Pork EMS Technical Assistance Workshop Jamie Ragan, DPPEA ... · All created/implemented EMS xMore farmer-friendly EMS created xNot to ISO 14001 certifiable levelNot to ISO 14001

Pork EMS Technical Assistance WorkshoppJamie Ragan, DPPEA

March 25, 2009

Encourages being proactive instead of reactiveHelps ID all activities on farm that could have environmental impactsenvironmental impactsImproves public imageReduces liability risksReduces liability risksImproves employee productivity

Record keeping i

Neighbor relations improvementimprovement esp.

for regulatory requirements

improvementPollution prevention encouragementAll i t lrequirements

NOV and NOD reductions

All environmental impacts evaluatedEveryday activities

Employee awareness & accountability

y ystreamlined (SOPs for all jobs)

accountabilityEnvironmental incident reduction

In the past:◦ EPA-Office of Water ◦ Can EMS be created and implemented on farm?◦ 2 year project◦ 2 year project◦ 7 pork producers ◦ $3,000.00 grant◦ Technical assistance from DPPEA, CES, DSWC

All created extensive EMS based on ISO 14001 ifi bl i i14001 certifiable criteriaPurchased flow meter for calibrationDetermination:Determination:◦ It is possible to create functioning EMS on farm◦ Producers would need guidance (either self-

id d li h d h i l i )guided on-line or hands-on technical assistance)◦ Still not accepted throughout entire Agricultural

community

2 years later:◦ About 50% of producers continued EMS use

One farmer retired from business◦ Why?◦ Why?

Process was time-consuming and difficult Industrial type EMS usedN f llNo follow up

Producer’s didn’t know what to do nextNeeded more assistance from technical assistance community

Some didn’t see added value from EMS

Chuck Stokes Bundy LaneG C◦ Greene County

producer◦ Frontline Farmer

◦ Gates County producer◦ Frontline Farmer◦ Frontline Farmer

◦ Several innovative projects on his farm

◦ Innovative projects on farm◦ Article, “EMS Offers

◦ Develop newsletter for neighbors◦ Very vocal nationally

Article, EMS Offers Multiple Payoffs”

Food Systems Insider,Vol 4, number ◦ Very vocal nationally

about EMS, ,

2, March 2004

Porktooll d l

Aspects Impact M (AIM l)◦ Online guidance tool

◦ Includes all documentation (with

l d bl k

Manager (AIM tool)◦ Includes checklist of

activities and related examples and blank templates) needed to design/implement EMS

aspects/impacts occurring on operation ◦ Ranks these activities a s t ese act t es

in order of significance to determine objectives and targetsand targets

EPA-Office of Enforcement and Compliance AssistanceCan EMS prevent/reduce compliance issues

f ?on farm?3 year project Fi ld t t d t l t d f fi t j tField tested tools created from first project14 producers applied◦ DSWC NCSU CES assisted in application process◦ DSWC, NCSU, CES assisted in application process

6 pork producers chosen◦ All created/implemented EMS

More farmer-friendly EMS createdNot to ISO 14001 certifiable levelNot to ISO 14001 certifiable level

Not industrial type EMS from first project◦ Received DPPEA coaches, on-site technical

assistance and EMS toolsassistance and EMS tools◦ Received $3,000.00 grant

Porktool/AIM tool field testing

Only certain components usefultesting

◦ Needs some improvement, i.e. AIM tool needs simplifying

components useful◦ Pick components that

benefit (anything is better than nothing)

N d i itool needs simplifyingNot all farmers get full benefit from EMS◦ Doesn’t need to be to

Need incentives to get more producers involvedTechnical support◦ Doesn t need to be to

certification level◦ This is to be expected…◦ Time will tell!

Technical support needs to be provided by CES, NRCS and DSWCDSWC ◦ DPPEA does not have man

power/funding (unless farmer joins ESI program)

Positive: Negative:◦ More organized◦ Liked spreadsheets,

SOPs checklists

◦ AIM tool needs improving◦ Some smaller farmsSOPs, checklists

◦ Going “extra mile”◦ Technical assistance

◦ Some smaller farms (no employees)-not as useful

was helpful ◦ Some will not “continually improve” EMSS

Not all farmers need whole EMS◦ Certain components more usefulMost farmers need technical assistance

I l CES DSWC NRCS ( i l )◦ Involve CES, DSWC, NRCS (continual resources)Continue to update and improve website (Porktool and AIM tool)(Porktool and AIM tool)Needed to obtain funding for next step

Organization improved on most farms

Case studieson most farmsNew tools were developed:

l

Compliance database results:◦ Compliance can◦ Pigtales

◦ Improved website◦ Pork EMS Topic Hub

F d h t

◦ Compliance can improve

Not necessarily disappear◦ No NOVs since start◦ Farm spreadsheets

◦ SOPs/Checklists◦ Marketing: brochure,

display

No NOVs since start of project

Farmers had minimal NOVs historydisplay

No NOVs since project beganOverall organization improvedClear reduction of compliance issues from 2000 j d (2006)2000 to project end (2006)◦ However compliance issues not completely gone

Total Farmers Compliance Issuesp

7

8

9

10

3

4

5

6

# of

Tot

al C

ompl

ianc

e Is

sues

Record KeepingLegal RequirementsOperation ControlEmergency Prepareness

0

1

2

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Producer in Columbus County:N f bl l i f◦ Never comfortable leaving farm◦ Create EMS, developed SOPs, had staff training,

identified responsible staff◦ Had shoulder injury and was unable to visit farm for

several weeks◦ Because of EMS, he felt comfortable and at ease

when unable to go to farm◦ He has since taken vacations with peace◦ Everything runs greaty g g

Workers have SOPs and know their responsibilitiesThey know what to do in emergency situation

EPA-Region 4 GrantBegan 2007, ends in Sept 2009Goal:

l d d l f d◦ Develop and provide training on simplified version of EMS including user-friendly materials, tools and training for agricultural TA providers◦ Involve farmer in ESI program◦ Update Pork EMS website

TA providers provide EMS assistance to pork producersPork producers join ESI program for DPPEA coach to assist with EMS developmentcoach to assist with EMS developmentRefer back to website for EMS assistance

EMS encourages being proactive, IDs environmental impacts, improves public imageEMS can be implemented on pork farmEMS can be implemented on pork farmSimplified EMS and/or EMS components are preferred by most producerspreferred by most producersEMS can reduce compliance issues

Any questions???