Agricultural Tile Drainage and Storage Study Presentation to Algoma Farmers Bruce Station Hall – November 26, 2013
Agricultural Tile Drainage and Storage Study 1. Study Purpose 2. District Overview 3. Survey Distribution/Results 4. Drainage Infrastructure Options/Considerations 5. Crop Storage Advantages/Costs 6. Return on Investment 7. Past/Current Funding Opportunities 8. Job Creation Potential 9. Proposed Funding Considerations
Agricultural Tile Drainage and Storage Study Study Purpose Insufficient investment in drainage/storage infrastructure is a major impediment to agricultural expansion and diversification within Algoma • Identify agricultural lands that would benefit from tile installation using GIS • Provide an economic costs and benefit assessment associated with tile drainage • Provide options for reducing the costs of tile installation • A description of current funding programs and opportunities to finance tile drainage installations and drainage outlets for producers Purpose: Strengthen the local agricultural infrastructure and economy and support the greater mission of becoming a sustainable Algoma.
District Overview - Geography • Thin overburden deposits over Precambrian bedrock • Majority of the farmlands are located along the southern limit of the Algoma District, predominantly in outwash plains along the TransCanada Highway 17 corridor, adjacent to the North Shore, and tributary rivers
District Overview – Existing Farmland • Algoma District has approximately 32,782 hectares of existing available farmland • Majority of lands is located along the lower lands (minimal-to-no drainage relief) • Based on a population of 115,870 and an annual food consumption of approx. 3,800 calories/person/day [equivalent to 0.4 hectares (1 acre) per person] = Algoma Population x Area/Person = 115,870 x 0.4 ha = 46,348 hectares (greater than the available farmland) • In summary, the existing farmland within the District is insufficient to support the District’s population GOAL: Maximize the growth potential of existing farmland by improving drainage infrastructure and additional clearing as a means of supporting the local food and cash crop initiatives, while also helping Algoma to become self-sufficient and sustainable
District Overview - Climate State of emergency declared in Johnson, Plummer Township State of local emergency called in Huron Shores Storm information meetings east of the city Average Frost-Free Period in Climatic Zones of Ontario (1976-2005) Zone Frost-Free Period Avg Date of Last Spring Frost Avg. Date of First Fall Frost (Avg. in Days) A 170-190 April 25 October 20 B 160-170 April 30 October 13 C 150-170 May 3 October 8 D 130-165 May 11 October 1 E* 125-145 May 17 September 26 F* 115-125 May 24 September 22 G* 100-115 May 27 September 17 H 100-110 June 3 September 16 Note: * Denotes zones within Algoma District.
District Overview - Challenges for Northern Farmers • Competition • Harsher climates • Distance to markets • Shorter growing season • Transportation challenges • Access to licensed contractors • Smaller available acreages/farms • Access to supplies and equipment • Absence of custom operations
District Overview - History Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Farm Census Statistics (Algoma District) 1966 - 650 census farms 1981 - 490 census farms 2011 - 317 census farms Many of the former agricultural lands currently used as farms have been • incorporated into larger farms or are unattended and/or abandoned. The migration of new farmers to Algoma in the early 2000s has resulted in some of • the traditional local agricultural land becoming attended and revived. Farmland within Algoma goes for $800 to $1,600/acre compared to Southern • Ontario which is $10,000 to $18,000
Survey Compilation Survey questionnaire: Drainage Information Name and contact information (address, phone, etc.) Number of properties owned and/or leased Location of property parcel (i.e., address, GPS coordinates, nearest intersection) Area of total and farmed land Area of land with existing tile drainage Area of land requiring drainage improvements Discharge location (road ditch, municipal drain, or waterway) Storage Information Assessment of current crop storage capacity and farmer needs: Existing in-barn, grain bins, silos and their capacities Existing drying capacity and cold storage Adequacy of storage and storage needs
