This section covers soil, nutrient, pest and manure management and provides information and resources on practices to help reduce the environmental impacts of your field operations.
Soil is the basis of farming. It delivers water and nutrients to crops, physically supports plants, helps control pests, determines where rainfall goes after it hits the earth and protects the quality of drinking water, air and wildlife habitats. The goal of soil management is to protect the soil and enhance its performance so you can farm profitably and preserve the quality of the environment for decades to come.
The greatest benefit to a good crop rotation is increased yields. A well-planned crop rotation will help with insect and disease control and aid in maintaining and improving soil structure and organic matter levels. Using a variety of crops can reduce weed pressures, spread the workload and protect against soil erosion.
The optimal rotation depends on factors including available moisture and nutrients, disease and weed levels, herbicide use records, equipment availability, commodity prices and ability and desire to accept risk. The optimal rotation can vary from field to field for the same farm and from year to year for the same field.
La COOP fédérée (2013) - La Gestion durable d'une entreprise agricole
SAI Platform Dairy Working Group (2009) - Principles & Practices for Sustainable Dairy Farming
Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Program (2015) - Dairy AGGP Science Coordination and Implementation Workshop : Summary Report. April 16-17th 2015, Ottawa. 23 pages
OMAFRA - Soil management: Building a healthy soil
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food - Principles and Practices of Crop rotation
University of Minnesota - Introduction to soil management
University of Guelph (2017) - Cropping Practices to Mitigate Greenhouse Gases
Soil compaction can impair water infiltration into soil, crop emergence, root penetration and crop nutrient and water uptake, all of which result in depressed crop yield. Ideally, farmers should design their soil management and cropping practices to ensure the prevention of soil compaction. Here are some examples of techniques that could be considered:
Soil erosion can induce significant economic and agronomic losses for your farm. The adoption of various soil conservation measures to reduce soil erosion can therefore be profitable. These include tillage and cropping practices, as well as land management practices, which directly affect soil erosion. Windbreaks, buffer strips and grassed waterways are other examples of practices that could contribute to reducing erosion. Cover/companion cropping in annual crops and including perennial crops in the rotation are also means to reduce vulnerability to erosion by increasing the period when soil is covered with vegetation. No-till contributes to soil stabilization and protection by leaving crop residues at the soil surface. A combination of approaches or more extreme measures may also be considered (e.g. contour plowing, strip-cropping or terracing).
La COOP fédérée (2013) - La Gestion durable d'une entreprise agricole
MAPAQ (2005) - Bonnes pratiques agroenvironnementales pour votre entreprise agricole
OMAFRA - Soil erosion - Causes and Effects
University of Minnesota - Introduction to soil management
University of Guelph (2017) - Cropping Practices to Mitigate Greenhouse Gases
Soil organic matter and the soil organisms that live on it are critical to many soil processes since they influence several of the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Building soil organic matter may be the most important thing you can do to enhance long-term soil performance. More specifically, it provides benefits to soil health by:
Using plant cover crops, reducing tillage and adding organic matter inputs can help sustain soil life and increase organic matter content. Monitoring organic matter and keeping records will allow you to measure the effects of your practices and manage your soil more efficiently.
La COOP fédérée (2013) - La Gestion durable d'une entreprise agricole
SAI Platform Dairy Working Group (2009) - Principles & Practices for Sustainable Dairy Farming
University of Minnesota - Organic Matter Management
Extension.org - What is Organic Matter? Benefits
Penn State Extension - How to Increase Organic Matter in Soil
University of Minnesota - Introduction to soil management
Conservation tillage is any method of soil cultivation that leaves the previous year's crop residue (e.g. corn stalks or wheat stubble) on fields before and after planting the next crop to reduce soil erosion and runoff. To provide these conservation benefits, at least 30% of the soil surface must be covered with residue after planting the next crop. Some conservation tillage methods forego traditional tillage entirely and leave 70% residue or more.
The benefits of conservation tillage include:
La COOP fédérée (2013) - La Gestion durable d'une entreprise agricole
MAPAQ (2005) - Bonnes pratiques agroenvironnementales pour votre entreprise agricole
Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Program (2015) - Dairy AGGP Science Coordination and Implementation Workshop: Summary Report. April 16-17th 2015, Ottawa. 23 pages.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Conservation practices
New England Vegetable Management Guide - Cultural Practice, Reduced Tillage
University of Minnesota - Introduction to soil management
University of Guelph (2017) - Cropping Practices to Mitigate Greenhouse Gases
Nutrient management is using nutrients as efficiently as possible to improve productivity while protecting the environment. Nutrients, both organic and inorganic, that are not effectively used by crops have the potential to leach into groundwater or enter nearby surface waters via overland runoff or subsurface agricultural drainage systems. Therefore, a major principle of crop nutrient management is to prevent the over-application of nutrients, including manure.
