Funded by USDA IFAFS Program, October 2000

Partnerships for Livestock EMS Project Goal: Evaluate livestock environmental management assessment systems as tools to address local priority environmental issues

Partnerships for Livestock EMS Project Objectives: Coordinate the development, pilot testing and evaluation of livestock environmental management systems for dairy, poultry and beef producers Develop and evaluate implementation strategies in nine states ( three for each commodity area) Develop and evaluate an online interactive agricultural environmental management assessment system

Objectives, cont. Identify EMS design factors that influence credibility and usability Provide recommendations on requirements for successful implementation of livestock EMSs Develop support program for state stakeholder meetings

Activities Plan Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Pilot State Identification Industry Roundtable Year 1 Draft Tool for Pilot Year 2 Pilot State Implementation Year 3 Publish Final Tool Year 4 National Forum Funded by USDA IFAFS Program, fall 2000

Common Elements of Delivery Approaches Build EMS understanding Provide for stakeholder input Limit EMS scope Develop assessment based, or functional EMS, not ISO 14001 Integrate with existing efforts

Risk Assessment Topics Site assessment Farmstead facilities…manure Farmstead facilities…other Manure storage Range and pasture land Farm nutrient balance Land application

Sample Assessment Tool

Regulatory Risk Assessment

Other Assessment Tools… Whole Farm Nutrient Balance

EMS Workbook Topics Lessons: 1. Charting Your Course 2. Reviewing Environmental & Regulatory Risk 3. Developing the Plan 4. Implementing the Plan 5. Plan review EMS Activities 1. Environmental Policy statement. 2. Aspect & Impact identification. 3. Plan, performance measures, records. 4. Assigning responsibility, communications. 5. Internal checking & review; Performance measure check.

Nebraska Nutrient Mgmt. Plan EMS Environmental Policy Plan Implement Check & Correct Review Strengths…Technical Strengths…Process - Plan - Record keeping - Industry recognition - Assessment of risks - Plan implementation - Continual improvement

Integrating EMS into NE Nutrient Management Plan Environmental Policy Inventory Risk & Priority ID Strategic Plan Review as Necessary Assign Employee Responsibility Annual Review Annual Plan 3rd Party Audit Plan Modification Documentation & Records Performance Review

Environmental Farm Plan Including EMS Policy Statement New or Existing Environmental Farm Plans Assignment of Responsibility Manure Marketing Plan CNMP Nutrient Plan Odor Plan Manure Storage Plan Internal & External Communications Risk Assessment Conservation Plan

EMS Features that may be integrated into Existing Farm Planning Tools Setting direction Policy statement Risk assessment (aspect & impact ID) Plan Implementation Assignment of employee responsibilities Communications Continual Improvement Monitoring & measuring Independent auditing

Iowa Activity Toward EMS Background Incentives Opportunities Strategies John Lawrence, Iowa State University

Iowa Open Feedlots 13,000 beef feedlots, 4,000 dairies 300 over 1000 AU 30 with NPDES permits Few regs for under 1000 AU Regulated on complaint basis Then the world changed!

EPA Visits Iowa

Iowa Plan for Open Feedlots Group effort Iowa Cattlemens Association Iowa DNR Iowa State University Iowa Farm Bureau Iowa Environmental Council Others

Iowa Plan for Open Feedlots Registration Off-site assessment to prioritize On-site assessment by DNR Determine what is needed to come into compliance Establish reasonable timeline

Incentives Iowa Feedlot Plan DNR finds sites and shows progress Feedlots get time, points toward EQIP, State Revolving Fund loan Master Matrix Recognize EMS

Incentives CAFO Regs EMS Option in the last NODA Alternative technologies Additional documentation for alternatives Economics Fear of regulation

Incentives AlTech+ Simulate effectiveness Designed for site by engineer Approved by NRCS for cost share Increased documentation and records Learning curve funded by EQIP The “+”, get more than the minimum

Opportunities EQIP provides a carrot EMS must complement CNMP Regulatory option Management substitute for capital Allow good actors to standout Lifting the bottom doesn’t raise the top

Current Strategy Culture of little regulation Cadillac for a few or a tune up for many? Permitted facilities EMS to organize for the permit Non-permitted facilities CNMP with a feedback loop

Western Iowa Pilot Project The goal of the Western Iowa livestock external stewardship pilot project is to create a sustainable industry model for livestock producers using best management practices (BMPs).

Western Iowa Pilot Project Started with EPA and AMI 19 livestock producers at 23 production sites Producers will work closely with the NRCS district conservationist to prepare CNMPs.

For More Information: http://www.uwex.edu/AgEMS/livestock