Agricultural Tile Drain Installation Licensing Program
Learn about tile drainage licensing, inspections and best practices for installing and operating on agricultural land. This information is for farmers who are hiring contractors.
Overview
The Agricultural Tile Drainage Licensing Program regulates the installation of agricultural drainage systems on agricultural land under the Agricultural Tile Drainage Installation Act, 1990 and O. Reg. 18.
Administration of the program
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) oversees the Agricultural Tile Drainage Licensing Program which issues licenses and conducts inspections of:
- drainage businesses (drainage contractors)
- machines
- operators
Browse a list of forms used by businesses and individuals to obtain the required licenses.
Drainage contractors are regulated by the Agricultural Tile Drainage Installation Act, 1990. A farmer can choose to install their own drainage system on their own property and is exempt from the Act.
Drainage courses teach participants to survey fields, design and layout tile drainage systems and understand the principles necessary to successfully install tile. Ridgetown College in partnership with OMAFA offers 2 courses required by the legislation:
Information for contractors
More details on the licensing process and the design and installation of these systems are found in:
- Agricultural drainage licensing
- Publication 29: Drainage Guide for Ontario (the technical reference document for the Act and regulations)
Best practices
The Agricultural Tile Drainage Licensing Program promotes the use of best practices to ensure that agricultural tile drainage systems are installed and operated to provide effective drainage as part of a farmer’s crop production systems.
Learn how well-drained soil increases the opportunity to produce sustained high yield crops with proper care and rotation:
- Considerations when planning to drain land
- Maintenance of a subsurface drainage system
- Subsurface drainage system outfalls
Learn about properly designed drainage systems that remove excess water from farm soil while protecting the environment: