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California Dairy Quality Assurance Program – 2005
Dr. Mike Payne, UC Davis
Objectives
- Delivery of Environmental Stewardship Short-Courses and Facility Evaluations
- Delivery of Food Safety and Emergency Preparedness Module
- Program Management for 2005
Environmental Stewardship
More than 1,350 producers have completed the 6-hour environmental stewardship
water course; an additional 466 have completed at least two hours. To date 250
dairies have certified by completing a third party facility evaluations. The
increase in requests for evaluation may be due to the fact that this was the
second year in which certified producers were given a 50% reduction in Storm
Water Permit fees by the state water board. This represents a savings
approximately $200 to $2000 dollars per year, depending on dairy size.
Great strides were made in incorporating the CDQAP into the Central Valley
Regional Water Board (RB-5) new water permit. This started in 2005 with
workshops to assist producers in completing RB-5’s Report of Waste Discharge (ROWD).
A total of 585 producers in 23 classes from 10 counties participated. Besides
filling out the ROWD, producers attending the workshops learned how to start
preparing for revised regulations. CDQAP partners encouraged producers with
direct mailings, flyers in processor mailings and articles in extension and
industry newsletters. The result was an astounding 98% submission rate for this
required document.
Board staff agreed to “stage” requirements for Central Valley dairies over
several years and to allow the CDQAP to be used as a method that producers can
document compliance with the new regula-tions. A group of CDQAP partners are
working closely with RB-5 staff to develop a “compli-ance schedule” which will
allow producers, assisted by CDQAP, to meet the new regulations in stages.
With Central Valley dairies completing the ROWD process, CDQAP partners and RB-5
can move forward with a staged implementation of its Waste Discharge
Requirements (WDR). A number of producer and processor organizations have agreed
to assist in our outreach effort. These include Western United, CA Dairy
Campaign, CA Dairies Inc, Hilmar Cheese Company, Dairy Institute of California,
the Alliance of Western Milk Producers, Dairy Farmers of American, Land O’
Lakes, Gallo Farms and the Community Alliance for Responsible Environmental
Stewardship (CARES).
The CDQAP also demonstrated industry’s commitment to compliance by assisting
producers in meeting the new air quality permit requirements. Last year a new
air quality curriculum was de-livered to more than 736 producers in 17 workshops
in 8 counties. The program heavily leveraged with university, state, federal and
processor resources. The effort was invaluable to prove to regula-tory agencies
that the industry took seriously its role in controlling dairy air emissions. In
large part because of education to the regulatory agencies and because of
research paid for by various organi-zations including CDRF, the State and
District Air Boards now recognize that dairy lagoons are not significant sources
of air pollution and requiring lagoon covers would not demonstratively improve
air quality.
Magazine articles have appeared in Hoard’s West on most months and are at
http://www.cdqa.org.
The CDQAP in cooperation with CARES continue to deliver a strong outreach
program to provide timely and technically correct information to dairy producers
on regulatory changes.
Farm Security
Having leveraged more than $332,000 in government and philanthropic foundation
grants, curriculum for the Farm Security Module is complete and is being beta
tested with producer and processor groups. These include three videos (BSE
Prevention, Biosecurity and Emergency Response) paid for by a $90,000 grant from
CDFA and USDA. Initial results have demonstrated significant acceptance and
efficacy in producers. The module will be delivered to producers through
processor and producer organizations. Department of Homeland Security funding
will be used.
Johne’s Disease
The program has successfully collaborated with the State and Federal agencies to
offer a free education, evaluation and certification package for Johne’s Disease
prevention. Approximately $75,000 of USDA funding was used to have specially
trained veterinarians visit dairies and complete Phase I (Educational) and Phase
II (Risk Assessment) of the program. Producers completing both phases are
eligible for free herd testing with the screening blood test, valued at about $5
per test. Confirmatory fecal testing, valued at about $15, is performed on all
positive or suspect blood tests. USDA funding of $180,000 has been made
available to provide laboratory support for this testing.
There are advantages to implementing a Johne’s control program even in herds
without high rates of infection since the same management practices also reduce
infection of other common GI diseases such as Salmonella and cryptosporidia. To
date, about 50 dairies have completed the Education and Risk Assessment phases
of the program. The Johne’s Module will continue to be offered to interested
producers. Similarly a Dairy Welfare curriculum has been completed and is
available for adaptation by interested processors.
Animal Welfare
The primary objective for 2005 was to incorporate science-based information to
develop the guidelines for animal welfare on California dairies. A new document
was created which consists of the initial Assessment of the Dairy Facility to
objectively evaluate the many factors which impact animal welfare on the farm
level and the Technical Guide which provides science-based information on the
best management practices. The document includes sections on Management
Policies, Facilities and Environment, Animal Health, Nutritional Care, Handling
and Training, and Birth and Management of Calves. Review of the document was
solicited from UC Farm Advisors, and producers. Revisions were based on their
comments and recommendations. The curriculum is available at the CDQAP website.
Dr. Stull is available to any dairy organizations who wish to implement a
welfare program.
Leveraging Producer Funding
The CDQAP is committed to leveraging producer funding by actively seeking grants
and partnerships with other organizations. Processors have committed human and
financial resources to the CDQAP in the form of CARES. Comprised of proprietary
creamery, cooperative and trade organizations, part of CARES mission is to
assist in CDQAP efforts. By collaborating with CARES, the CDRF leverages some
$350,000 of CARES annual budget. Expenditures by CARES allowed for 200 roadside
signs, a CDQAP newsletter, pamphlets and financed the Air Workshops. Another
example of leveraging resources is the University’s contribution. Dr. Meyer is
currently devoting greater than 50% of her time to CDQAP activities. Total
non-industry grant monies or in-kind funds to date have exceeded $1.5 million
dollars. |
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