Partnerships for Livestock Environmental Management Systems

1. Partnerships for Livestock Environmental Management Systems Project Evaluation Conducted by LEAD Center University of Wisconsin-Madison

2. Topics of Interest • Livestock producers’ current management efforts, especially environmental management • Fit of EMS into producers’ management efforts • Effective methods for delivering information about EMS • Changes on operations resulting from EMS information delivery

3. Sources Producers Stakeholders Project partners Methods Paper surveys Online surveys Interviews Document review Data Collection

4. Design • Producers surveyed at two points in time • At beginning of participation • After time elapses after last contact with project • Case studies with selected producers • Sample selected to better understand producer successes • Stakeholders surveyed as they have contact with project • Partners surveyed and interviewed throughout project

5. Summary of key findings to date • Producers take advantage of opportunities to improve their management • Producers need substantial coaching to adopt EMS • Majority of producers have some sort of written management plan • Environmental management not as well established as other operational aspects • EMSs are attractive when obvious benefits outweigh costs/difficulties of implementation; but majority would recommend EMSs to others

6. Summary of key findings to date • Project participation has resulted in the intent to take action in environmental management • Increased management skills, awareness of environmental issues, improved confidence in ability to address environmental issues

7. Key Questions Remaining • What do the stakeholders think? • Currently analyzing data • Did participation result in changes to management practices? • Case studies will provide information • What delivery methods were particularly effective? • Analyzing and collecting data from pilot states