Nutrient Management Certification
Training Evaluation Project Summary
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
-
- Objectives
- Methodolgy
- Key Findings
- Next Steps
In the spring of 2009, OMAFRA conducted an evaluation of both the producer
and consultant certification process (the Agricultural Operation Planning
Certificate for producers and the Agricultural Operation Strategy or
Plan Development Certificate for consultants).
The certification process, first begun in 2003, was developed to satisfy
the requirements for "certified individuals" as set out in
Ontario Regulation 267/03 under the Nutrient Management Act
(NMA). Ontario is now five years into the certification program and
the first group of certified individuals are coming up to their recertification
date.
Objectives
This evaluation took into consideration the following objectives:
-
Evaluate the knowledge and skills of certified producers and consultants
in the preparation of nutrient management strategies and plans
-
Determine the level of on-farm action or behavioural change as
a result of the program
-
Determine effectiveness of the training and certification programs
and identify gaps
-
Identify potential ways to reduce the administrative burden or
simplify the process
Methodology
In order to eliminate the possibility of bias in responses and data
analysis, the evaluation was conducted by University of Guelph Ridgetown
Campus. A questionnaire, developed by Ridgetown, was mailed to every
certified producer (169) and to every certified consultant (98) as of
January 2009. Also two focus group sessions for consultants and two
for producers were held, one each in Kemptville and Woodstock.
Key Findings
-
Evaluate the knowledge and skills of certified producers and consultants
in the preparation of nutrient management strategies and plans (NMS/P):
-
67 per cent of respondents felt the courses provided them with
adequate knowledge to implement their own NMS/P over five years.
-
7 per cent of respondents hired someone to complete their NMS/P.
Overall respondents were satisfied with their own knowledge and
that of their consultant in this process.
-
78 per cent of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied
overall with the training courses.
- Determine the level of on-farm action or behavioural change as a result
of the program:
- 80 per cent felt that the training courses had improved their
understanding of the relationship between agriculture and the environment.
- 58 per cent of respondents indicated that the training had changed
their attitudes and behaviours about their farm operation.
- The most common response to what changes have been made to their
operation had to do with changes to manure storage (38 per cent)
and manure application (38 per cent).
- Determine effectiveness of the training and certification programs
and identify gaps
- 83 per cent of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied that
the training courses provided them with adequate knowledge to prepare
their own NMS/P.
- Of those respondents who indicated that other service providers
should be trained in nutrient management, 42 per cent indicated
municipal staff.
- Identify potential ways to reduce the administrative burden or simplify
the process
- 15 per cent of respondents requested expanded use of online material
(e.g. providing more online courses and examples).
Next Steps
Participants felt there was room for improvement in the training programs
and provided recommendations as to how to make this happen. Some of the
individuals who participated in the study went through the program in
the early years, and some of the recommendations have already been implemented.
The following lists the main recommendations and identifies the initiatives
the Environmental Management Branch will do to improve the certification
program.
- Provide more case studies in training programs:
- Over the last two years a number of additional case studies were
added.
- Strive to continue to use staff and external facilitators in combination
as training delivery agents:
- This group has a high credibility rating and OMAFRA continues to
use both staff and external facilitators in combination as training
delivery agents.
- Explore the information needs of municipal officials and determine
the most appropriate way to deliver the information:
- OMAFRA will identify the needs of municipal officials and determine
the most appropriate way to deliver relevant information.
- Share resources amongst existing courses:
- Over the last two years, there has been an attempt to use consistent
resources in the courses. Course material will be reviewed over the
next year to ensure consistency.
- Make Regulations Course more hands on for producers:
- A workbook entitled "Nutrient Management Strategy/Plan by Hand"
is currently being developed.
- Provide additional resources, including online supports:
- A number of additional resources have been made available over
the last two years such as: nutrient unit information; on-line Regulations
and Protocols course; etc.