Survey Distribution • Municipalities, townships, First Nations were first contacted • Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA)/Christian Federation of Farmers of Ontario (CFFO) mail out lists • Farmland owners registered with MPAC under the farmland tax (FT) category • Ontario Soil and Crop, Cattlemen’s, and Pasture Association • Township press releases on websites and/or newsletters • Reminder/contact information posters were distributed throughout the North Shore • Farmers listed within the Buy Algoma.Buy Fresh. directory were contacted • RAIN’s and OMAF’s Northern regional representative email distribution lists
Survey Respondents • 84 of 317 registered farmers returned surveys ( 25 percent return ) Reasons for not returning forms: • Insufficient funds to install tile drains • Adequate drainage/no need for tile drainage • Other expenses take priority (i.e., tractor) • Retiring/leaving the farming business • Lack of time/interest in submitting • Family emergency
Survey Results – Farm Sizes Farm Sizes within Algoma Size of Farm (acres) No. of Farms Under 30 15 30 to 60 15 60 to 100 40 100 to 150 27 150 to 200 54 200 to 300 7 Over 300 9 Total 167 • Of the 84 farmers, a total area of 8,323 ha (20,567 acres) was identified • Of the total area , approx. 4,661 ha (11,518 acres) was farmable (50 percent)
Survey Results – Owned vs Rented Land • Of the 212 total properties (167 properties and 45 unidentified properties), 145 identified properties are owned and 67 properties are rented • Rented lands are generally not tended as well as owned lands , which are fertilized and seeded with crop rotations to maintain healthy soil conditions. • With some exceptions, rented lands are in continuous hay production , and without fertilization, this will lead to depletion of soil nutrients and invasion by undesirable species . • The provision for drainage improvements on rental lands will invariably require long term lease arrangements to be made between landowners and farmers to ensure the farmland is farmed to obtain the tax credit.
Survey Respondents – Tiled Lands • 42 farms representing 637 hectares (1,574 acres) of the total farmable area of 4,661 hectares (11,518 acres), which represents approximately 15 percent , were already either partially or completely tile drained. Note: Tiled land in Southern Ontario is closer to 50 percent • 33 farms were tiled systematically and 9 farms were tiled randomly • 22 properties requested tile and/or interspacial upgrading (50 percent) • 34 properties were tiled professionally by a licensed drainage contractor (Tait Bros. Contracting of Grand Valley, Ontario) • 8 tiled properties were either done by an unidentified contractor or the landowner Tiled land percentage within Algoma is comparable to other Northern Ontario districts due to similar challenges (lack of drainage contractors, high cost of tiling, and adverse weather, distant to markets, etc.)
Survey Results – Request for Tile Drainage 90 properties 2,017 ha (4,983 acres) requested tile drainage • Based on 25 survey return rate , actual amount of land requiring tiling could be up to 8,000 ha (20,000 acres) of total existing farmable land area • 26 properties (29 percent) of the properties representing 507 ha (1,253 acres) of the total drainage request (25 percent) are owned by religious orders Drainage Demand by Township Desbarats – Johnson 27 Huron Shores – Thessalon, Bright, Day 19 Bruce Mines – Plummer Additional 12 Desbarats – Tarbutt 9 St. Joseph Island 9 Laird 7 MacDonald, Meredith, Aberdeen Add’l 7 Total Properties Requiring Drainage 90
Survey Results – Storage Requirements Crop Storage Survey Storage Type No. of Existing No. Requested Grain Bins 36 11 Silos 5 1 Dry Storage - Barns 25 2 Cold Storage 9 3 Grain Dryers 7 5 Grain Sorter/Cleaning 0 1 Freezer/Flash Freezer 0 1
Importance of Drainage Excessive soil water will: • Restricts aeration of the soil • Limits growing season and workability of soils • Slows the rise in soil temperature in spring • Lowers the bearing capacity of the soil • Damages seeds and seedlings • Limits depth of root penetration • Reduced plant survival rate during droughts
Types of Drainage Surface Drainage 1. Slope Topography 2. Ditches Sub-Surface Drainage 1. Mole Drains 2. Tile Drains 3. Dewatering Wells
Principals of Tile Drainage
Benefits of Tile Drainage Advantages of tile drainage: • extended growing season • better working conditions at both seeding and harvest • reduced soil erosion and minimized maintenance • increased return on investment and greater economic growth • decreased farmer frustration/aggravation/stress and overall improved health/outlook (attraction to new farmers)
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