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Manure, biosolids management program launched

January 6, 2016, Guelph, Ont – Back by popular demand, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association recently announced the return of the Manure and Biosolids Management Program.

Part of the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (GLASI), the Manure and Biosolids Management Program is available to custom applicators in the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair watersheds and the Lake Huron southeast shores watershed areas.

“The unique advantage of a program designed for custom applicators lies in each business’ ability to impact a larger geography than funding individual on-farm projects,” expressed Andrew Graham, executive director of OSCIA. “It’s the multiplier effect that is so significant within the Manure and Biosolids Management Program.”

With algal blooms threatening the quality of water in the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative aims to address water quality issues while improving soil health across southwestern Ontario. The Manure and Biosolids Management Program helps drive the GLASI objectives by facilitating the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) that protect soil, minimize the risk of spills, and improve application accuracy to reduce phosphorus loss from the field edge.

The first generation of the GLASI Manure and Biosolids Management Program ran this past spring, funding over 75 projects and benefitting nearly 200,000 acres of farmland across the target geography in 2015. Bringing the program back for a second round this winter will further support proactive management by custom applicators and continue to make a positive impact on Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and the southeast shores of Lake Huron.

Funding for the Manure and Biosolids Management Program is available on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to be eligible, applicants must have an up-to-date Nutrient Application Technician License and/or an up-to-date Prescribed Materials Application Business License and operate in the GLASI eligible area.

Funding is provided through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

For more information on the Manure and Biosolids Management Program, visit the OSCIA website at ontariosoilcrop.org or contact OSCIA directly at 226-706-8669 or GLASI@ontariosoilcrop.org.