Nutrient Management Protocol for Ontario Regulation 267/03 Made under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 - Part 4: Introduction to Nutrient Management Strategies, Plans and NASM Plans

---

| Table of Contents | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 |
| Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 |

---

4.1 Purpose
4.2 The Difference between a Nutrient Management Strategy, Nutrient Management Plan and a NASM Plan

4.1 Purpose

4.1.1 Nutrient Management Strategy (NMS)

A NMS sets out an environmentally acceptable method for managing all prescribed materials generated at an agricultural operation. Where prescribed materials are generated in the course of the operation, the operation shall ensure that the nutrients are managed in accordance with a NMS if the operation is phased in by the Regulation, Part II.

4.1.2 Nutrient Management Plan (NMP)

A NMP details how nutrients are to be applied to a given land base. A NMP is based on both the components of the nutrients used and the characteristics of the field. The NMP optimizes the utilization of the nutrients by crops in the field and minimizes environmental impacts. A person who owns or controls an agricultural operation, which is phased in by the Regulation, Part II, and generates, greater than or equal to 300 NU or is located within 100 metres of a municipal well must ensure that nutrients are managed in accordance with a NMP if they land apply nutrients on their farm unit. It is possible that a person who owns or controls an agricultural operation may be required to have a NMP as well as a NASM plan for some or the entire farm unit. Only the NASM plan may be subject to the requirement for approval. However there could be an exception with a few plans that could occur between the time of filing of the regulation and January 1, 2011 when there is no Certificate of Approval or Provisional Certificate of Approval issued under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act and in that case a NMP will need to be approved.

4.1.2.1 NASM Plan

The NASM plan fulfills the same functional role as the NMP. The primary difference is in the material being applied. The NASM plan is required for all farms that store or land apply Category 2 and 3 NASM on a NASM plan area. While the NMP is dealt with on a farm unit, the NASM plan can be dealt with on an application area basis. Unlike NMPs, all farms that apply Category 2 and 3 NASM will eventually be required to have a NASM plan. In addition some farms may be subject to the requirement to have a NASM plan as a result of the application of section 27.1 of the Regulation. The Regulation specifies the timelines for when the transition to a NASM plan must occur.

4.1.3 Tools for Nutrient Management Plans, Strategies and NASM Plans

A person with the required certification under Part X of the Regulation may use any method for preparing NMSs, NMPs and NASM plans that address the components required by this Protocol. One option is to make use of the OMAFRA computer program. The OMAFRA has developed "NMAN", a nutrient management computer program with an associated workbook for the purpose of completing a NMS, NMP or NASM plan for agricultural operations. A NMS, NMP or NASM plan for an agricultural operation can all be completed using the NMAN Software program or the associated workbook developed by the OMAFRA.

NMAN is designed to either produce or accommodate all of the components of the NMS, NMP and NASM plan. NMAN can be found on the OMAFRA website at http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nman/software.htm and is available from the OMAFRA for use with this Protocol and the Regulation.

4.2 The Difference between a Nutrient Management Strategy, Nutrient Management Plan and a NASM Plan

4.2.1 Identification of the Components

A NMS for agricultural generators includes the following components that are also required components of a NMP

1. Description of the operation
2. Contingency plan
3. List of storage facilities
4. Farm Unit Declaration Form
5. Farm Unit sketch

A complete list of components required for NMSs, NMPs and NASM plans for agricultural operations is found in table 4.2.1 below. Information on the requirements for a non-agricultural operation NMS can be found in Part 6 of the Protocol.

Within this Protocol each component will be discussed in relation to a NMS, NMP or NASM Plan and whether or not it is required in the NMS, NMP or NASM Plan.

	Component	Included in a Strategy Y = Yes N = No	Included in a NMP Y = Yes N = No	Included in a NASM Plan Y = Yes N = No
Operation Information	Description of the Operation	Y	Y	Y
	Agreements	Y	Y	Y
For Farm Units	Farm Unit Declaration Form	Y	Y	Y
	Farm Unit Sketch	Y	Y	Y
Inventory and Description of Prescribed Materials	List of Prescribed Materials (generated and received)	Y	Y	Y
	Analysis of Nutrient Content or use of Table 2 information*	N	Y	Y
Destination and Storage	Destinations	Y	N	N
	Agricultural Source Material Storage Facilities	Y	Y	N
NASM Plan	NASM storage Facilities	Y	Y	Y
Contingency Plan	Contingency Plan	Y	Y	Y
Sign-off form	Sign-off form	Y	Y	Y
Field Information	Field Properties	N	Y	Y
	Field Sketches	N	Y	Y
	Soil Samples and Analysis	N	Y	Y
Crop Information	Crop Rotation and Yields	N	Y	Y
	Tillage Practices	N	Y	Y
Nutrient Application Information	Commercial Fertilizer Application	N	Y	Y
	Application of Prescribed Materials	N	Y	Y
	Agronomic and Crop Removal Balance for Nitrogen	N	Y	Y
	Agronomic and Crop Removal Balance for Phosphorous	N	Y	Y
	Common Land Application Setbacks/Limits	N	Y	Y
	Demonstration of Adequate Land base	N	Y	Y
	Information on a regulated mixed anaerobic digestion ("AD") facility	Y	N	N

*From the Nutrient Management Tables document as amended from time to time, prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of the Environment for the purposes of the NASM Odour Guide and the Nutrient Management Protocol