Search a list or view a map of soil erosion control contractor certificate holders who offer design and construction services to agricultural producers across Ontario.

Overview

Agricultural erosion control structures are a set of common upland physical measures intentionally built to manage, redirect, or control erosive concentrated water runoff flows that can cause significant water-induced erosion damage to farmland. Examples of these structures include:

  • grassed waterways
  • rock chutes
  • drop structures
  • water and sediment control basins (WASCoBs)

Often erosion control structures are used alongside agronomic-based erosion control techniques (such as conservation tillage, cover cropping and vegetated buffer strips) to fully manage a cropland erosion problem.

Informational booklets and manuals

An introduction to general agronomic and structural methods for controlling water-induced erosion on farmed cropland is covered in the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Best Management Practices Booklet (BMP26), Controlling Soil Erosion on the Farm.

Erosion control structures can also be combined into large-scale municipal drainage works, providing an integrated, watershed-based approach to drainage and runoff management. OMAFRA Publication 832, Agricultural Erosion Control Structures: A Design and Construction Manual assists contractors in the selection, design, installation and maintenance of agricultural soil erosion control systems.

The guide also deals with the types and causes of agricultural erosion as well as the design, installation and maintenance of structures to control water-induced erosion. Cost-share programs often specify that erosion control structures receiving financial assistance be designed in accordance with the guidance and principles outlined in OMAFRA Publication 832.

Design information sheets

Agricultural Erosion Control Structures – A Design and Construction Manual (Publication 832) includes the following set of design information sheets to assist in the planning and design of common agricultural erosion control structures:

Metric

Imperial

Agricultural erosion control structures training course

A five-day course teaches contractors to recognize and analyze soil erosion problems on agricultural lands and develop their own designs. It also identifies which situations require more specialized professional design.

The course uses AgErosion, a software application produced by OMAFRA to assist in the design of agricultural erosion control structures. After successfully passing the course examination, you will receive the AgErosion software and a Certificate of Completion.

For course details and registration call the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, at 519-674-1500 ext. 63590 or register online.

Certificate of Completion

View a list or map of soil erosion control contractor certificate holders for information on who offers design and construction services to agricultural producers across Ontario.

This information is updated annually in April.

Renew your Certificate of Completion

How to renew

To renew your certificate, you must complete a survey before it expires.

The survey:

  • asks about the erosion control work you have completed since your last certification
  • must be submitted at least once every 5 years

The University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus will send you the survey in the final year before your certificate expires.

If you need a copy, you can request one between December and February:

Tel: 519-674-1500

If your certificate has expired

To reinstate an expired certificate, you must do either of the following:

Professional development

You are encouraged to attend a professional development (PD) day at least once every 5 years.

At a PD day, you can:

PD days are held as part of the annual Land Improvement Contractors of Ontario (LICO) Drainage Conference.

More information

For more information about drainage courses, exams, the Certificate of Achievement or the certificate renewal process, contact the Business Development Centre, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, 1-866-222-9682 or rcabc@uoguelph.ca.

Disclaimer

If you require this information in an alternative format, please contact ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca. We will:

  • acknowledge your request within 3 business days
  • provide you with the content within 15 business days