This quarterly electronic newsletter of FARM & HOME ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS is produced by the staff of the National Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst office. The aim of this newsletter is 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/farmasyst), 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
Websites:
http://www.uwex.edu/farmasyst
http://www.uwex.edu/homeasyst
http://www.uwex.edu/AgEMS
http://www.uwex.edu/healthyhome
P2-4A at the Water Quality Conference: About 35 members of the Water Quality Pollution Assessment and Prevention Theme Team participated in 3 different theme team sessions at the annual Water Quality Coordinators conference held in Tucson in January. Participants shared progress with their projects, resources, and lessons. A concerted effort to diversify theme team discussions and conference attendance brought about a dozen faculty from 1890 and 1994 land-grant institutions (Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Tribal Colleges). Theme team facilitator, Elizabeth Bird, presented the first year's progress with the National Facilitation project, and proposed a new name for the program: P2-4As (Pollution Prevention Forays - Awareness, Assessments, Attitudes, and Actions). Theme team participants discussed the format of a theme team survey of activities and accomplishments to be conducted in the coming months.
For powerpoint slides of the many conference posters and presentations, visit http://www.usawaterquality.org, and click on 'View the Proceedings' in the lower right-hand corner of the page.
Edith Powell of Tuskegee University presented Community Unity: Save Our Aquifer about her work with the Macon County Citizens for a Better Environment. The citizens' group worked with Tuskegee extension in halting the construction of a major landfill that had been proposed and accepted without community involvement. The landfill, which planned to bring in 10,000 tons of garbage a day, was to be built directly on top of the community's drinking water aquifer on sandy soil. As community resident Joy Noble said in a speech to the County Commission: "There is no sum of money that could be paid to the county that could offset the quality of life we will have after this facility is built and operating." Tuskegee Cooperative Extension assisted in providing research about the specific hazards posed by the landfill. This research along with education and outreach assistance from people involved in environmental justice issues, including a visit from Reverend Jesse Jackson, eventually persuaded the County to abandon the plan.
Training Volunteers to Assess Ag Impacts on Water Quality in Wisconsin.
By Doug De Master, Kris Stepenuck, and Dennis Frame
The Wisconsin Discovery Farms and Water Action Volunteers programs have joined forces in Wisconsin to monitor and learn about the impacts of farm practices on water quality. Discovery Farms is a program of UW-Madison and UW-Extension, and a branch of the Wisconsin Agriculture Stewardship Initiative (WASI). The program works with privately owned farms to identify effective and economical best management practices (BMPs) to minimize farming's impact on the environment and create sound, science-based environmental regulations for agriculture. Water Action Volunteers (WAV) is a program for Wisconsin citizens who want to learn about and improve the quality of Wisconsin's streams and rivers, and includes a Citizen Stream Monitoring component.
WAV coordinator Kris Stepenuck has teamed with Dennis Frame of Discovery Farms in the Trained Local Samplers (TLS) program. The TLS program works with people located in proximity to the Discovery Farms, teaching them how to properly take water samples and several other measurements that help determine stream health. Stepenuck and Discovery Farms Senior Scientist Wes Jarrell, along with other area specialists, conducted the first three on-farm training sessions in 2002. Regular sampling has begun on those farms.
The samplers conduct tests for dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity, pH, alkalinity, nitrate, ammonia, conductivity and stream flow every other week on the Discovery Farms. In addition, they will collect grab samples of water once each season; these samples will be sent to a local lab for more detailed testing, including nitrogen and phosphorus analysis. Biotic Index (using aquatic macroinvertebrates) will be evaluated twice per year and habitat assessments will be conducted once per year. For more information, visit: http://www.discoveryfarms.org, http://www.pdpw.org/Page6.pdf, and http://clean-water.uwex.edu/wav/index.html
Farm*A*Syst for Realtors
Using Farm*A*Syst as a model, University of Missouri Outreach and Extension developed a program called "Environmental Assessment for Real Estate Professionals," which deals particularly with subdivided rural properties. Over 600 people have taken this course between 1997 and 2002. The course, designed around the elements of the Farm*A*Syst packets, addresses issues such as pesticides, abandoned wells, and former livestock areas. This program is designed to provide professionals working in real estate with an overview of environmental regulations involving the transfer of real property, building site selection using a county's soil map, private drinking water standards, on-site sewage treatment, and other environmental issues.
