Record-keeping for Agricultural Environmental Management

Livestock and poultry operations that have five or more animal units* need to record and keep the following information:

• Total number of animals
• Total amount of manure, including bedding mixed with the manure, collected annually (in m³)
• Type of animal the manure is from
• Whether liquid or solid
• Amount (in m³) of manure exported offsite 
• Amount applied onsite as fertilizer or a soil conditioner 

*One animal unit (AU) is equal to 455 kg (1,000 lb) of livestock or poultry; five AU’s are equivalent to 2,275 kg, or any combination of livestock and poultry that equals 2,275 kg.

Records required for disposal by burial:

• Location of burial pit or trench
• Type and amount of materials buried (in tonnes)
• Date buried
• Date pit or trench closed

Records required for disposal by incineration:

• Type and quantity of mortalities, solid waste and semi-solid waste incinerated
• Date of each incineration
• All inspections and maintenance of the incinerator
• Results of all opacity assessments conducted and, if opacity limits are exceeded:
  • the date the limit was exceeded
  • the level of opacity
  • any corrective actions taken

Records required for disposal by agricultural composting:

• Type and source of the materials being agriculturally composted and whether they contain specified risk material
• Location of the outdoor agricultural composting pile
• Date the agricultural composting pile was started
• Weekly monitoring results to show that you are following the AEM Code requirements for disposal of mortalities via agricultural composting

Required records for applications to land:

• Location and size of the field
• Crop nutrient requirements
• Crop yields of the field
• Date and location of each application of nutrients
• Whether solids or liquids and the type of nutrient sources applied
• Calculated nutrient application rate
• Actual application rate
• Soils test results for each field
• If the nutrient source is wastewater or the product of an agricultural composting process used for disposal of mortalities and processing waste, keep records of the location and date applied, and whether the material contained specified risk material

Required records for applications other than to land (for example, crops grown in containers):

1. Crop nutrient requirements
2. Calculated nutrient application rate
3. Solids or liquids and type of nutrient sources applied
4. Results of alternative tests to soils tests, such as, tissue tests

Note: keeping the results of tests used to check crop nutrient content (for example, tissue tests) is useful in helping calculate application rates.

Keeping the following records, if distributing:

• In lots of 5 m³ (~6.5 yards³) or less:
  • Total amount exported annually (in m³)
  • Dates that export began and ended
  • Type of agricultural by-product exported
• In lots of more than 5 m³, for each export, a receipt signed by the receiver, that shows:
  • Amount exported (in m³)
  • Date exported
  • Type of agricultural by-product exported
  • Name and business contact information of the receiver

Required records are:

• Type of fuel burned
• Quantity of fuel burned
• Dates and results of:
  1. Inspections and maintenance
  2. Opacity assessments
  3. PM testing (if required)
• Any corrective actions taken 

Note: you may need to register your boiler or heater. Check the registration requirements.

Required records are:

• Dates and results of each assessment for leaks
• Any corrective actions taken to stop any leaks and prevent further leaks

Note: earthen storage lagoons used in vulnerable aquifer recharge areas need an assessment done by February 27, 2021.

• Keep records of steps taken to collect and contain any contaminated runoff, leachate, solids or agricultural by-products that escape from the storage

Required records are:

• Type and source of the materials being composted
• Location of the pile
• Date the pile was started
• Weekly monitoring results that show you are meeting the requirements of the AEM Code related to agricultural composting

Note: regular routine checks of the pile are important, especially during high-risk conditions (for example, high winds, flooding and stormy conditions).

Required records are:

• The date, time and location of application
• The temperature, precipitation, wind speed and wind direction at the time of application
• The name of targeted pest
• For each pesticide applied
  • The product trade name and pest control product registration number
  • The application method and rate of application

Required records are: 

• Dates and results of leak assessments
• Any corrective actions taken to stop leaks and prevent further leaks

Note: protective bases should be checked for leaks at least once every six months.

Required records are:

• Type and source of the materials being stored
• Location of the pile on your field
• Date the pile was started
• Weekly monitoring results that check you are meeting the requirements of the AEM Code related to temporary field storage

Note: regular routine checks of the pile are important, especially during high-risk conditions (for example, high winds, flooding and stormy conditions). 

You are required to keep:

• A copy of the nutrient management plan (NMP) and the Information the NMP is based on, including:
  • Location and size of the field
  • Soil test results for each field
  • Crop nutrient requirements
  • Crop yields of the field
  • Date and location of each nutrient application
  • Type of nutrient sources applied. For example, cow, pig, or poultry manure, whether solid or liquid, or commercial fertilizer etc.
  • Calculated nutrient application rate
  • Actual application rate

• Changes made to the NMP
• How you are implementing the plan

Note: a Qualified Professional may be required to sign a declaration of competence and conflict of interest. This should be kept with the NMP.