Understanding Wisconsin Dairy Environmental Management Systems (WisEMS)
What are environmental management systems all about?
Forward-looking producers in Wisconsin's dairy industry have been working to address possible environmental impacts of their operations. Producers are taking voluntary actions on a broad range of issues from improving storage and land application of manure and handling of solid and hazardous waste areas to conserving energy or water. Sometimes individual actions are not enough. Producers can often benefit from developing their own management system that helps them to identify and address site-specific environmental concerns on a continuous basis and to use this information to set priorities and take actions. The Wisconsin Dairy Environmental Management System (WisEMS) is designed to assist producers in developing a practical system that aids them in identifying and addressing priority environmental management needs in their operation. It can also support evaluating factors that influence product quality and profitability.
This website is intended to help users improve their understanding of environmental management systems (EMS) and support their voluntary development of an EMS for their farm. The WisEMS works by assisting farmers in:
- identifying environmental risks in their current and future production systems;
- developing a voluntary action plan based on priorities related to identified risks;
- documenting actions taken that prevent pollution;
- evaluating the effectiveness of current management systems and using the results to make improvements; and,
- documenting compliance with regulations.
Benefits of the WisEMS include:
- helps to protect the health and safety of families and employees;
- helps to reduce neighbor or agency concerns related to production or expansion options;
- provides documentation of environmental action for neighbors and agency representatives, which in turn can support plans for future management and expansion;
- reduces regulatory liability;
- supports coordination of several programs through one management system;
This system has been developed as part of a national project , is based on a standard that has been accepted internationally and most importantly, has involved and continues to involve producers and other stakeholders in its development and pilot testing. For more information about environmental management systems for agriculture visit our companion site at: http://www.uwex.edu/AgEMS.
Your feedback will assist in making improvements that will make this site and the WisEMS more useful! E-mail us at: Farm and Home Environmental Management Programs
Coming soon! A case study section where you can read to find out how one farm operation used an environmental management system to improve its business practices. Return to the main page.
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