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FARM & HOME ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
This quarterly electronic newsletter of FARM & HOME ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS aims to inform interested readers about voluntary pollution prevention programs around the nation and about new research and policy impacting the management of environmental risk on farms and in homes. To subscribe or unsubscribe to this online newsletter, for more information, or to contribute to this newsletter, please refer to our website (http://www.uwex.edu/farmandhome/), or email editor Mrill Ingram mingram@wisc.edu We welcome comments and feedback!
USDA-CSREES, USDA-NRCS, and the U.S. EPA provide support for our programs.
Farm and Home Environmental Management Programs
Room 303
Hiram Smith Hall
1545 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI
53706
Phone: 608-262-0024
FAX:
608-265-2775
Website:http://www.uwex.edu/farmandhome/
STORIES
Doing More with Farm*A*Syst.
New Farm*A*Syst resources are available, thanks to efforts in Iowa and Indiana. Indiana Farm*A*Syst has made new materials available that focus on improving field crop management and soil monitoring skills for better decision making. They include "Field Assessment for Water Resource Protection", and "On-Farm Soil Monitoring for Water Resource Protection." Reports Coordinator Brent Ladd, "They've been going like hotcakes and are becoming popular with watershed projects as a way of involving many more farmers without spending a lot more staff time." The web site for viewing the new materials and accompanying curricula and video module is at: http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/safewater/field.
The Iowa Farm*A*Syst program has released several new publications, including "Farmstead Characteristics," "Water Well Condition & Maintenance," and "Household Wastewater Management." To learn more, visit the website at: http://www.ifbf.org/farmasyst/. The Farm*A*Syst program was also mentioned recently in a talk given by NRCS Chief Knight, who described Farm*A*Syst and other self-assessment tools as a "time-honored treasure," and tools that the NRCS needs to learn how to rely on. For the entire speech, "CSP: A Revolution in Conservation," see: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/speeches04/knightnltm.html.
People Talking About EMS
This past December, a British environmental policy and business firm, Environmental Data Services Ltd., released a report about "widespread concerns" over EMS certification, (ENDS Report December 2003). The group pursued a survey of certified UK companies and consultants and found that a third of the respondents weren't convinced EMSs inherently deliver sustained environmental performance.
These kinds of concerns about the implementation and effectiveness of Environmental Management Systems are not surprising given the approach's relative newness and ambitious objectives. This is especially true agriculture, which is an arena less accustomed to management systems in general. As Bruce Knight, Chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service put it in an opening speech to the National Forum on Agricultural Environmental Management Systems, the EMS is not just on the leading edge, but the "bleeding edge" of agricultural environmental issues.
The Forum, held March 3rd and 4th in Arlington Virginia, was also addressed by James Connaughton, Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. He spoke strongly in favor of the need for management systems, stating, "Standards, performance goals, coupled with good technical support from government is where the future lies. It is the good, coherent operating system working in the background that helps us meet goals." The Forum brought together over 90 participants, from 24 states and Canada, representing, state and federal environmental and agricultural agencies, agricultural and environmental consultants, agricultural and environmental organizations, agribusiness and farmers.
If the proof is in the pudding, the proof of Environmental Management Systems will be in the work of farmers who embrace this tool to address their environmental concerns. Chuck Stokes, a pork producer from North Carolina who has an EMS for his farm had this to say about his experience with EMS and participating in the Forum: "This has been one of those unexpected life changing experiences. My farm, and I are better for having known all of you. What a blessing. It has truly been exciting." A summary of the Forum will be available at http://www.uwex.edu/AgEMS in May.
In terms of new developments in agricultural EMS, it is always important to keep an eye on the work at the North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention, http://www.p2pays.org/iso/ag.asp. By visiting, http://www.p2pays.org/porktool/, users are taken through a step by step example of an EMS. At, http://xapps.enr.state.nc.us/survey/index.jsp, visitors will find an interactive tool designed to assist agricultural producers determine their environmental aspects and impacts as they prepare their own EMS.
Water Quality and Cattle Health.
Did you know that the quality of water provided for cattle can influence their productivity? Research from Alberta, Canada* has shown that weight gains for yearling steers were increased by 23% when higher quality water was supplied from a well versus a dam or pit. Several easily monitored parameters that determine the quality of water include pH, temperature, and TDS total dissolved solids (or salts).
pH: The pH of rainwater is generally 5.6 to 5.8. Highly alkaline waters (pH >7) may cause digestive upsets, laxative action, poor feed conversion, and reduced water and/or feed intake. Acidic waters (pH<7) may increase the amount of heavy metals in solution in areas where there may be mine tailings, or other soils high in metal content.
