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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-138-92 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE DN: GANARASKA. GPA Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee File # # Date: Monday, June 1, 1992 #: PD-138-9I2i1e #: PIn. 17.2.3 , OUR FARM ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA' CORRESPONDENCE FROM GANARASKA REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY FILE: PLN. 17.2.3 Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the following resolution be adopted FORTHWITH by Council: 1. THAT Report PD-138-92 be received; 2. THAT Staff Report PD-138-92 be approved as the comments of the Town of Newcastle on the Report 'Our Farm Environmental Agenda'; 3. THAT the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, the farm coalition 'Our Farm Environmental Agenda', and the Durham Federation of Agriculture be forwarded a copy of this report and a copy of Council's decision. 1. ORIGIN By letter dated April 28, 1992, the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority forwarded to the Town, a copy of a Report entitled 'Our Farm Environmental Agenda' and requested that the Town provide its comments on the report to the Conservation Authority by June 1, 1992. The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority wishes to review the comments of its watershed municipalities prior to formulating a position on the report. On May 11, 1992, Council directed Staff to prepare a report on this matter. 2 . 2.1 REPORT SUMMARY Overview Respect for the environment has always been essential for good farming. For example, soil that is not treated as a fragile resource will no longer support productive, viable REr'A~,C[L~D PAPIEfl q. HECYCLE THIS IS PfllHTEDON RECYCLED PAPER REPORT NO.: PD-138-92 PAGE 2 2.2 2.2.1 2.2.2 farming. A healthy environment is basic to sustainable agriculture. Today, farmers are being asked to be rural land managers responsible for the well-being of the rural environment, and at the same time, efficient producers of food in an internationally competitive market place. The Report outlines an environmental agenda from the perspective of the agricultural community. The Report was prepared by a coalition of farm groups - the ontario Federation of Agriculture, Christian Farmers Federation of ontario, Agriculture Groups Concerned About Resources and the Environment, and the ontario Farm Animal Council. Environmental Concerns in Modern Agriculture The report identifies the key environmental issues related to the farming community under the following five areas of concern: · Soil · Water Quality and Suppli · Air Quality · Agricultural Inputs · Natural Resources These are briefly summarized in the subsequent sections. Concerns Relating to Soil i) Soil Erosion Soil erosion is the loss of the most basic element for farming, resulting in a decline in crop productivity. It can cause excessive sedimentation in streams and drainage ditches. Nutrients and other compounds attached to eroded soil can cause drinking water contamination and e77 JJJ REPORT NO.: PD-138-92 PAGE 3 2.2.3 excessive plant growth in water courses. soil loss by wind can also impair air quality. ii) Soil structure & Organic Matter Some farming methods can reduce soil organic matter and contribute to a deterioration in soil structure. This makes soils more difficult to manage and less productive. The causes of poor soil structure and include compaction by farm equipment, excessive soil tillage and not enough soil building crops such as cereals and forages. Concerns Relating to Water Quality and supply i) soil Nitrates High nitrate levels in drinking water can mean potential health problems. Nitrate contamination of surface and groundwater results from the application of commercial nitrogen fertilizers and livestock manure. The management of soil nitrates to ensure adequate crop productivity, while minimizing the potential for ,surface and groundwater contamination, may represent agriculture's biggest environmental challenge. ii) Phosphates Agriculture is one of the principal sources of phosphate, which has been identified as a major pollutant in surface water. Phosphate fertilizers are the principal source; manure, milkhouse wates and septic systems are also potential sources of phosphate contamination. iii) Biological By-products and Wastes Bacterial contamination of surface water can result from livestock manure, milkhouse wash water, and other farm sources. 534 REPORT NO.: PD-138-92 PAGE 4 2.2.4 2.2.5 iv) Water Management Underground tile drainage and irrigation alter the normal pattern of groundwater flow and surface water flow. However, drainage and irrigation are both essential for successful crop production on many soils in ontario, and are examples of the types of environmental modification which are essential if a viable agricultural industry is to be maintained in ontario. Air Quality Concerns i) Noise Noise is a normal part of farming which under certain conditions represent a considerable annoyance. ii) Dust and Odour Dust annoyances may occur from wind erosion or from intensive tillage and/or harvest operations during dry conditions. Odour problems commonly arise from the application of manure. iii) Atmosphere Greenhouse Gas Exchange Agriculture is a source of various atmosphic greenhouse gases which have the potential to cause global warming. Crops are major users of carbon dioxide and important in the overall atmospheric condition. Agricultural operations utilize hydrocarbon fuels, a major source of greenhouse gases. As well, nitrogen fertilizers and manure release nitrogen oxide an atmospheric greenhouse gas. Concerns Relating to Agricultural Inputs i) Pesticides and Fertilizers While the use of pesticides has decreased by a combination of careful pest monitoring and the use of non-chemical pest control measures, pesticide use c' '7 [- I) I, J' , .) REPORT NO.: PD-138-92 PAGE 5 represent a threat to human health (particularly farm families) and the environment. Newer pesticide products are being developed which are safer and more effective, and which decompose more readily. Incorporating genetic resistance into crops represents a preferred alternative to pesticides. ii) Energy Agricultural field operations, manufacture of inputs, crop drying and transportation are all major consumers of energy related to agriculture. 