Page 176 - Nutrient Management Planning Guide

170

Manure Application and Alberta’s Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA)

Important Terms

Table 4.4.1 Key Terms and Definitions

Term Definition

Common Body of Water

Is considered in the legislation (AOPA) as the bed and shore of a water body that is common to or shared by more than one landowner.

Manure

Under AOPA manure includes the livestock excreta, straw, other bedding material, litter, soil, wash water and feed in the manure. Composted manure has the same requirements as manure. Natural Resources Conservation Board

(NRCB) It is a regulatory agency of the Government of Alberta. It is responsible for regulating Alberta’s confined feeding operations.

Manure can only be applied to arable land.

s i d e b a r

AOPA contains the majority of regulations that impact livestock production in Alberta. AOPA is maintained and updated by AF, and the administration and enforcement of the Act resides with the NRCB.

AOPA includes several rules pertaining to manure application with particular reference to:

Incorporation requirements • Minimum setback distances for manure that is •

applied and incorporated Minimum setback distances for manure applied on •

forage, direct-seeded crops, and frozen or snow-covered land Nitrate-nitrogen limits • Salinity constraints • Nutrient management plans • Manure handling plans •

Incorporation Requirements

Under AOPA, manure applied to land under traditional cultivation must be incorporated within 48 hours of application. The exception to this rule is when manure is applied to forages, direct-seeded crops, frozen or snow-covered land or when an operation has a permit that specifies a different incorporation requirement. Liquid manure injection is considered to be the same as incorporation.

Incorporating manure soon after it has been applied will reduce odour. From an agronomic perspective, incorporation reduces losses of manure nutrients through volatilization or runoff; thereby retaining a greater proportion of applied nutrients for crop uptake. Incorporation can be accomplished satisfactorily using typical tillage implements (e.g., cultivator).

Minimum Setback Distances for Manure that is Applied and Incorporated

Individuals who apply manure are required to comply with application setback distances set by AOPA (Figure 4.4.1). These setback distances are designed to reduce nuisance impacts on neighbours and minimize the risk of manure entering a common body of water. Specifically, manure is not to be applied:

Within 30 metres of a water well, regardless •

of whether it is injected or surface applied and incorporated. Within 10 metres of a common body of water if •

subsurface injection is used. Within 30 metres of a common body of water if •

manure is surface-applied and incorporated within 48 hours.

Note: There is no setback requirement from

neighbouring residences if manure is spread on cultivated land and incorporated with in 48 hours.

more info

You can get more information on AOPA or answers to specific questions, by calling the nearest NRCB office (see below) or at www.nrcb.gov.ab.ca.

NRCB: Toll-free 24-hour response line 1-866-383-6722. Dial 310-000 first for toll-free connection

Lethbridge (403) 381-5166

Red Deer (403) 340-5241

Morinville (780) 939-1212

Fairview (780) 835-7111