Temperature: Drinkable water for livestock is usually between 40 and 65 degrees F. It has been shown that steers gained .3 to .4 more pounds per day with access to water in this temperature range. Most cold-water fish and aquatic organisms have an upper limit for growth and reproduction in the 65 degrees F range; so maintaining adequate temperatures for beef cattle consumption will also benefit coldwater fisheries. Temperature of water is mostly influenced by soil temperature. By providing vegetation up to the edge of a stream or pond you can keep soil temperatures from rising and keep the water cooler.
TDS: TDS is a measure of the salinity of the water. Mineralized waters (300 - 1,000 ppm TDS) usually do not have much effect on animal health. If the TDS level becomes >1000 ppm, further testing should be done to determine the source of salinity. High levels of sulfate and/or sodium-chloride may be cause for concern.
* Willms, W.D., O. Kenzie, Z. Mir, and D. Quinton, 1995. Effects of water supplied from old dugouts on the performance of cattle. Fifth International Rangeland Congress, Salt Lake City, UT, July 1995.
Clean Water in the Law
Is Minnesota destined to become Land of 10,000 Polluted Lakes? A bill, which would give voters a chance to create an annual pool of money to clean up Minnesota's lakes and rivers, is working its way through the legislature with a strong ally -- the governor. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), whose report on the status of lakes is the basis for the funding request, lists 1,916 lakes and streams as "impaired." It is estimated that 10,000 lakes and streams could be on it by 2014. For more read Grand Forks Herald 3/15, at: http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/8188701.htm.
The state of Florida, in its last report to the EPA, identified 6,391 miles of rivers and streams, 635,008 acres of lakes, and 1,150 square miles of estuaries not meeting federal water quality standards. Environmental groups, which include the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Linda Young of the Clean Water Network filed a 60-day notice that they intend to sue the EPA, to force it to enforce the federal Clean Water Act in Florida because the state wasn't taking necessary action on its own. The groups cite failure to issue permits to limit dioxins from paper mills and sewage from dairies, as well as failure to clean up phosphorous pollution in the Everglades. From the Miami Herald 3/19; visit: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/8224306.htm.
South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds wants more emphasis placed on sufficient water to support spawning fish in upstream reservoirs of the Missouri River. Rounds has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to modify their submitted Missouri River management proposal to ensure protection for the hatching of fish. For more on the story visit, Rapid City Journal (3/19): http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2004/03/18/news/state/top/state01.txt
The New Jersey Senate and Assembly environment committees said this week that they will fast-track the North Highlands area of the state for preservation because the watershed is an invaluable asset to the state. Gov. McGreevey has called for sweeping protections in the region, which supplies drinking water to more than half the state. The protections include the creation of a regional council with veto power over development on 350,000 watershed acres. Read more in New Jersey Star-Ledger, 3/16: http://www.nj.com/statehouse/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1079421415175220.xml
Return to ContentsHonoring the Contributions of Two Friends. The staff of Farm and Home Environmental Management Programs was saddened by the recent loss of two colleagues, both involved in the long-term development and support of Farm*A*Syst. Dr. Pierre Camille Robert, Director of the Precision Agriculture Center and Professor in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate with the University of Minnesota, was instrumental in developing the Farm*A*Syst Decision Support Software (FAS DSS). Dr. Robert passed away in December 2003. Dr. J. Ronald Miner, Professor in Bioengineering at Oregon State University, who passed away in February 2004, was the lead Farm*A*Syst Program Coordinator in Oregon for many years.
CSP Commenters Have A Lot To Say. The comment period on the proposed rule for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) closed on March 2, with the latest word that the Natural Resources Conservation Service has received over 11,500 comments from groups and individuals around the country. A major focus of comments is to urge NRCS to promptly issue a revised, supplemental rule to implement CSP as a full, nationwide program available to all farmers and ranchers practicing effective conservation. The current status of CSP funding, going into the congressional FY05 appropriations process, is a limitation to $41.4 million for FY04 but from FY05 onward the funding is available for all farmers and ranchers who meet the eligibility requirements of the CSP. On March 15, A bipartisan group of 56 Senators, led by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Gordon Smith (R-OR), sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman reasserting their full support of the CSP and urging USDA to correct the shortcomings in the regulations proposed to carry out the program. The Senators wrote: "The rule must be revised so the CSP is available to all agricultural producers throughout our nation, rather than in only a few watersheds. Moreover, the rule must assist producers willing to address any natural resource air, water, soil, energy and wildlife on their operations rather than restrict eligibility just to those producers who already meet a high standard for soil and water quality.
