1. Practice Good Environmental Stewardship
Good Production Practice #7
Assuring Quality Care for Animals
Food Animal Quality Assurance
go.osu.edu/AQCA

2. Practice Good Environmental Stewardship
The goal of environmental stewardship is to protect our natural resources.
Water
Air
Land
Includes being a good neighbor in our community.

3. Being a Good Neighbor
Follows all laws and regulations in their county.
Minimizes odor, dust and noise.
Protects the environment.
Takes proper care of livestock.
Explains what they do in their operation and why.
Helps consumers appreciate food production.
Assists neighbors in need and asks for help when they’re in need.

4. Environmental Management Practices
There are five main environmental management practices that help producers protect our water, air and land.
General Site Conditions
Buildings
Manure Management
Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
Inspection

5. General Site Conditions
The production site, including manure storage and mortality removal methods, should be set back an appropriate distance from environmental receptors such as:
Surface water streams
Rivers and lakes
Drainage well intakes
Sinkholes
Drinking water wells
Should be located outside of a flood plain (25-year) or otherwise equipped with flood prevention controls

6. General Site Considerations
The production site should be maintained to prevent “clean” run-on water from entering the production site and mixing with manure.
Surface flow or storm water that has come into contact with manure should be contained and land-applied according to a nutrient management plan.
The production site should be maintained to minimize erosion or ponding of water and vegetative areas mowed and trimmed.

7. General Site Considerations
Insect and rodent populations should be controlled inside and outside the buildings and at mortality storage/compost sites.
Spilled manure and feed should be cleaned up in a timely manner.

8. Buildings
Drinking water and cooling systems should be routinely checked and maintained free of leaks.
Pens, service aisles, travel lanes and feed alleys should be free of excessive manure or spilled feed.
Maintain building ventilation systems.

9. Manure Management
Each state has different nutrient management requirements that producers should follow on their farm.
Manure storage systems should be sized to contain the anticipated manure generation from the maximum number of animals that could be housed at the operation for the time periods between manure removal set forth in the operation’s Nutrient Management Plan (NMP).

10. Emergency Action Plan
Emergency contact phone numbers should be posted near telephones, the entrance gate and/or outside the buildings.
The EAP can include:
Operation Information
Site Contacts Plan
Hazard Plan
Maintenance/Training Center information

11. Daily, Weekly and Monthly Inspections
Manure storage and disposal method
Insect and rodent population control method
Drinking water and cooling devices
Pens, alley and facilities free of excessive manure
Fencing
Building ventilation system
Disposal of animal health products
Cooling and heating systems
Proper shelter and shade
Dead animal disposal methods
Emergency contact list