Reaping the
best from
agricultural lands

Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering

Groupe Conseil UDA’s team has developed an in-depth expertise in agricultural engineering and agronomy including in land development, valorization of fertilizing residual materials (agricultural recycling) as well as agronomic monitoring and assessment of works carried out on agricultural land.

Our team includes experienced and versatile agronomist engineers, agronomists, and agricultural technologists working hand in hand with other in-house experts, the client, and various project stakeholders in order to design personalized solutions that are sustainable and innovative. Thanks to its 40 years of experience, Groupe UDA has assembled a team of specialists who are able to guide their clients in the best practices and compliance with standards and regulations.

Specific areas
of intervention

  • Permit and authorization request (CPTAQ)
  • Agricultural and soil inventories
  • Portrait of the agricultural territory
  • Agricultural expertise
  • Assessment of crop losses
  • Assessment of financial compensations (crop yield)
  • Monitoring crop yield
  • Creation and modification of underground drainage plans
  • Creation of Agricultural Zone Development Plans (PDZA)
  • Creation of agri-environmental plans for fertilizing residual materials (FRMs)
  • Agronomic monitoring and supervision

Examples
of past
projects

  • Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering
    Saint-Laurent Pipeline

    Saint-Laurent Pipeline
    The Saint-Laurent Pipeline project involved building a 242-km pipeline between Lévis and Boucherville in order to connect the Jean-Gaulin Refinery and the Montreal East Valero Energy terminal. The pipeline crosses 4 administrative regions, 32 municipalities, 10 MRCs or equivalent territories, and 5 of the UPA’s regional federations. Groupe Conseil UDA’s professional services included producing detailed agricultural inventories, overseeing modifications to subsurface drainage plans, and recommending mitigation measures. Groupe Conseil UDA also submitted the applications required to the CPTAQ which also involved agroforestry studies.

    Services rendered

    • Carried out soil surveys and agricultural inventories
    • Assessed subsurface draining and connected components
    • Designed measures to protect the agricultural environment
    • Managed surface water in agricultural areas
    • Prepared and submitted requests to the CPTAQ
    • Carried out agronomic monitoring during the construction phase
    • Monitored crop yield following construction
    Saint-Laurent Pipeline (Agricultural engineering and agronomy)
  • Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering
    Recyclage agricole pour Olymel

    Groupe Conseil UDA offre le service de recyclage agricole, aussi appelé la valorisation des matières résiduelles fertilisantes, à des MRC et à des entreprises productrices de matières. Les agronomes de Groupe Conseil UDA ont servi d’intermédiaires entre les producteurs Olymel, générateurs de matières, et les fermes susceptibles d’utiliser les matières valorisées. Les agronomes employés par Groupe Conseil UDA ont l’expertise nécessaire pour assurer le respect d’une liste de critères de 200 à 300 pages sur le traitement de la matière, les pathogènes et les métaux. Cette expertise unique a aussi permis à Groupe Conseil UDA de siéger au comité multipartite en matières résiduelles fertilisantes du ministère de l’Environnement.

    Services rendus

    • Demande de permis et d’autorisation (CPTAQ)
    • Inventaires agricoles et pédologiques
    • Portrait agricole territorial
    • Expertise agricole
    • Évaluation de pertes de récolte
    • Évaluation de compensations financières (rendement agricole)
    • Suivi des rendements des cultures
    • Conception et modification de plans de drainage souterrain
    • Conception de plans de développement de la zone agricole (PDZA)
    • Conception de plans agroenvironnementaux de valorisation de matières résiduelles fertilisantes (MRF)
    • Surveillance et supervision agronomiques
    Recyclage agricole pour Olymel (Génie)
  • Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering
    Energy East Pipeline

    The Energy East Pipeline was to be the largest pipeline in Canada, with a 4,600-km pipeline connecting Alberta to New Brunswick. In Quebec, the project included a 650-km pipeline, 10 pump stations, 2 delivery stations, 107 block valves, permanent access roads, as well as temporary installations and infrastructures. The project was mainly located in agricultural zones and farmed land, thereby requiring authorization as per the Act Respecting the Preservation of Agricultural land and Agricultural Activities.