A nutrient management plan is a farm document that determines an appropriate application rate for the land base and application standards. Nutrient management planning is a beneficial management practice that aims to optimize crop yield and quality, minimize fertilizer input costs and protect soil and water. The principles are simple and include:
In other words, you should always apply the right amount of the right product in the right place at the right time (4R).
Nutrient Stewardship
MAPAQ (2005) - Bonnes pratiques agroenvironnementales pour votre entreprise agricole
Fertilizer Canada - 4R Nutrient Stewardship program
Agriculture and Agrifood Canada - Nutrient Management Planning
BC Ministery of Agriculture - SmartFarmBC, Social Responsibility
SAI Platform Dairy Working Group (2009) - Principles & Practices for Sustainable Dairy Farming
Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Conservation practices
Dairy Farmers of Canada (2015) - Reference Manual: Evironment. proAction® Initiative. Draft version of July 2015
Spraying equipment must apply fertilizer at recommended doses. To do so, it must be calibrated regularly and according to the equipment and production system. Farmers should:
SAI Platform Dairy Working Group (2009) - Principles & Practices for Sustainable Dairy Farming
MAPAQ (2005) - Bonnes pratiques agroenvironnementales pour votre entreprise agricole
Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Conservation practices
Dairy Farmers of Canada (2015) - Reference Manual: Evironment. proAction® Initiative. Draft version of July 2015
Dairy farms should avoid the application of manure on frozen, snow-covered or saturated soils. There is no agronomic value to applying manure on frozen, snow-covered or saturated soils and the potential for surface water contamination increases significantly because the soil cannot absorb the manure. Field work on very wet soils can also lead to soil compaction and ruts in the field. Applying manure in the spring rather than the fall could lead to a 10% reduction in direct and indirect N2O emissions.
Dairy Farmers of Canada (2015) - Reference Manual: Evironment. proAction® Initiative. Draft version of July 2015
Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Conservation practices
Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Program (2015) - Dairy AGGP Science Coordination and Implementation Workshop : Summary Report. April 16-17th 2015, Ottawa. 23 pages
University of Guelph (2017) - Cropping Practices to Mitigate Greenhouse Gases
Livestock waste with liquid manure management should be spread with low ramp equipment or other low-pressure sprinkling irrigation equipment.
Québec government (2015) - PAA expliqué 2015
Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Conservation practices
Dairy Farmers of Canada (2015) - Reference Manual: Evironment. proAction® Initiative. Draft version of July 2015
University of Guelph (2017) - Cropping Practices to Mitigate Greenhouse Gases
Soil tests can help determine the status of plant available nutrients to develop fertilizer recommendations to achieve optimum crop production. Soils should be analyzed at least every five years and more frequently (every two to three years), if possible. All fields should be sampled and fields with widely varying soil or topographical conditions should be divided into sections for sampling. Certain provincial regulations related to nutrient management prescribe minimum requirements for analyses related to nutrient management plans.
La COOP fédérée (2013) - La Gestion durable d'une entreprise agricole
SAI Platform Dairy Working Group (2009) - Principles & Practices for Sustainable Dairy Farming
Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Program (2015) - Dairy AGGP Science Coordination and Implementation Workshop : Summary Report. April 16-17th 2015, Ottawa. 23 pages
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry - Crop Nutrition and Fertilizer Requirements
Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Conservation practices
Dairy Farmers of Canada (2015) - Reference Manual: Evironment. proAction® Initiative. Draft version of July 2015
University of Guelph (2017) - Cropping Practices to Mitigate Greenhouse Gases
Manure analysis is necessary because the amounts of nutrients contained in manure vary from farm to farm (especially the phosphorus, potash and nutrient components). The type ration, bedding, added liquids and storage system all affect the final nutrient analysis. By using manure tests to determine nutrient content, you will be able to apply manure at agronomically-beneficial rates and minimize the purchase of commercial fertilizer. Most provincial agriculture departments and nutrient management specialists can provide guidelines for accurate manure sampling.
OMAFRA - Soil Fertility and Nutrient Use: Manure Management
Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Conservation practices
Dairy Farmers of Canada (2015) - Reference Manual: Evironment. proAction® Initiative. Draft version of July 2015
Pest management is an important component of agricultural production. Pests can have a detrimental effect by affecting both the quantity and quality of crops. The goal of pest management is to provide effective, cost-effective and safe long-term pest control.
An integrated pest management (IPM) strategy combines all available tools to reduce pest populations to an acceptable level as cost-effectively and ecologically as possible. These tools include cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical pest control measures and regular pest monitoring to prevent, measure, anticipate and avoid or reduce agrochemical use on your farm. Adopting an IPM is an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective solution to control pest.
The calibration of pesticide equipment ensures that the correct amount of pesticide is applied. If too little is applied, you may not control the targeted pests. If too much is applied, your chemical costs increase, you may be in violation of the law and there may be negative effects on humans, livestock and the environment.
