognize why winter spreading is restricted.
  14. Recognize ways to manage clean water to limit contact with prescribed materials.

Non-Agricultural Source Materials Management

  1. Calculate the nutrient contribution from non-agricultural source materials, based on a laboratory analysis of a biosolids sample.
  2. Recognize how timing and placement of non-agricultural source materials affect the use of supplemental fertilizers.
  3. Identify the buffers and setbacks associated with non-agricultural source materials application.
  4. Identify site characteristics that may limit non-agricultural source materials application.
  5. Identify limits associated with non-agricultural source materials quality.
  6. Identify pre-harvest and pre-grazing waiting periods when non-agricultural source materials are applied.
  7. Identify the minimum depth to saturated soil restriction for application of non-agricultural source materials.

Abbreviations and Definitions

Please read this section carefully to ensure understanding of the terms used in this document.

Abbreviations

In this document, unless specified otherwise:

  • "Act" means the Nutrient Management Act, 2002.
  • "Regulation" means Ontario Regulation 267/03, as amended.
  • "Required" means as required by the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 or O. Reg. 267/03, as amended.
  • "Acceptable" means meets the requirements outlined by the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 or O. Reg. 267/03, as amended.
  • "Nutrient Management Plan" means a Nutrient Management Plan as outlined in O. Reg. 267/03, as amended.
  • "Nutrient Management Strategy" means a Nutrient Management Strategy as outlined in O. Reg. 267/03, as amended.

Definitions

The following terms used in this document are defined in the Nutrient Management Act, 2002:

  • Nutrient
  • Nutrient Management Plan
  • Nutrient Management Strategy

The following terms used in this document are defined in O. Reg. 267/03, as amended:

  • Agricultural Source Materials
  • Broker
  • Farm Unit
  • Liquid
  • Non-Agricultural Source Materials
  • Nutrient Unit
  • Outdoor Confinement Area
  • Prescribed Material
  • Professional Engineer
  • Professional Geoscientist
  • Runoff
  • Solid

The following terms used in this document are described in the Nutrient Management Protocol:

  • Farm Unit Sketch
  • Field Sketch
  • Setbacks
  • Slope

The following terms used in this document are described in the Nutrient Management Workbook, Publication 818:

  • Agronomic Balance
  • Crop Removal Balance
  • MSTOR
  • N-Credit
  • N-Index
  • P-Index

Related Links

 


For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
Author: Mari Komljanec - Manager, Training and Certification/OMAFRA)
Creation Date: 22 December 2005
Last Reviewed: 10 August 2010