    Services rendered

    • Carried out agricultural inventories (type of farming, depth of topsoil, etc.)
    • Analyzed the impacts on farming activities
    • Analyzed the changes required to subsurface draining during the construction and operational phases
    • Prepared and submitted the request to the Commission de protection du territoire et des activités agricoles du Québec (CPTAQ)
    • Prepared an agroforestry study
    Energy East Pipeline (Agricultural engineering and agronomy)
  • Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering
    Saint-Sébastien extension

    The Saint-Sébastien extension project located in Saint-Sébastien and Pike River was intended to meet the growing demand for natural gas by increasing the capacity of the current network and consolidating it in the area. The project entailed an extension of an exiting conduit over a distance of about 4 km and the implementation of above-ground infrastructures. Because the project was entirely located in agricultural zones and on crop land, it required authorization as per the Act Respecting the Preservation of Agricultural Land and Agricultural Activities.

    Services rendered

    • Carried out agricultural inventories (type of farming, depth of topsoil, etc.)
    • Analyzed the impacts on farming activities
    • Analyzed the changes required to subsurface draining during the construction and operational phases
    • Prepared and submitted the request to the Commission de protection du territoire et des activités agricoles du Québec (CPTAQ)
    • Prepared an agroforestry study
    • Carried out agronomic monitoring during the work
    • Monitored crop yield after the construction
    • Issued an agronomic expertise report (monitoring) required by the CPTAQ
    Saint-Sébastien extension (Agricultural engineering and agronomy)
  • Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering
    Quarries and sand pits operated by Sintra

    Sintra owns and oversees numerous quarries and sand pits in Quebec. The company mandated Groupe Conseil UDA to prepare and submit various requests for authorizations from the Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Québec (CPTAQ) for sand pits and quarries located in permanent agricultural zones. Furthermore, Groupe Conseil UDA’s agronomists and technicians were called on to monitor the sites during the operations and rehabilitation activities to make sure the company complied with the conditions of the authorizations issued.

    Services rendered

    • Carried out forestry inventories
    • Analyzed the impacts on farming activities
    • Prepared and submitted requests to the CPTAQ
    • Carried out agronomic monitoring of the company’s operational and site rehabilitation activities
    Quarries and sand pits operated by Sintra (Agricultural engineering and agronomy)
  • Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering
    Agricultural zone development plan for the MRC du Haut-Richelieu

    The agricultural zone development plan (PDZA) aims to enhance the agricultural land and activities of an MRC. Developed in collaboration with local stakeholders, its goal is to summarize territorial planning. The MRC du Haut-Richelieu mandated Groupe Conseil UDA to support it in the PDZA.

    Services rendered

    • Reviewed existing agricultural and forestry data from authorities, organizations, provincial and federal bodies
    • Took part in public hearings/discussion forums with local stakeholders and farmers
    • Helped establish a profile and diagnosis of agricultural activities in the area
    • Took part in public presentations
    • Provided support in developing the shared vision and action plan
    • Took part in technical committees
    • Presented to the MRC council
    Agricultural zone development plan for the MRC du Haut-Richelieu (Agricultural engineering and agronomy)
  • Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering
    PDZA for the City of Montreal

    The agricultural zone development plan (PDZA) aims to enhance the agricultural land and activities of an MRC. Developed in collaboration with local stakeholders, its goal is to summarize territorial planning. The City of Montreal retained the services of Groupe Conseil UDA to support it in its development of the PDZA.

    Services rendered

    • Reviewed existing agricultural and forestry data from authorities, organizations, provincial and federal bodies
    • Met individually with farmers
    • Took part in a public hearing/discussion forum
    • Helped establish a profile and diagnosis of agricultural activities in the area
    • Took part in public presentations discussing the results of the investigation
    • Took part in technical committees
    • Presented to the City council
    PDZA for the City of Montreal (Agricultural engineering and agronomy)
 

Contributing to the success of your projects

Assistance – Permits and Authorizations

In order to help you obtain your permits and authorizations in an efficient manner with respect to the natural environments where the project will take place, Groupe Conseil UDA is able to leverage its 40 years of experience and provide you with support, guidance, and a turnkey service.

As an expert in the industry, Groupe Conseil UDA is able to support you in the process of approaching various decision-making bodies. We are also able to provide any on-site services required, all with the goal of minimizing undue delays and maximizing your chances of success.

Find out more
 

Environmental Services

Communications and Acceptability

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