The best way to eliminate any environmental risk associated with pesticide storage is to avoid storing pesticides on the farm. If you cannot use the pesticides within a reasonable time, make storage arrangements with your supplier or minimize the volumes you have by sharing the extra pesticides with your neighbours.
If you must store pesticides, you should:
Federal regulations require that pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) be mixed and applied in accordance with label instructions. When mixing pesticides, you should:
Dairy Farmers of Canada (2015) - Reference Manual: Evironment. proAction® Initiative. Draft version of July 2015
When applying pesticides, you should:
University of Arizona (2002) - Spray Drift Managment
Primary Industries Standing Committee (2002)- Spray Drift Management: Principles, Strategies and Supporting Information
MAPAQ (2005) - Bonnes pratiques agroenvironnementales pour votre entreprise agricole
Dairy Farmers of Canada (2015) - Reference Manual: Evironment. proAction® Initiative. Draft version of July 2015
OMAFRA - Pesticide Spray Drift
Application thresholds can maintain or improve crop quality and reduce the frequency of pesticide application. Less frequent applications help maintain pesticide efficacy by curbing pesticide resistance. They also reduce disruptions to practices that occur during application and re-entry intervals. In addition, fewer applications may improve plant growth and quality by minimizing phytotoxicity. Finally, less frequent applications increase profits by reducing pesticide purchasing, application labour and regulatory compliance costs.
SAI Platform Dairy Working Group (2009) - Principles & Practices for Sustainable Dairy Farming
MAPAQ (2005) - Bonnes pratiques agroenvironnementales pour votre entreprise agricole
'UC IPM Online - UC Pest Management Guidelines
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry - Beneficial Management Practices: Environmental Manual for Crop Producers in Alberta - Pest Management and Pesticides
Storage is a necessary part of livestock production since manure should only be incorporated into the soil or spread on fields at certain times of year. The extent to which these nutrients can be returned to the soil and made available to crops depends on how the manure is stored and handled. Proper storage is therefore important to maximize the efficient use of manure—a valuable soil resource.
A well-designed manure storage system is an asset to any livestock enterprise. Manure should be stored in a structure that will retain nutrients for application during crop growth. A poor management system leads to the untimely application of manure to land that could potentially harm the environment. Your manure storage facilities should therefore account for the:
MAPAQ (2005) - Bonnes pratiques agroenvironnementales pour votre entreprise agricole
Dairy Farmers of Canada (2015) - Reference Manual: Evironment. proAction® Initiative. Draft version of July 2015
BC British Columbia (2006) - Manure storage structures
Nova Scotia Agriculture (2006) - Manure Management Guidelines
University of Guelph (2017) - Manure Management Practices to Mitigate Greenhouse Gases
All farms should have a preventative maintenance plan for manure structures. The review should be carried out at least once a year. The maintenance plan may include the examination of the concrete tanks for cracks, fence and gate conditions and functionality and, in case of liquid manure, the inspection of inlet pipes and the concrete around them, valves and transfer pipes, etc. If any problems with the manure storage structure are detected, hire a specialist to check and correct the problem. One of the best times to conduct preventative maintenance on a manure storage structure is when the structure is empty.
OMAFRA (2010) - Storage of Liquid Manure
Nova Scotia Agriculture (2006) - Manure Management Guidelines
Dairy Farmers of Canada (2015) - Reference Manual: Evironment. proAction® Initiative. Draft version of July 2015
Covered storage is an effective way to minimize odours. Storage covers reduce occasional manure agitation caused by wind and rain and the movement of malodorous air from storage areas to neighbouring residences.
Covers may also be used to keep precipitation out, ensure safe operations and reduce manure hauling costs. Covers can also help reduce methane emissions from storage. For instance, applying straw cover could reduce CH4 emissions during storage by up to 15%.
PEI Agriculture and Forestry - Best Management Practice; Agricultural Waste Management
Nova Scotia Agriculture (2006) - Manure Management Guidelines
Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Program (2015) - Dairy AGGP Science Coordination and Implementation Workshop : Summary Report. April 16-17th 2015, Ottawa. 23 pages
University of Guelph (2017) - Manure Management Practices to Mitigate Greenhouse Gases
Contaminated water from the waste pile must not enter surface water, and runoff water upstream from the pile must be intercepted. An agronomist can help you assess the waste pile to prevent surface water contamination.
The waste pile should be completely removed and reclaimed or eliminated within 12 months following the first dumping of solid manure.
Research shows that certain manure management practices have the potential to reduce the GHG emissions generated by manure storage. These practices include:
Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Program (2015) - Dairy AGGP Science Coordination and Implementation Workshop : Summary Report. April 16-17th 2015, Ottawa. 23 pages
Nova Scotia Agriculture (2006) - Manure Management Guidelines