Wisconsin Dairy Environmental Management Systems Pilot Project

1. Wisconsin Dairy Environmental Management Systems Pilot Project Brian Holmes, Biological Systems Engineering Karl Hakanson, Environmental Resources Center Janice Kepka, Environmental Resources Center

2. Wisconsin The Badger State 77,000 farms on 15,900,000 acres

3. Agricultural Lands Are Important • In Wisconsin… • Over half of the state’s land cover is in agriculture Agriculture is “the environment” in half of the state • Generates ~$4-5 Billion in Gross Farm Sales • Generates ~$15-20 Billion through sales to farmers and processing of farm products • Most new family housing is on agricultural lands • Decisions about farmland dominate local government agendas, particularly in towns and counties • Farms also “produce” wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, low demand for services

4. ~ 16,764 dairy farms w/1,256,000 dairy cows that average 17,728 lbs. milk/cow and 74 cows/farm -- 34,000 dairy farms in 1990 -- #1 cheese production #2 milk production ~ 80 Dairy CAFOs ~ 120 CAFOs Total

6. Wisconsin Delivery Approaches • Work together with agricultural and environmental interests to develop and promote AgEMS • Develop and test web-based environmental self-assessment tools • Develop EMS Guidebook & related materials • Coach EMS pilots on dairy farms and UW Agricultural Research Stations • Farmer organized AgEMS class in Lake Michigan watershed

7. The Mind The Most Important Farm “Technology“

8. Wisconsin AgEMS Partners Broad support from agricultural & environmental interests Dairy Business Association Dairy Quality Assurance Center Farm Credit Services Trout Unlimited USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service UW Cooperative Extension Service WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection WI Dept. of Natural Resources Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board

9. Environmental Management System Guidebook for Wisconsin Farms A self-directed process of continual improvement through commitment to environmental stewardship & business efficiency. AgEMS Guidebook - Worksheets & documentation templates - Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Resources - Functional approach - Performance-based - Farmer-friendly

10. Web-Based Environmental Assessments

11. Results Developed on-line assessments tools What we learned... Farmers & educators are looking for ways to ID environmental issues Software & hardware complications (and consent forms for research) hinder use Really useful tools need to be understandable, comprehensive & flexible May need assistance (vs self-assessment); assessments prompt more questions Comprehensive AgEMS guidebook & resources What we learned... Management systems thinking is not common Important concepts cannot be explained in two pages, i.e., the details are important Developed EMSs on three large dairies & two UW agricultural research stations What we learned... Farmers can readily ID many environmental issues and are eager to solve problems Farmers like an “expert’s” eye to ID problems and make recommendations It takes what farmers have the least of: time

12. Results Insurance premium reductions for farms, manure haulers, agrichemical dealers w/EMS What we learned... We need more tangible benefits like this! Risk reduction is a different way to say environmental management Unregulated farms need other incentives State-wide understanding, interest and support What we learned... It takes time for people to realize an EMS is not just assessments and/or BMPs People are ready to move beyond “command and control” It is vital for the agricultural and environmental communities to work together WI DNR collaboration What we learned... Parts of the State’s environmental regulatory authority wants to move beyond simple compliance and believes the EMS concept can play a key role Other parts of the agency are not supportive