Minimum Distance Separation

Development in agricultural area requires compliance with the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) Formulae developed by the Province of Ontario to reduce incompatibility concerns stemming from odour impacts from livestock facilities. If you are considering new development or expanding or remodeling livestock barns, manure storage and/or anaerobic digesters, an assessment of MDS is required.

For more information on Minimum Distance Separation visit Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) website.

Main Types of Minimum Distance Separation

MDS is made up of two separate but related formulae that act reciprocally to site new development (e.g. residences, churches, and other sensitive uses) and new or expanding livestock facilities:

MDS I – provides the minimum distance separation between proposed new development and existing livestock barns, manure storage and/or anaerobic digesters.

MDS II – provides the minimum distance separation between proposed new, expanding or remodeled livestock barns, manure storage and/or anaerobic digesters and existing or approved development.

Agricultural Consultants

Agricultural consultants can prepare the necessary MDS assessment needed in order to obtain a building permit (in no particular order):

Mervyn Erb 

Brucefield 

Agri-Solve

519-233-7100 

Tina Berines 

Listowel 

Tina Beirnes Ag Consulting

519-807-3537

Laura Neubrand

Bornholm

Hoegys Farm Supply Ltd

519-301-1413

Jessica Orr

Gads Hill

Hoegys Farm Supply Ltd

519-301-1885

F. Gary Kuper

Listowel

  226-622-0826

Shannon Little

Monkton

  519-357-8160

Thomas Skinner 

Mitchell

Crop Quest Inc.  519-301-9323

Amy VanStraaten

Gadshill

Crop Quest Inc. 519-274-0232

Ryan Bayne

Waterloo 

GHD 519-884-0510

Douglas Koch

Brussels

Brussels Agromart Ltd 519-887-6273

Rosa Vander Kuylen

Mitchell

Crop Quest Inc  519-301-0593

Patrick Feryn

Stratford 

  519-272-4434

Cleon Martin

    519-591-5342

To be added to the above list, Email the Planner with your full contact information. The above consultants have confirmed they are on the Province’s Nutrient Management Consultants registry, and able to prepare MDS calculations/assessments for both MDS I and MDS II.

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