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Studies are also being carried out to discov- er a method of reducing the amount of nitro- gen in manure â€"â€" a process which, if success- ful will help to cut down on possrble nitrogen pollution from manure used as fertilizer. This project. sponsored by the Department, IS now under way at the University of Toronto. At the present time there is growing concern about the problem of animal waste because of the trend to high density feedlots or barn con- finement of livestock. While these solid wastes tend to be land polluters. they can also con- tribute to air and water pollution. How big is this problem? Well. it is estimated that an en- terprise comprising 600 dairy cows or 5.000 hogs or 70.000 broilers would involve a waste disposal problem comparable to that of a town of 10.000 persons. To help cope with this problem our Depart- ment has provided funds for research con- ducted by the Utilization of Animal Wastes Committee at the University of Guelph. In outlining their research program. the Commit- tee pointed out that the agricultural industry has a responsibility to society to develop syS» tems for the control of air. waste and soil pol- lution that could arise from improper handling and disposal of agricultural waste, The Comâ€" mittee hopes to develop methods of handling and utilizing animal wastes that will minimize handling costs. limit pollution, and provide ways for reusing these wastes in agricultural production. This program has been given top priority for the 1970-1971 period. A second major contribution in this area has been the “Suggested Code of Practice" for the establishment of new livestock buildings. reno- vation of existing buildings. and the disposal of animal wastes. This was jointly produced by the Air Management Branch of the Ontario Department of Energy and Resources Manage- ment, the Ontario Water Resources Commis- sion. and the Ontario Department of Agri- culture and Food. The Code of Practice represents the first formal attempt to provide guidelines regarding the land and location reâ€" quirements for confined livestock enterprises. The Department. in cooperation with the Ontario Water Resources Commission. the Onâ€" tario Department of Health. and various Fedâ€" eral agencies. also enforces the regulations for dairy plant and slaughterhouses â€"â€" these regu- lations include strict requirements for plant de- sign, cleanliness and waste disposal systems. 'Information on all phases of pollution or en- vrronmental control that involve agriculture is available at ane one of the 54 field offices op- erated by the Extension Branch of our Depart- ment. 22 So far I have mentioned only the pollutit”. problems created by the agricultural industiyl Quite often. however, agriculture is the recipi- ent of pollution from nonâ€"agricultural soure. and unjustly blamed as a polluter in others. i k The byâ€"products from primary and seem» ary industry. which are transported by air 1.. water, can directly affect soil, crops and 11. stock. While many of these compounds elements are essential to animal and pi. growth, they become toxic beyond certain i. els of concentration. Another example is the problem of unm ed urban sewage which contributes a Varien agents to surface waters ranging in nature fj. viruses to parasitic worms. This type of p01. tron may pose a serious problem to as culture if this water is used for irrigation poses or for washing milking utensils. Farms located near urban centers and TL‘L ational sites may face the problems of air p lution created by insect spraying programs these areas. This is of Special concern to d'r or meat producers. Farmers growing crops along major hi ways have found. through testing. that th plants contain abnormal amounts of lead l'rx gasoline. In the large urban areas garbage or Sl.‘ waste materials are creating an everâ€"increas problem, In one year, Metropolitan Tore disposes of over one and a half million tons waste. One nationwide survey found that U pounds of trash is produced each year every man, woman and child in Canada. People today are consuming more. traveli- more and throwing away more than ever fore. Manufacturers are busy develop throw-away garments. dinnerware and cont. ers of all kinds. These soâ€"ealled Convenn' packages increase the accumulation of h. top handle waste products. Many national and local organizatiOns the United States are joining forees to cm nate their efforts and provide informs about fighting the accumulation of solid \v. For instance. the Ecology Education Inst: of Berkeley University in California has st self up to teach people how to channel u: back into the economic system. They tell :. pers to insist on returnable bottles, and n buy so-called convenience packaging bee cellophane. wax paper. styrofoam and P13 do not decompose naturally as do or; things such as vegetable peelings and I scraps. How do we dispose of the solid waste n rial that is accumulating? To date, the cus- ary methods have all resulted in additional lution problems. The system of open dum .- is a destroyer of irreplaceable land; the b r ing of refuse is a serious source of air I): ‘l' HOME AND COLINin