Manure Storage and Handling System Guidelines

Funding and Technical Support Is Available

Cost-share Rate: 50%

Maximum Payment: $10,000

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Purpose:

To prevent contamination of surface and groundwater from manure and exercise yard runoff, and to encourage environmentally responsible manure handling and spreading practices.

Eligible Projects
• Solid manure storages with runoff containment

• Roofed solid manure storages Concrete or steel liquid manure storage tanks (with or without lids)

• Earthen manure storages and runoff storages

• Runoff containment from exercise yards

Project Details
• To receive financial assistance on a manure storage under this program, applicants must complete a nutrient management plan. The Review Committee must receive the approved nutrient management plan before cost share payment is provided for a completed manure storage project. This approval does not replace or supercede approval required through the Building Permit process.

• All manure and runoff storages must have a minimum of 240-day storage capacity (or local township minimum, whichever is greater) Adequate storage capacity must be provided for both solid and liquid fractions of manure, as well as contaminated precipitation (where applicable).

• For roofed solid storages, three walls must be concrete at least 4 ft (1.2 m) above grade. The roof must provide adequate clearance for tractor and loader operation. The floor of the storage must be sloped to the back to contain any liquids. The storage entrance must be raised to prevent the entry of surface water from outside and to contain liquids inside.

• Livestock access to solid manure storage areas should be discouraged.

• Earthen storage design and construction must meet the specifications of the OMAF Agricultural Pollution Control Manual.

• Applications for an earthen storage must be accompanied by a report conducted by a soils consultant to verify the suitability of the site.

Fencing and Safety Requirements for Liquid Manure Storage Facilities

(Local municipal bylaws may supersede this section.)

• All open liquid and runoff storages must be protected by a permanent barrier and gates designed to prevent child entry. Suitable fencing would include chain link types, solid steel, wood fencing etc. Total barrier height (storage wall and fence) must be at least 5 ft (1.5 m) above the closest adjacent ground level. Safety fence design specifications shall meet the minimum standards as stated in the most recent version of the OMAF's Agricultural Pollution Control Manual.

• Fences may be placed up to15 ft (4.6 m) away from the storage to allow equipment access.

• Permanent ladders must not be installed in manure storages.

• Where flat covers, at or near ground level, are not designed for livestock or vehicle loads, a safety fence and a permanent warning sign must be installed.

• Access ports need at least 45 lb (20.4 kg) covers with a chain bolted to the storage top.

• Gates with secure childproof latches must be installed at access points

• A sign indicating the danger due to toxic gases must be installed at every access to a liquid manure or milkhouse/milking parlour washwater storage tank or under floor manure transfer chamber.

• Manure hopper openings at or below floor level shall be fitted with a safety railing or floor grill spacing between rails of not more than 4 inches (10 cm).

• Where a separate liquid manure storage tank is connected to a livestock building, traps or valves shall be installed to prevent gases from the manure storage from entering the building.

Eligible Costs
• Engineering fees

• Pumping equipment for temporary storage sumps and permanent transfer piping to transfer manure into long term storage

• Transfer pumping equipment

• Walls around yards to direct contaminated precipitation into a runoff storage: Regardless of height, only an equivalent 1 ft (0.3 m) concrete wall and the footing will be funded.

• Storage covers and roofs

• Upgrading storages to increase the existing capacity to between 240 and 400 days

Ineligible Costs
• Pumping equipment to empty long-term storages

• Manure spreading equipment

• Slats or solid floors over in-barn storages including support posts, beams and roofs

• Barn gutters with less than 60-day capacity

• Machinery or equipment used by the applicant, family dependents or the applicant's business

• Taxes

For more information, please call (905) 895-1281

Please note: Applications for funding may be made to the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority at any time, however, funding is limited and available on a first come first serve basis.

Thank you, in advance, for submitting your completed Application Form and Project Profile to the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority 120 Bayview Parkway, Box 282, Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 4X1 T: (905) 895-1281 F: (905) 853-5881 E-mail: info@lsrca.on.ca