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Incentive

Developing an Environmental Management System (EMS) Approach for Pork Operations in North Carolina A. R. Rubin, Professor and Extension Specialist, NCSU – BAE and Beth Graves and Jamie Ragan, Program Specialists, NCDPPEA EMS Forum, Alexandria, VA. Incentive.

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Incentive

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  1. Developing an Environmental Management System (EMS) Approach for Pork Operations in North CarolinaA. R. Rubin, Professor and Extension Specialist,NCSU – BAEandBeth Graves and Jamie Ragan, Program Specialists, NCDPPEAEMS Forum, Alexandria, VA.

  2. Incentive • 1992 – Smithfield Foods Production facility, Tar Heel, NC • NPDES Permit Renewal • 2000 Attorney General Agreement • EMS required on corporate farms • 2001 Murphy-Brown achieves ISO certification • Contract and Independent farms need assistance

  3. Outline • DPPEA/CES Program • EMS Outcome

  4. DPPEA/CES Program • Solicit input from regulatory agencies • Application and Selection of pilot farms • Develop EMS in cooperation with SWCS/DPPEA/CES and Farmer • Training • Template development • Share information

  5. Demonstration Farms • Competitive Selection Process • 8 selected and 7 completed process • Monthly meetings • NCDPPEA • Cooperative Extension Representatives • Responsible individuals from target farms

  6. Coaches • DPPEA – EMS Knowledge • CES/SWCS – Environmental issues, nutrient/waste management, TRUST! • Communication between ALL involved • Monthly on-farm meetings • Caution – be careful of early retirement programs!!!

  7. Participants

  8. Development of the EMS for my farm has made me a better businessman and environmental steward…Bundy Lane, Gates County, NCThe EMS effort has helped develop a feeling for the neighbors around my facility…Chuck Stokes, Ayden, NC

  9. Why Implement an EMS? • Helps to identify the causes of environmental problems. • better to make a product right the first time • cheaper to prevent a spill • cost effective to prevent pollution • Trade and competitive issues • marketing tool

  10. Why Implement an EMS? • Struggling to stay in compliance and keep track of regulations/laws • Environmental management just one of many responsibilities • Employee turnover • Establish a framework to move beyond compliance • Vehicle for positive change; improved employee morale, enhanced public image • Much of an EMS may already be in place

  11. Build on What’s There • Animal Waste Management Plans • Best Management Practices (BMPs) • On Farm Assessment Program (available to pork producers), Smithfield Agreement • Certified Animal Waste Operator training program (NCDWQ/NC Ext. Service) • New programs – EMS templates for animal Agriculture/National Egg Producers, NBP,

  12. Cooperators on Demonstration Farms Told Us… • It’s a lot of work - Effort (annual) • Approximately 40 contact hours • Approximately 200 hours of Homework • Incentives greatly appreciated • Grant of up to $3,000.00 • EMS plan recognized by water quality agency and some local insurance agencies • Benefits are real • Improved financials • Get to know agency personnel better/mutual respect developed

  13. Products • EMS Manual (English and Spanish versions) • Speakers Bureau • Credible Advocates in Farm Community

  14. ISO 14001 Model – Required Elements

  15. Aspects and Impacts • Considered: • Air emissions (dust and odor) • Solid/hazardous waste/sharps/light bulbs • Impact on land • Vehicle issues – live haul, fuel and feed deliveries • Water use and effluent generation • Land use, energy use, water use • Raw material and resource use • Positive environmental issues

  16. Significance Scoring --Prioritize • Environmental Concerns such as: • regulatory/legal exposure • health risk/people • resource conservation • Business Concerns such as: • effect on the public image/community • cost savings/costs deferred • cost recovery period • equipment/facility • Feed systems • Water system

  17. Significance Scoring (cont.) • Considered ranking issues such as: • scale of impact • duration of impact • zone of impact • probability of occurrence or likelihood - frequent, likely, possible, rarely, unlikely • severity of impact - catastrophic, severe, moderate, minor

  18. …And the winning Aspect-impacts were • Waste management • Mortality management • Feed system management • Watering system

  19. EMSExample • Policy : reduce the environmental impact of the operation • Objective: Improve feed handling facilities to minimize spills • Target : Reduce feed spills by 95% by mid 2002. • Set Environmental Mgmt. Program

  20. EPA Onsite and Decentralized Web Site http://www.epa.gov/owm/onsite/index.htm

  21. Emerging Opportunities • Community-wide programs • Water systems • Stormwater • Onsite wastewater systems • Planning agencies • Biosolids • Federal facilities

  22. Integrated Operations On Farm Local Interest Round 2 began Better business sense Opportunities Emerging management model Federal/state/local facilities NBP Onsite Conclusions

  23. For More InformationRobert Rubin, NCSU – BAEBeth Graves, NCDENR, DPPEAJamie Ragan, NCDENR,DPPEAwww.epa.gov and www.p2pays.org

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