About the Environmental Stewardship Program

Committed to the Environment - CDQAP Environmental Stewardship Module

The California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP) Environmental Stewardship Module is a partnership of government, educators, and the dairy industry working together toward the shared goal of helping California dairy producers to understand and comply with federal, state and local laws and regulations to ensure a healthful environment for the people, livestock and wildlife of the State of California.

Signed on September 9, 1999, the Environmental Stewardship Partnership Agreement establishes a voluntary environmental stewardship education and certification program. 

CDQAP offers education courses that help producers understand environmental regulations, familiarize them with best management practice options, and supply detailed record-keeping tools for both regulatory purposes and for farm management.  Courses in both water and air quality provide clear, concise information on regulatory requirements, example protocols, plan templates and additional compliance tools.

CDQAP certification assists producers in regulatory compliance through a third-party, on-farm evaluation of their facility.  Evaluations provide producers with real-time feedback on plan implementation and confidence in regulatory requirement fulfillment.

CDQAP partners include: California Dairy Campaign, California Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Environmental Protection Agency, California Farm Bureau Federation, California Manufacturing Milk Advisory Board, California Resources Agency, Milk Producers Council, Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Water Resources Control Board, Sustainable Conservation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of California/UC Cooperative Extension and Western United Dairymen.

CDQAP ES Certification

The CDQAP environmental certification program helps California dairy producers understand and meet federal, state and local requirements for water and air quality protection.  Environmental Stewardship Certification is a three-step program:

 Step 1.  Education - Dairy producers complete water quality and air quality education courses.  CDQAP courses are led by UC Cooperative Extension and cover environmental issues of particular interest to dairy producers, including regulatory requirements, facility evaluation, best management practices and management plan creation.
   
Step 2.  Environmental Stewardship Farm Management Plans - Each dairy producer evaluates their specific farm conditions and prepares appropriate management plans tailored to their facility.  Where applicable, plans required by regulatory agencies can be used to meet the CDQAP management plan requirement.
 
Step 3.  On-site Independent Evaluations - Dairies that are managed by producers who have completed the education courses and created farm management plans may request an independent, third-party evaluation to assess their facility for compliance and implementation. A unified checklist is used to evaluate the facility’s compliance with all local, state and federal environmental regulations.  Dairy producers who successfully complete the evaluation become certified for environmental stewardship.

CDQAP certification is valid for a period of 5 years.  Producers who have a change in owner/operator must be re-evaluated to maintain certification.   Producers who have an illegal discharge from their property must report the discharge to the appropriate regulatory agencies (RWQCB, DHS, DF&G). Regulatory enforcement actions will result in de-certification.