Prairie Provinces - Saskatchewan
The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) is a provincial branch under the Agriculture and Agri-Food Ministry of Canada. The agency works with Prairie people to build a viable agricultural industry, and to support a sound rural economy, healthy environment and a high quality of life. PFRA’s approach to water quality issues focuses on protection, enhancement and treatment of rural water supplies. PFRA also works wit rural clients and local farm groups to demonstrate and promote best management practices that protect surface and groundwater supplies. The following are examples of water quality agricultural issues and the corresponding BMP to correct the problems:

1.  Problem: Spraying pesticides contaminates surface water. Spray drifts to nearby surface water.

Solution:

  • Create a buffer area between the field and water

  • Install new nozzles on spraying equipment

  •  Farmers should spray during calm weather to minimize area spray drifts to

2.  Problem: Soil run-off collects in surface water due to fertilizer, pesticide, and manure contamination

 Solution:

  •  Terrain Improvement: tillage contoured to hills

  •  Grass planted by waterway to trap eroding soil

  • Shelter belt planted to reduce wind erosion

3.  Problem: Improperly stored pesticides and fertilizers

  • leads to leaching to groundwater

  • contamination of well-water

  • run-off into surface water

Solution: Sealed compound constructed with cement floor

4.  Problem: Livestock watering directly from surface water

  • Possible streambank damage detected

  • Excess algae growth

  • Downstream water quality possibly affect

     Solution: Install a remote water system for livestock

To ensure progress towards the common goals, the Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture proposes the following and BMP Approaches:

  • Farm Planning: an increase in the use of environmental farm planning, regional environmental management plans, or equivalent increase in the coverage of such environmental plans;
  • Nutrient Management: an increase in the use of beneficial manure management practices and fertilizer management practices, nutrient management plans and the degree to which nutrient application is in balance with need;
  • Pest Management: an increase in the use of beneficial pest and pesticide management practices;
  • Land and Water Management: a decrease in the number of bare-soil days on farm land, an increase in no-till or conservation tillage, and improved management of riparian areas, grazing lands and water use; and
  • Nuisance Management: the adoption of better management practices to reduce odours and particulate emissions.

  
Policies : Rural Water Development Program (RWDP)
The provincial government of Saskatchewan has a Rural Water Development Program whose function is to ‘enhance the viability of Prairie agricultural areas by promoting and supporting sustainable development and protection of water resources. To receive funding, persons must propose projects that will help meet the objectives of the program.

Objectives:

·         Alleviate water-related constraints to the viability of rural agriculture

·         Aid development, expansion and diversification of agricultural operations

·         Enhance opportunities for rural agri-business and value-added enterprises

·         Encourage the implementation of sustainable practices in the development and protection of water resources

Activities Assisted under the Program:

1.       Water Development

2.       Water Protection: activities that will protect or improve the quality of water in rural areas such as best management practices for wells, and dugouts, watershed protection initiatives, agricultural wastewater management and treatment schemes, riparian area management initiatives, water well decommissioning programs and water conservations

3.       Research, Demonstration and Education

Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Initiative (AESI)

The AESI provides funds for projects which address the regional impacts of agricultural practices on water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat and biodiversity. It encourages innovative approaches to education and awareness, technology transfer, and the development and use of stewardship tools that encourage the adoption of best management practices

 
Some Legislation to Aid in Enforcing BMPs
The Agricultural Operations Act
 
  • Section 21.2.(b): The minister shall not approve a plan unless the minister is satisfied that pollution of either ground or surface water will not occur as a result of

the intensive livestock operation;

Section 24.3.: Subject to subsections (2) to (4), the minister, on the recommendation of an inspector, may suspend or cancel the approval of a plan where … the minister considers that there is an immediate danger of pollution of surface or ground waters, the minister may suspend or cancel approval of a plan without giving the person an opportunity to be heard.

  • Section 25: Where the minister, on the advice of an inspector, is of the opinion that an

intensive livestock operation is being conducted in a manner that creates a danger

of surface or ground waters being polluted, the minister may make an order

requiring the person who operates the intensive livestock operation to correct the situation giving rise to the danger of pollution within a specified time.
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