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Manure Management for Horse Owners: What is required by the Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA) | |
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Key requirements | Manure storage | Corrals and wintering sites | Manure application | Record keeping and soil testing | Permits and enforcement | For more information
Manure management requirements for all livestock operations in Alberta are included under the Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA). While this legislation focuses more on confined feeding operations (e.g., feedlots), there are also direct implications for horse owners.
Horse operations are subject to the regulations for manure collection, application and storage setback distances from neighbours and common bodies of water. This legislation does not regulate equestrian stables, auction marts, racetracks, exhibition grounds, and animals in a grazing situation. A common body of water refers to the bed and shores of rivers, canals, sloughs and lakes that are surrounded by (common to) more than one landowner.
Key requirements
Managing manure is an integral part of protecting the environment (surface water and groundwater), and minimizing nuisance impacts on neighbours. Horse owners should be familiar with the requirements for:
- Manure storage
- Corrals and wintering sites
- Manure application
- Record keeping and soil testing
Manure storage
There are different requirements for short-term than for long-term manure storage. A “short-term” solid manure storage site can only be used for a maximum of 7 months over a 3-year period. If a person stores manure or compost for a longer period, the site used must meet the requirements in the legislation for a manure storage facility. Short-term manure storage sites are generally used to store manure collected from locations where manure has accumulated before it can be spread on the land. Feedlot pens are considered manure storage facilities not short-term storage. Horse owners with short-term sites must deal with runoff issues and must locate manure or compost at least:
- 150 m from residences not under their control
- 100 m from a spring or water well
- 30 m from a common body of water
- 1 m above the water table
- 1 m above the 1 in 25 year maximum flood level
Corrals and wintering sites
Horse corrals and wintering sites (locations where animals are fed and sheltered over the winter) must be located at least 30 metres (m) away from a common body of water to reduce runoff risks.
If a corral or site is closer than 30 m and cannot be moved either:
- An interceptor (e.g., berm or ditch) must be constructed between the site and the water to divert runoff from the site away from the water; or
- Manure and bedding accumulated at the site must be moved to an appropriate manure storage facility or area before runoff occurs.
Note: Manure and compost (including composting materials) are treated the same and the same requirements apply to both.
Manure application
Anyone applying manure or compost to land must take into account the incorporation requirements, setback distances to water and runoff risks. Solid manure or compost can only be applied to arable land and must be:
- Applied at least 30 m from a water well or a common body of water
- Incorporated within 48 hours of application, except when applied on forage, direct-seeded crops, frozen or snow-covered land
- Applied at least 150 m from a residence or occupied building, if the manure or compost is not incorporated
- Applied on forage, direct-seeded crops, frozen or snow-covered land in accordance with the minimum setbacks based on the slope of the land as indicated in the table below.
Average Slope | Setback distance from water |
| less than 4% | 30 m |
| 4 to 6% | 60 m |
| 6 to 12% | 90 m |
| Above 12% | Not allowed |
Record keeping and soil testing
Each person who handles more than 500 tonnes per year of manure or compost must keep records for 5 years, conduct soil tests and apply manure according to the soil nitrogen and salinity limits in the legislation. Soil tests must be conducted prior to applying manure or compost to land. The soil test results must not be older than three years except for soil texture, which is a one-time analysis. The record keeping requirements do not apply to manure produced by animals when they are grazing.
Records required are: soil test results, amount of manure or compost produced or handled, date, name and address of each person who receives or applies manure or compost, and the application rates of manure or compost and fertilizer. Further details and examples of record keeping forms are available (see the list of free publications).
Permits and enforcement
The Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) is responsible for administering the legislation. Permits are required to build or expand a confined feeding operation (CFO) and manure storage facilities, but are not required for wintering sites. An inspection of a livestock facility by the NRCB can be triggered if the NRCB receives a complaint. Inspections typically look at risks to the environment or problems related to the manure handling and storage. Inspectors consider the significance of any non-compliance as well as the risk to the environment, and the operator's willingness to address the issue voluntarily.
For more information
Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD)
Alberta Ag-Info Centre
Toll Free: 1.866.882.7677
Web site: www.agric.gov.ab.ca (Search for “AOPA or Horse Owners”)
Free Publications - Call 1.800.292.5697 to order the following or download by clicking the link:
Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB)
Toll-free 24 hour response line 1.866.383.6722
Dial 310.0000 first for a toll-free connection
| Lethbridge | 403.381.5166 |
| Red Deer | 403.340.5241 |
| Morinville | 780.939.1212 |
| Fairview | 780.835.7111 |
| Web site: | www.nrcb.gov.ab.ca |
Queen's Printer Bookstore
For copies of the AOPA legislation dial 310.0000 for a toll-free connection
Phone: 780.427.4952
Web site: www.gov.ab.ca/qp
DISCLAIMER: This document is not intended as legal advice, but as an interpretive document to the Agricultural Operation Practices Act and Regulations.
The contents of this page are no longer available.
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This document is maintained by Nicole Huggins-Rawlins.
This information published to the web on May 5, 2005.
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