World's Dead Zones on the Rise. According to the United Nations Environment Programme report, GEO: Global Environment Outlook 3 Past, present and future perspectives, the number of oxygen-deprived "dead zones" in the world's oceans has been increasing since the 1970s and is now nearly 150, threatening fisheries as well as humans who depend on fish. These zones are caused by an excess of nitrogen from farm fertilizers, sewage and emissions from vehicles and factories. The most infamous zone lies in the Gulf of Mexico where the Mississippi River dumps fertilizer runoff from the Midwest. Others have appeared off South America, China, Japan, southeast Australia and New Zealand, the program said. Marion Cheatle, a senior scientist at UNEP's global environment outlook division of early warning and assessment, said, "It is quite an urgent issue now because we know that up to now, there has been a doubling in the number of dead zones recognized over the decade," Cheatle said. To read more of the report see, http://www.unep.org/geo/yearbook.
New Publication On World Organic Agriculture. Helga Willer and Minou Yussefi (Eds.) The World of Organic Agriculture 2004 Statistics and Emerging Trends. IFOAM Publication, 6th, revised edition, February 2004, 170 pages.
USDA Releases RFP for Conservation Innovation Grants. The 2002 Farm Bill established these grants as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The agency has announced the nationwide grant competition through a request for proposals available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig or from Carl Lucero, NRCS Animal Husbandry and Clean Water Programs Division, carl.lucero@usda.gov or phone (301) 504-2222.
New CREP Agreement. USDA Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced a $146 million Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) agreement with Pennsylvania to improve water conditions in the Ohio River, the third largest drainage basin in the Gulf of Mexico watershed. http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0116.04.html.
Nebraska: Senators to Debate Livestock Waste Bill. If approved, a new Nebraska bill would force permit holders to pay a fee for each cow, pig, horse, sheep, lamb, turkey, or chicken housed in a facility each year. The goal is for the fees to cover about 20 percent of the state's $1 million annual cost of conducting inspections and issuing permits. Permit holders would have to pay a fee of 10 cents per head of beef cattle, 15 cents for each dairy cow, and $4 per 100 pigs greater than 55 pounds or $1 per 100 pigs less than 55 pounds. The Nebraska Farm Bureau, the Nebraska Cattlemen, and the Nebraska Pork Producers all spoke in support of the bill, despite the new fees. Environmental groups requested a requirement for livestock operators to contribute money to a fund in case a confined animal site is abandoned and needs to be cleaned up. Read more at: (Lincoln Journal Star 3/16) http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2004/03/16/nebraska/10046805.txt.
NRCS-John Deere Ag Management Solutions Partnership to Provide Conservation Planning Software Too. In an announcement of the new program, NRCS Chief Knight said, "This tool-called Conservation Plug-In-will enable producers to complete certain activities electronically, similar to e-filing tax returns. Not only will we see an increase in efficiency as part of the Administration's e-Gov initiative, but also an increase in the number and quality of conservation plans." See, http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/releases/2004/consplugin.html.
"Getting In Step" Watershed Outreach Guides. Two companion guides offer advice on effectively raising citizen awareness of nonpoint source pollution and motivating individual behavior change to develop more water-friendly habits and practices. The 100-page book expands upon a 1998 publication by the Council of State Governments and includes new information from the growing field of community-based social marketing. The 35-minute video showcases four successful programs. For a free copy of the guide and video, contact the National Service Center for Environmental Publications, 800-490-9198 (from outside the U.S., call 1-513-489-8190) or visit, http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom. The book is also available as a PDF download at http://epa.gov/nps/outreach.html.
Veneman Announces Agriculture Air Quality Awards. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced on March 11 that $5.1 million has been awarded to 11 institutions to conduct air quality research targeting the impact of air quality resulting from farm animal operations, greenhouse gases, emissions from post-harvest practices, and improved methods for measuring gases in the atmosphere. The 11 institutions receiving awards are: Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. $400,365; Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla. $100,000; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, $1,399,971 (3 awards); Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS $477,775; Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, $421,184; NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, $223,052; North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. $479,818; Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN $460,000; University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, $466,130; USDAs ARS, Lubbock, Texas $196,646; USDAs FS, Seattle, WA $475,059.
