Phosphorus Report

The Phosphorus Report is an inventory of both produced and imported phosphorus loads and the capacity of soils to handle these loads in compliance with the maximum annual phosphorus deposits prescribed in the Agricultural Operations Regulation. The report allows for checking the balance between phosphorus added and the maximum deposit capacity in order to avoid surplus phosphorus finding its way into waterways and degrading the water quality, particularly through the proliferation
of blue-green algae.

Agricultural producers that are required to maintain a phosphorus report must submit it no lather than May 15^th of each year to the ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs (MDDEP). The report must be made on the MDDEP-supplied electronic form. Moreover, producers must immediately advise the MDDEP and their agronomist of any change in report data. A report update must then be submitted within 30 days.

Information contained in the Phosphorus Report will also be used in applying the environmental cross-compliance. Indeed, compliance with the regulatory requirement to produce and submit a balanced phosphorus report to the ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs (MDDEP) no later than May 15th of each year has been selected as a measure of eligibility for certain programs by the Financière agricole du Québec and the ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ).

Filing the Phosphorus Report electronically: it’s easy and secure!

A simple step

The MDDEP has taken the steps required to assist agronomists and facilitate the preparation and online filing of the Phosphorus Report. A helpful new electronic service is now available to submit the report. The existing form has been simplified and integrated into the most commonly used agronomy softwares to facilitate electronic filing.

Procedure for obtaining MDDEP producer numbers and/or locations

The MDDEP producer number is the key to filing reports electronically, while the producer location number is required to fill out the phosphorous report. A procedure has therefore been set up to enable agronomists to obtain these MDDEP numbers and/or locations:

• All agricultural producers that are required to file a report must submit basic information to the MDDEP on the prescribed form (French, Excel file, 83 kB). This information allows the MDDEP to search the list of producer numbers and locations, or create new ones.
• The MDDEP then sends back the appropriate MDDEP producer numbers and legal names along with associated livestock or spreading locations (place names, numbers and cadastral designations).
• The agronomist or producer confirms the producer names and locations, informing the MDDEP of any potential producer issues and additions or removals of locations on the prescribed form (French, Excel file, 97 kB).
• Communications in regard to this procedure should be made by email to bilan.phosphore@mddep.gouv.qc.ca. This email address, as well as the toll free telephone line (1-800-561-1616), may be used when requesting general information about how to obtain producer and location numbers.
• Producers may also use the above procedure to obtain their MDDEP number directly.

A secure process

Submitting the Phosphorus Report through the Internet is secure using the ClicSÉQUR authentication system developed by the ministère du Revenu. This system authenticates the agronomists that submit electronically. Naturally, users must first register on the clicSÉQUR system.

A form and a user guide

The MDDEP has made a revised version of the form available online, along with a guide to filling out the Phosphorus Report.

Environmental cross-compliance in farm support programs: Financial Assistance Linked to Compliance with Environmental Requirements

Environmental cross-compliance in farm support programs is a mechanism by which farm income assistance is linked to compliance with environmental requirements. Under this mechanism, farmers must meet certain conditions to fully benefit from the financial support programs to which they are eligible. For more information:

• Environmental cross-compliance: The Development and Implementation of an Approach in Québec (French)
• Environmental cross-compliance in farm support programs (French - MAPAQ)
• Sustainable Development and Environmental cross-compliance in farm support programs (French - La Financière agricole)