1. Preserving and Conserving Agricultural Lands:
A P.E.I. Perspective

2. Welcome to the farm of Ken and Donna MacLeod.
This farm has been in the family for four generations.
The farm is 440 acres
135 acres of mixed woodlands
270 acres of potential potato land
20 acres of poorly drained land
5 acres of farm buildings
10 acres of cottage development
The MacLeod’s have decided to stop farming and rent the land as their “RRSP”.
The farm has been well managed for many years but rules and regulations are changing!

3. Farm Rental Potential
The farm covers some 440 acres of which 270 acres are currently in agricultural production.
The potato land can be rented at $300/ac/yr.
Grain land can be rented for $150/ac/yr
Hay land can be rented for $75/ac/yr
Pasture can be rented for $75/ac/yr

4. Farm Woodlot The woodlot covers 135 acres
90 acres mixed and hardwood forest
Most is mature
45 acres white spruce
Most is mature to over mature
A stream runs through the mixed wood stand.
The forest buffers an adjacent 10 ac cottage development from pesticide drift, manure smells, noise, and airborne soil.
The hardwood area is part of a Scenic Heritage Road. The McLeods have not signed a protection agreement but they have left the trees standing for now.

5. Farm Woodlot The woodlot covers 135 acres
90 acres mixed and hardwood forest
Most is mature
45 acres white spruce
Most is mature to over mature
A stream runs through the mixed wood stand.
The forest buffers an adjacent 10 ac cottage development from pesticide drift, manure smells, noise, and airborne soil.
The hardwood area is part of a Scenic Heritage Road. The McLeods have not signed a protection agreement but they have left the trees standing for now.
Here is also potential to develop cottages along this scenic road.

6. Poorly Drained Farm Land
The poorly drained lands cover some 20 acres
Used for pasture and hay.
Some of it could be drained and converted to row crops. (productivity is low-medium)
This wet land provides habitat for several species of amphibians.
It is a breeding place for mosquitoes
The cost of drainage is $1200/acre.

7. Poorly Drained Farm Land
The poorly drained lands cover some 20 acres
Used for pasture and hay.
Some of it could be drained and converted to row crops. (productivity is low-medium)
This wet land provides habitat for several species of amphibians.
It is a breeding place for mosquitoes
The cost of drainage is $1200/acre.

8. Pertinent Farm Legislation
Land Protections Act
Individuals can only own 1,000 acres
Companies can only own 3,000 acres
Agricultural Crop Rotation Act
Cannot row crop lands with 9% or greater slopes without taking conservation measures
Cannot plant a regulated crop (potatoes) on the same piece of land more than once every three years
Environmental Protection Act
Buffers protect waterways from soil runoff and pesticides
Must establish min.15M field buffer along any stream
Buffer raises to 20 m for lands with greater than 5% slope
Must leave a 20M forest buffer along streams and rivers.

9. High Sloped Lands
Of the farm’s 270 acres of agricultural lands, some are categorized as having slopes of 9% or greater.
some are 12% or greater
This means that the McLeods must implement soil conservation strategies to meet their retirement needs.

10. High Sloped Lands
Of the farm’s 270 acres of agricultural lands, some are categorized as having slopes of 9% or greater.
some are 12% or greater
This means that the McLeods must implement soil conservation strategies to meet their retirement needs.

11. Options Remove land from row crops Terracing
Creating hedgerows and buffer zones
Using cover crops
Growing alternate crops
Converting farm or forest land to other uses.

12. Your assignment!
In order to help the MacLeods’ maximize their economic return from the rental of their lands and comply with the new legislation, prepare a Farm Plan which:
Identifies the areas which are affected
Identifies the McLeods land use options for each area
Identifies the type(s) of land use management techniques they should use.
Identifies where these options & techniques should be used.