Committed to the Environment
CDQA Environmental Stewardship Module
CDQA's environmental program helps California dairy producers understand and
meet federal, state, regional and local requirements for manure and water
quality. The certification program is an unprecedented partnership among
California's dairy industry, federal, state and regional government agencies and
the UC Cooperative Extension. The program is funded by industry and government,
including more than $400,000 in grant money from the US Environmental Protection
Agency.
The Environmental Stewardship Partnership Agreement includes:
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Short Course - Dairy producers must complete six hours of UC
Cooperative Extension courses that cover water regulations, facility
evaluation manure management and storm water pollution prevention plans. |
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Environmental Stewardship Farm Management Plan - Each dairy
producer evaluates their specific farm conditions and prepares a plan
tailored to their facility. |
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On-site Independent Evaluations - Dairies completing the
short-course series and farm management plan are eligible for independent
third-party compliance evaluations to meet all local, state and federal
environmental laws. Dairies completing the evaluation become certified for
environmental stewardship.
Partnership Agreement |
Top 10 facets of the CDQA ES Program
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Sufficient lagoon capacity - Dependent on facility design, management,
herd size, average rainfall and geographic location. |
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Documentation of permits
- County use permits, waiver of waste discharge requirements, National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System Permit |
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Evidence of 10 percent clay content in
the lagoon (state requirement) |
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Capacity to store runoff from a 25-year,
24-hour storm (around 2.5 inches in south valley) |
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Corrals managed to prevent
standing water and infiltration of water into the corrals |
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Prevention of dairy
nutrient discharges to surface water |
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Long range planning for facility
improvements in concert with environmental standards |
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Collect run-off from
solid manure |
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Collect any run-off from feed (such as silage) |
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Emergency
manure management program |
CDQA Environmental Stewardship Partners:
Western United Dairymen, Milk
Producers Council, California Manufacturing Milk Advisory Board, California Milk
Advisory Board, California Farm Bureau Federation, University of California,
California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Environmental
Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board, California Resources
Agency, California Department of Fish and Game, USDA Animal Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Farm
Services Agency, and US Environmental Protection Agency.
Interested in Environmental Stewardship certification? Contact Deanne Meyer -
dmeyer@ucdavis.edu - (530) 752-9391
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