**Updates from the Partnerships in Livestock Environmental Management Systems project.
All nine pilot state partners of the Livestock Environmental Management Systems Project met in Denver in January to discuss the progress of their efforts and future directions. Attendees were treated to training on various aspects of farm environmental management systems, including a "virtual tour" of a couple of farms, and an exercise on creating daily, weekly, monthly and annual environmental checklists different commodity types of farms. The draft "EMS Guidebook" was a major focus of discussion, as it is being pilot tested by the projects as they work with farmers in their states to develop EMSs.
Groups also discussed integrating the EMS process with different federal programs. Jim Horne of the USEPA Office of Water was in attendance, and shared encouraging words, saying that from his perspective the federal government remains very receptive to the EMS approach, and that the "on-the-ground" testing of the guidebook and the development of the pilot EMSs will be a major learning opportunity. "Trust the process," he reminded listeners. "Don't try and define it too much in advance."
Taking advantage of an opportunity in Texas, the team there has refocused its approach from piloting comprehensive EMSs on beef farms to managing dust, odor and other air-quality parameters not currently regulated under Texas' existing CAFO permit programs. According to leader Brent Auvermann, this "modular EMS" takes full advantage of existing research and technology-transfer priorities expressed by the Texas Cattle Feeders Association. This new approach would replace the original effort to steer cooperating feedyards through the comprehensive EMS, which would be highly duplicative of NPDES permit provisions, especially in on-site environmental assessments of aspects already subject to regulatory inspections, record keeping and emergency-response planning requirements. The likelihood of eventual project success is much greater with the new mission, reports Auvermann.
In Wisconsin, the pilot project held a training session for ag educators on assessment software. The pilot state also held its third stakeholder meeting in February, which included parties from the dairy industry, insurance companies, environmental organizations, university staff, agribusiness associations and state and federal agencies. The team is piloting its version of the EMS guidebook at nearby UW Research Stations.
Georgia continues to work with groups of stakeholders, including Georgia Poultry, the U.S. Poultry and Ag Federation, and Goldkist. Some producers have stepped forward as volunteers, while Goldkist sponsored others. The project is testing three different approaches to working with farmers who want to develop the EMS: 1. coaching by project staff; 2. farmers using the guidebook on their own; and 3. working with consultants. The pilot group is planning an early summer meeting with participants, and a late summer/early fall Georgia summit or roundtable for all the stakeholders to hear about the farmers' experiences.
As many of you know, Gary Jackson, former director of the national Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst office retired last year -- sort of. Gary continues to work with our projects, bringing his experience, energy and insights to bear especially on the livestock environmental management programs. He continues to consult on the development of the Wisconsin pilot EMS project, and to attend meetings to assist in general EMS outreach.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++NEW* You can find our new online directory at http://www1.uwex.edu/ces/farmasyst/directory. It includes more than 400 entries of educators involved with Ag EMS, Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst, Healthy Homes, and P2-4As. Search by individual name, program area, state or region. We soon will have the directory available as a pdf file for your printing pleasure, and we're working on a keyword search apparatus.
NEW* Videotapes of our Healthy Homes Partnership videoconference on children's environmental health held on March 27, 2003 will be available this spring. Topics covered in this successful conference include mold, asthma, integrated pest management, and the Healthy Homes Partnership. For more information and to order online go to: http://www.uwex.edu/healthyhome/satvideoconf.
Other resources include: *Help Yourself to a Healthy Home: Protect Your Children's Health http://www.uwex.edu/healthyhome. *Agricultural Environmental Management Systems. http://www.uwex.edu/AgEMS/resources.html. *MTBE Brochure. Published with support from the EPA Source Water Protection office, this full color educational brochure about MTBE (in gasoline) identifies risks to groundwater, and discusses sources, prevention, and other information: http://www.uwex.edu/farmandhome/wqpaap/pdf/mtbe.pdf.
*Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Online Library. Access the searchable online index of more than 700 items that have been produced for Farm*A*Syst, Home*A*Syst and related programs nationwide. The index includes both general and state-specific materials. Visit: http://www1.uwex.edu/ces/farmasyst/library/librarysearch.cfm
**GRTS Database Has Insider Info on 319. The Section 319 Grants Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS) is the main reporting vehicle for the EPA's Section 319 (Clean Water Act) program. GRTS provides a database of nonpoint source program information that can be used to learn more about nonpoint source projects and programs. The database can be searched by key words, locations, and type of project. The coverage is for every project ever funded by Section 319 since 1990. Currently used mostly by EPA Project Officers, the GRTS database can be accessed by anyone through their EPA regional coordinators.