The first issue of Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. A new journal from CABI Publishing was launched last week. This journal, formerly the American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, aims to reflect the transition to an agriculture that utilizes food production and distribution systems relying less on non-renewable petrochemical resources, and more on renewable sources. Visit, http://www.cabi-publishing.org/Journals.asp?SubjectArea=&PID=21 .
New Look to CTIC's Partners Newsletter. http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/CTIC/CTICPartners/2004/2004JanFeb.pdf.
Living Knowledge, Journal of Community Based Research. The second issue of the European journal has just been published, with the theme "Science in conflict resolution." Visit, http://www.scienceshops.org.
Return to ContentsCONFERENCES & MEETINGS
One Environment, One Conference: National Environmental Assistance Summit, April 19, 2004 Baltimore, Maryland. The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR), U.S. EPA Office of Compliance and U.S. EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics are hosting a joint conference,. This conference is a merger of the NPPR Spring Conference and the National Compliance Assistance Providers Forum. For more information, visit http://www.p2.org/summit2004/index.cfm.
17th Annual National Conference, Enhancing The States' Lake Management Programs, "Effective monitoring programs for lakes and reservoirs". April 20-23, 2004, Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, Chicago, Illinois. Please visit http://www.nalms.org/symposia/chicago/index.htm for full program and registration information.
Actions Toward A Sustainable Great Lakes Conference & Great Lakes Commission Semi-Annual Meeting, May 4-6 2004, Cleveland, OH. This conference will bring Great Lakes stakeholders together to report on progress -- and unmet needs -- in sustainability initiatives; strengthen partnerships; and devise strategies for collective action. Visit http://www.glc.org/meeting.
4th Natural Resource Extension Professionals Conference "Extension Outside the Box. Natural Resources Programming Across Landscapes." May 16 to 19, 2004 in Wheeling, WV. http://www.conted.vt.edu/extprof/
Applied Environmental Management Systems in Agriculture May 25 and 26, 2004, Kansas City, MO. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring a national two-day conference focusing on environmental management systems and how they relate to food production and processing. For more information visit, http://www.ses-corp.com/EMS%20Conference.htm. Contacts: Jennifer Anderson, EPA Region 7 at 913-551-7644 or anderson.jennifer@epa.gov; Ruben McCullers, EPA Region 7 at 913-551-7455 or mccullers.ruben@epa.gov; Frank Bryant, SES, Inc. at 1-800-897-1163.
Best Education Practices For Water Outreach Professionals Symposium, June 3-4, 2004. Call For Papers, Deadline January 30, 2004. The University of Wisconsin - Environmental Resources Center invites educators and researchers from all regions of the United States to submit proposals for papers and posters to be presented at a June 2004 Symposium on Best Education Practices (beps) for water outreach and education. Proposal deadline is January 30, 2004. Submission and registration details are available on-line at http://www.uwex.edu/erc/waterbeps
7th Annual Learning Together Workshop on Environmental Innovation and EMS, (MSWG). June 28 - 30, 2004, Charleston Marriott Hotel, Charleston, WV. For more information on this meeting and other Multi-State Working Group activities, please visit, http://www.mswg.org/.
Watershed 2004, Hyatt Regency Dearborn, Dearborn, Michigan, July 11-14, 2004. Held in cooperation by the Michigan Water Environment Association and the Water Environment Federation, Watershed 2004 will bring together environmental professionals, from around the world, for a showcase on integrated resource management and environmental protection principles using watershed-based approaches. Visit: http://www.wef.org/conferences/watershed04.jhtml.
GLRPPR 2004 Conference - P2 Week, in Columbus, Ohio. The GLRPPR 2004 Conference will be held in Columbus during the week of September 20th. This date is special since this is National P2 Week! See: http://www.glrppr.org/columbus2004/.
12th Annual National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop: Managing Nutrient Inputs and Exports in the Rural Landscape, September 27-30, 2004. Princess Royale Oceanfront Hotel, Ocean City, Maryland. Visit: http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/NPSWorkshop/NPSWorkshop.html.
Return to ContentsSources for this newsletter include: "Alternative Agriculture News" from the Henry A. Wallace Center for Agricultural & Environmental Policy at Winrock International; "Agriculture And Natural Resources News" from the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; "The Recharge Report" from the Groundwater Foundation; and "Wildlines Report" from the State Environmental Resource Center. Thank you!