2.2.6 Natural Resources i) wildlife ontario farms provide a diversity of wildlife habitats. wildlife can help in the control of pests but also provide a threat to agricultural production. Reasonable opportunity must be,provided to farmers for the control of wild animals and birds when their numbers become excessive. Alternatively, society must playa greater role in sharing the financial burden caused by injury to crops and livestock from wildlife. ii) Wetlands Expansion of agriculture onto marshes or swamps should be carefully controlled. Measures can be taken to minimize damage to wetlands resulting from runoff from farm fields. iii) Woodlands Most farms retained portions of woodlots which today not only represent a source of farm income (maple syrup, timber) but provide a wildlife habitat and wind breaks. Existing woodlots must be retained. Rural municipalities should extend and enforce by-laws which prohibit the further clearing of viable woodlots. J 6 REPORT NO.: PD-138-92 PAGE 6 2.3 Addressinq the Concerns The coalition of farmers organizations is establishing a process to encourage every farmer to conduct farming activities in a manner which respects the environment. The coalition states that not only individual initiatives are required but public policies and programs are required. It is also noted that environmental goals must co-exist with other needs, including producing high quality food at a reasonable price that allows for farm families to realize a standard of living equivalent to other citizens. An environmental strategy must be farm specific in nature but also address problems which are industry wide or watershed based in nature. There are five components to the strategy proposed: i) Environmental Farm Plans Beginning in 1992, the farm coalition will be asking every farmer in ontario to develop and maintain an environmental farm plan. Such plans are intended to include a commitment to modify practices that will, over the duration of the farm plan, result in an improved environment. ii) Education and Advisory support Educational and advisory support services are required to help farmers analyze their individual farm operations. This could, for example, build on the array of programs offered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Land Stewardship and the National Soil Conservation Programs. iii) Research and Technology Research and development efforts must be directed to improve the technology required to address some of the farm environmental concerns; for example, the more ( I' '7 )) j REPORT NO.: PD-138-92 PAGE 7 effective use of Integrated Pest Management or how to decrease the amount of tillage. iv) Financial Assistance Financial assistance from public sources is essential to assist farmers in implementing their farm environmental plans. As well, existing government and non-government programs must be evaluated to ensure that they are coordinated, sufficient in scope, and properly designed and targeted to complement the environmental farm plan process. v) Regulation Existing farm programs and provincial and federal statutes and regulations should be examined to ensure that they are not in conflict with the farm environmental agenda. 3. STAFF COMMENTS 3.1 The report represents the first stage of a comprehensive program being initiated by the agricultural community in ontario to minimize the negative effect agricultural operations have on the natural environment. Detailed programs have yet to be developed or put in place, and therefore many problems associated with the implementation of the program have not as of yet been identified. However, the Report itself indicates that the agricultural community is responsive to increased concern by both the public and government agencies in maintaining the quality of our natural environment. 3.2 Agriculture represents the most land extensive land use in the Town of Newcastle. In this respect, the maintenance of a sustainable agricultural industry is important to our entire community. As well, any measures taken by the agricultural 538 REPORT NO.: PD-138-92 PAGE 8 community to reduce the negative impact of farming on the natural environment will have a significant effect on the quality of life in the Town. 3.3 Farm organizations should therefore be encouraged to work closely with the Town of Newcastle and other municipalities to identify common areas of concern and action. The Report is especially timely for the Town given the initiation of a review of Town's Official Plan. In the context of that review, we will be exploring policies to maintain the Town's rural land base and natural environment functions. For example, the Town can promote the integrity of the agricultural community through its control of land use in the rural areas. Similarly, measures by the farm community to preserve wetlands and woodlots can complement efforts by the Town and other agencies to preserve wildlife habitat. 3.4 Financial and professional assistance for farmers will be essential if the goals of the environmental agenda are to be realized. This assistance would continue to be provided in the context of provincial and federal programs, and therefore has no direct impact on the Town of Newcastle. 4. CONCLUSION 4.1 The farm community is taking a leadership role by initiating this comprehensive strategy to examine the environment agenda for agriculture. Given the importance of a healthy agricultural industry and a healthy environment to our quality of life, this initiative should be strongly supported by all levels of government. j 9 REPORT NO.: PD-138-92 PAGE 9 Respectfully submitted, d~ <A6lA Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P. Director of Planning and Development JAS*DC*FW*df *Attach 25 May 1992 Recommended for presentation to the Committee /) (/ :L., \ ''',,,.v.. (' Interested parties to be notified of Council and Committee's decision: Our Farm Environmental Agenda c/o Mr. David Armitage General Manager ontario Federation of Agriculture 491 Eglinton Avenue West Toronto, ontario. M5N 1A8 Durham Federation of Agriculture R.R.#4 Bowmanville, ontario. L1C 3K5 540