Operators of confined feeding operations and manure storage facilities, and parties who receive or apply over 500 tonnes of manure in a year, are all required by the Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA) to maintain records. The requirements are set out in sections 28(1) to (5) of AOPA’s Standards and Administration Regulation.

CFO operators must keep the following records:

• the volume or weight of manure, composting materials, or compost produced
• the name and address of a person who is transferred the control of 500 tonnes or more of manure, composting materials, or compost in a year
• the date of the transfer(s) of manure, composting material, or compost and
• the volume or weight of manure, composting material, or compost

A person who receives or removes a total of 500 tonnes or more of manure, composting materials, or compost in a year must keep the following records:

• the volume or weight of the manure, composting materials, or compost received or removed
• the name and address of the person from whom the manure, composting materials, or compost is received or removed
• the date of receiving or removing the manure, composting materials, or compost

A person who applies a total of 500 tonnes or more of manure, composting materials, or compost in a year to land under the person’s control must keep the following records:

• the name and address of the person from whom the manure, composting materials, or compost is received
• the date the manure, composting materials, or compost is received
• the volume or weight of manure, composting materials, or compost received
• the legal land description of the land to which the manure, composting materials, or compost is applied
• the area of the land to which the manure, composting materials, or compost is applied
• the date the manure, composting materials, or compost is applied
• the volume or weight of manure, composting materials, or compost applied
• the application rates of manure, composting materials, or compost, nutrients, and fertilizer, by field and by year
• the dates of application and incorporation methods used for each field
• the soil test results for the tests noted below, by field. Soil tests must not be more than three years old:
  • extractable nitrate-nitrogen from a soil depth of 0-60 cm
  • soil salinity based on electrical conductivity from a soil depth of 0-15 cm
  • soil texture; one time analysis from a soil depth of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm

These records must be kept for five years.

An NRCB inspector may ask to see copies of these records when they are on site. For information and assistance, please contact an inspector at the nearest office of the NRCB.

In addition, Agriculture and Irrigation has developed a free app to help operators track manure application management. For information, please see Agriculture and Irrigation.