Environmental Farm Plan
Resources & Fact Sheets
Environmental Guide for Nova Scotia Farms
The purpose of this guide is to provide farms with helpful information and educational resources related to environmental considerations which should be implemented as part of the management of their farm.
Factsheets
Below are links to information sheets and literature on various environmental topics. If you are looking for information on a certain topic and cannot find it, please contact us with your request.
General
General
- Minimum Separation Distances and Riparian Zones
- Where to Find Your Property’s Parcel ID Number (PID)
- A Guide to Agricultural Best Management Practices Within Municipal Drinking Water Supplies in NS
- Environmental Regulations Handbook for NS Agriculture
- List of Consulting Engineers
- Reporting On-Farm Spills
Crop Production
Crop Production
- Improving Pasture and Hayfields by Overseeding Legumes (2021)
- Improving Pasture and Hayfields by No-Till Interseeding
- OACC – Producer Bulletins
Wells
Wells
- Well Construction, Water Quality & Use
- The Drop on Water -Water Quality factsheets (NSE)
- Well Water Quality Concerns
- Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines
- Disinfection of Water Wells by Chlorination
- Guide to Groundwater Withdrawal Approvals
Watercourses
Watercourses
- Guide to Altering Watercourses
- Guide to Surface Water Withdrawal Approvals (NSE)
- Stream Bank Protection Final Report
Farm Ponds - Blue Green Algae
Riparian Zones, Hedgerows, Shelterbelts & Biodiversity
Riparian Zones, Hedgerows, Shelterbelts & Biodiversity
- Establishing Milkweed for Monarch Butterflies and other Native Pollinators
- Life on the Edge – Riparian Zone Establishment (2021)
- Shelterbelts
- Beneficial Management Practices for Riparian Zones in Atlantic Canada
- Enhancing Wildlife and Biodiversity
- New England – Acadian Forest Restoration: A Landowner’s Guide to Theory and Practice
Waste Management
Waste Management
- Wetlands & Agriculture
- Constructed Wetlands – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Constructed Wetlands – Atlantic Committee on Land and Engineering
- Vegetated Infiltration Areas for the Management of Milkhouse Wastewater
- Collecting Vacuum Pump Exhaust Oil
- Septic Systems
- Agricultural Sharps – Regional Disposal Map
Nutrient Management
Nutrient Management
- Nutrient Management
- How to Calibrate a Manure Spreader
- Calibration of Fertilizer Application Equipment On-Farm
- Liming Pastures
- Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium for Pastures
- Pasture Fertility on a Budget
- Guidelines for Land Application and Storage of Municipal Biosolids in Nova Scotia (pdf)
- NSDA Animal and Plant Lab (soil, plant tissue, compost and manure testing)
Manure and Compost Management
Manure and Compost Management
- Manure Application in Wet Conditions
- Manure Management Guidelines
- Manure Management through Composting
- On-Farm Livestock Mortality Management
- On-Farm Bin Composting of Deadstock (OMAFRA)
- Natural Rendering: Composting Livestock Mortalities and Butcher Waste
- On-farm Composting of Mink Manure
- Earthen Manure Storage Systems
Pest Management
Pest Management
- What is Integrated Pest Management?
- Introduction to Crop Scouting Farm Fields
- Pesticide Storage
- On-Farm Pesticide Use
- Field Sprayer Calibration
- Tree-Row-Volume: concept, calculations and application
- Air-Blast Sprayer Calibration for Orchards and Vineyards
- Nozzle Selection for Blueberry Growers
- Pesticide Spill Kit Labels
- Choosing Drift-Reducing Nozzles
- Selecting the Correct Nozzle to Reduce Spray Drift
- Biological Pest Control
Fuel
Fuel
- Farm Fuel Storage and Handling
Soil
Soil
- Soil Conservation Practices
- Surface Drainage
- Subsurface Drainage
- Soil Conservation in Nova Scotia
- Farm Drainage in the Atlantic Provinces
- Shelterbelts: A Growing Investment
- No-till Alternative for Nova Scotia Producers
- Building Soils for Better Crops
- The Effect of Subsoiling and Drainage Treatments
- Dykeland Land Forming
Cover Crops
Cover Crops
- 10 Good Reasons to Use Cover Crops on the Farm
- A Guide to Using Cover Crops in the Maritimes (ACORN)
- Managing Cover Crops Profitably
- Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures
- Rye as a Cover Crop (ATTRA)
Irrigation
Irrigation
- What you should know about Irrigation Water Quality Safety
- Irrigation Water Management for Farmers
- Irrigation Systems Types and Typical Applications
- Trickle Irrigation: How long do I trickle?
- Soil Moisture Monitoring (ATTRA)
- Monitoring Soil Moisture to Improve Irrigation Decisions (OMFRA)
Livestock Watering
Livestock Watering
- Providing Water with Limited Access Ramps
- Solar Powered Pumping Systems for Livestock Watering
- Water Quality Impact of Cattle Access to Watercourses
- Livestock Watering Systems for Pastures
- Electric Fencing for Pastures
- Remote Winter Watering Systems for Beef Cattle
Livestock Feeding
Livestock Feeding
- Silage Seepage
- Seepage Collection and Diversion
- How to Handle Seepage from Farm Silos
Fly Management
Fly Management
Fly Control in Poultry Operations
Fly Control in Mink Operations
Fly Control in Dairy Cattle and Beef Operations
Integrated Fly Management for Livestock Farms
Energy
Energy
- Farm Energy NS – Dairy – Refrigeration Heat Recovery
- Farm Energy NS – Dairy – Vacuum Pumps
- Using Less Energy on Dairy Farms (OMAFRA)
- Improving Energy Efficiency in Livestock Facilities (OMAFRA)
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
- (EFP) Managing Pasture for Profit
- Siting and Management for Hog Farms in Nova Scotia – 2000