"The data base is quite useful, but little used," explains EPA Project Officer Roger Dean. "You can search the whole US for specific projects such as septic tanks, the budget for each project, the semi-annual reports for the project, outreach materials generated, project status, etc." To read more about the database, visit http://www.epa.gov/nps/Section319/grts.html. Contact your EPA Regional GRTS Coordinator to access the database.
**Section 406 RFP. The Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program provides funding to develop research, education, and extension projects aimed at improving the quality of water resources in agricultural watersheds across the Nation. Deadline: April 21, 2003. Visit: http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/funding/rfaintegrated_03.htm
**Updates on CAFO and CSP. In the February 12 Federal Register; the EPA issued its final regulatory requirements for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) under the Clean Water Act. The rule establishes a mandatory duty for all CAFOs to apply for an NPDES permit and to develop and implement a nutrient management plan. These regulations are effective on April 14, 2003. To view the notice, visit http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2003/February/Day-12/w3074.htm Also, of related interest: "Livestock Agriculture: Increased EPA Oversight Will Improve Environmental Program for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations" (25pgs, GAO-03-285) is online at www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-03-285A print copy is free from U.S. General Accounting Office: (202) 512-6000. The Natural Resources and Conservation Service has a new internet application, TechReg (Technical Service Provider Registry), that makes it easy for technical service providers to register and become certified and for USDA customers to find certified providers. See http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/index.html.
Senate leaders have agreed to restore full funding to the Conservation Security Program (CSP), which was slashed by nearly one-half during final negotiations for the 2003 federal budget as a strategy to offset $3.1 billion in weather-related crop and livestock losses over the last 2 years. The CSP would reward farmers and ranchers who practice land, water, and wildlife stewardship as part of their ongoing work, with "green payments." Full funding, estimated at $7.7 billion through 2012, would pay for all producers with approved conservation plans who want to participate in the program. Without additional funding from Congress, the program is currently capped at $3.8 billion. For more information on the status of the program, see, http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/products.html, or visit, http://www.sustainableagriculture.net/CSP.php.
**"Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture" a new publication from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education(SARE) program, defines sustainable agriculture by providing snapshots of ten farmers and ranchers from Montana to New Jersey who apply sustainable principles on their farms and ranches. The 16-page pamphlet includes a colorful annotated illustration of practices used on a model sustainable farm and a list of hints to help consumers make ecologically friendly choices when they buy food. The free brochure is available on the web at http://www.sare.org/bulletin/explore/exploring.pdf. Multiple print copies can be requested by e-mailing intern@sare.org
**"An Ounce of Pollution Prevention is Worth 167 Billion Pounds of Cure--A Decade of Pollution Prevention Results: 1990-2000", is the first national report on pollution prevention results achieved in the United States during the 1990s. The report, produced by the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, details pollution prevention activities, including the use of EMSs, resulting in a total reduction of 167 billion pounds of pollutants and savings of $666 million nationwide. Funded by the U.S. EPA, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxics (OPPT), Pollution Prevention Division, the report documents pollution prevention results achieved by 60 state and local pollution prevention programs as well as other benefits in energy and water conservation. During the 10-year period, pollution prevention programs helped implement and document 4.1 billion gallons of water conserved and 215 million kW of energy conserved. Available online at: http://www.p2.org/p2results/2418_historyfinal.pdf, or contact: Ken Zarker: (512)239-3145, or Cindy McComas: (612)624-1300.
**"Impacts of Extension Education on Improving Residential Stormwater Quality: Monitoring Results," Journal of Extension article on research using Home*A*Syst assessment methods: December 2002, Vol. 40 #6. Available online at: http://www.joe.org/joe/2002december/rb5.shtml.
**Creating Meaningful Solutions, 3rd Annual Sustainable Hog Farming Summit, June 6-7, co-sponsored by Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Animal Welfare Institute, and others, in Gettysburg, PA; phone (914) 674-0622 ext 204; jodefey@waterkeeper.org, or www.waterkeeper.org/mainevent.aspx.
