Beginning Farmer – Page 5 – Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Community

An environmental policy statement (EPS) is a proactive way to communicate about your farm, ranch or agribusiness environmental stewardship ethic. At first glance, this might seem like a “feel good” exercise with little practical value. However, experience has shown that farmers and ranchers are quick to identify ways they can use the policy statement for their operation. The exercise stimulates conversations that many farm operators have not previously initiated with family or employees.

What Is an Environmental Policy Statement (EPS)?

Example Policy Statement
Jones Family Farms is a diversified operation with poultry, cattle and alfalfa hay production. The farm employs its husband and wife owners on a full-time basis and two employees on a part-time basis. Jones Family Farm is located near a small housing development along a busy highway; therefore our relationship with our neighbors and community is an important aspect of our operations. We will strive to maintain a neat and professional appearance on our farmstead. Poultry litter applications will be made to our hay ground with consideration to potential impacts on neighbors.We are committed to compliance with all pertinent environmental laws and regulations; we are committed to continually improving conservation practices and environmental management that will benefit our farm’s value for future generations. Our profitability depends upon maintaining efficient long-term productivity. We also seek to: 1) To manage riparian areas in such a way that provides wildlife habitat and protects water quality and 2) To improve soil quality by minimizing erosion and building organic matter through calculated use of our poultry litter resources.

An EPS consists of several specific statements. These reflect a general description of the operation and its most important environmental issues. The EPS also communicates commitments to regulatory compliance, continual improvement and stewardship. While these statements appear to be prescribed, there is a great deal of room for an operation to personalize and create an EPS that reflects their individual values and goals.

An environmental policy statement (EPS) is one piece of an environmental management system (EMS). An EMS is a systematic approach to environmental decision making. It seeks to formalize processes and procedures and integrate all of the different aspect of a farm operation into a single coherent plan. More about EMS is available at Agriculture Environmental Management Systems.

Farmers, Ranchers, and Agribusiness

Step 1. Download the worksheets and complete the activities. Example policy statements are included.
Step 2. To receive a certificate of completion (optional), fill out the online form.

Teachers, Extension, Consultants

For the classroom or educational programs:

Instruction Guide: (PDF format) (RTF format; 13 MB ) Is a lesson plan with connections to national agriculture education standards (AFNR Career Content Cluster Standards), application to Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects and FFA contents, sample quiz/review questions, sample evaluation form, and more.
Download Presentation Slides (See embedded slide show below for a preview of this file).
Resource packet. (PDF format) (RTF format; 14 MB)Includes templates and worksheets, examples, and a discussion guide

The PDF version is best if you want to use the files “as-is”. The RTF format is best if you want to edit or customize the materials.

Acknowledgements

Authors: Jill Heemstra, University of Nebraska and Thomas Bass, Montana State University <tmbass@montana.edu>

Reviewers: Mary Catherine Barganier, NYFEA; Shannon Arnold, Montana State University; Elizabeth Burns Thompson, Drake Ag Law student; Lyle Holmgren, Utah State University; Paul Hay, University of Nebraska

Building Environmental Leaders in Animal Agriculture (BELAA) is a collaborative effort of the National Young Farmers Educational Association, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Montana State University. It was funded by the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under award #2009-49400-05871. This project would not be possible without the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Community the National eXtension Initiative, National Association of County Ag Agents (NACAA), National Association of Agriculture Education (NAAE), Farm Credit Services of America, American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS), and Montana FFA Association.

Whole Farm Nutrient Balance

For most of the U.S. livestock (and poultry) industry, nutrients in manure represent the single largest threat to water quality. Thus, choices made relative to the management of nutrients within a livestock or poultry operation are absolutely critical to protecting water quality. This lesson discusses the concept of “whole farm” nutrient balance as an indicator of potential risks a particular operation can pose in contributing to excess release of nutrients to water.

It is estimated that this module will require one hour to read and complete the quiz.

Step 1. Download Lesson 2: Whole Farm Nutrient Balance (PDF file; 34 pages)
Step 2. Take the quiz. This is a 10-question, multiple-choice quiz. If you score at least 7 out of 10, you will receive a certificate of completion by email.

Manure Spills and Emergency Planning

The topics covered in these five short videos are: causes and case studies of spills, considerations for solid manure, and simple steps and technologies to prevent spills. Each of the speaker’s presentation slides are available for download as notes.

It is estimated that this module will require 75-80 minutes to watch and complete the quiz.

Step 1. View the presentations at Manure Spills and Emergency Planning. (It is recommended that you download and print the presentation slides for each of the four presenters). You can watch each individual segment separately or use the “view entire presentation” link toward the bottom of the page.
Step 2. Take the quiz. This is a 10-question, multiple-choice quiz. If you score at least 7 out of 10, you will receive a certificate of completion by email.