**The 2003 National Source Water Protection Conference, June 2-4, Washington, DC. This event is being sponsored by the EPA Office of Water. The conference will bring together various Federal, Tribal, State, and local officials; interstate organizations; watershed managers; conservation partners; members of environmental, public health, business, and citizens' organizations; technical assistance providers and others to learn about effective actions that prevent contamination of drinking water sources. There is no registration fee but advance sign-up is required: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/protect/swpconf.html.
**2003 American Wetlands Conference, May 1-4, 2003, Minneapolis. The Izaak Walton League of America and its partners will host this year's American Wetlands Conference, entitled, "Bog, Playas, Pools: Protect America's Unique Wetlands, " at the Thunderbird Hotel and Convention Center. To request a paper copy of the registration form, please contact (800) BUG-IWLA (284-4952), or email awm@iwla.org Online, visit http://www.iwla.org/sos/awm/conference/2003_reg.html.
**Getting in Step: Engaging and Involving Stakeholders in Your Watershed. The EPA has released a new guide for stakeholder involvement that builds on an earlier guide called Getting In Step: A Guide to Effective Outreach in Your Watershed. The new guide features information on how to generate interest and participation in watershed assessment, planning and management. Key concepts highlighted in the new guide include: 1) Identifying driving forces; 2)Forming a stakeholder group; 3)Differentiating between positions and needs; 4)Keeping the process moving forward; 5)Dealing with conflict and hidden agendas; and 6)Making decisions using a consensus-based approach. A web-based version of both guides is posted at http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/outreach/documents. For further assistance, please contact (202) 566-1217, email weinberg.anne@epa.gov, or write: Ann Weinberg, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Watershed Branch, Mail Code 4503T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460.
**"Community Culture and the Environment: A Guide to Understanding a Sense of Place," from the USEPA, explores the concepts of community and culture and provides tools for identifying, assessing, and working cooperatively within the social dynamics and local values connected to environmental protection. Available online at: http://www.epa.gov/ecocommunity/tools/community.pdf. To request a FREE copy of the Guide, visit the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) website at, http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom/index.htm, or call 1-800-490-9198. The publication number is EPA 842-B-01-003. For more information about the Guide or Community Culture and the Environment trainings, send an email to CCEinfo@tetratech-ffx.com or call (410) 356-8993.
**"Cost of Community Services Studies: Making the Case for Conservation" (78 pgs), a comprehensive report on how farm and forest lands help balance community budgets, is $16.95 from American Farmland Trust, (800) 370-4879; http://www.farmland.org.
**Federal Sustainable Agriculture Program Primer, February, 2003, from the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture is a resource of basic information on a wide range of sustainable ag programs and policies, including short descriptions, how people can access the programs, how they are funded and where to go for more information. The online primer is available at: http://www.sustainableagriculture.net/primer.php.
**MN Generic environmental impact statement on animal agriculture. Feedlots are the focus of the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture, along with the broader environmental, social and economic factors surrounding animal agriculture. Funded by the 1998 Minnesota Legislature, at a cost of $2.97 million, the study is being conducted because of the recent debate over the livestock-raising industry and "will be used to shape future policy options." Online at: http://www.mnplan.state.mn.us/eqb/geis. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has unveiled a new web-based decision-making tool (DMT) that can help producers determine which regulations apply to their farm. The information can help farmers determine how changes or improvements to their farm might change their regulatory status and obligations. Check out the tool at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/feedlots/dmt. For more information about the DMT or to request free copies of the MDA's printed reference materials, farmers can contact MDA Policy Specialist Matt Drewitz at (651) 296-3820.
**New from USDA-ERS, "Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators," by Ralph Heimlich. Ag Handbook No. (AH722), February 2003. The report identifies trends in land, water, and biological resources and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data and information, this report examines the complex connections among farming practices, conservation, and the environment, which are increasingly important components in U.S. agriculture and farm policy. View it online at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/arei/arei2001.
**A new National Academies Report, "Frontiers in Agricultural Research: Food, Health, Environment, and Communities" reviews the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Research, Education, and Economics mission. The report recommends that the U.S. Department of Agriculture refocus its $2 billion annual research budget from a focus on increasing food and fiber production to frontier issues such as the impact of globalization on U.S. agriculture, diet and health, food safety, environmentally sound farming alternatives and the quality of life in rural communities. A prepublication version of the report is available for online reading, with the final version forthcoming and available for purchase from National Academies Press at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10585.html.
Sources 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!
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