Environmental Specialists on Hand for Pork Producers

April 27, 2000

Environmental management and regulatory program specialists will be on hand June 8-10 at the World Pork Expo in Indianapolis, IN, to help producers establish pollution management programs for their operations. One such program focuses on water, air and odor issues to improve the operation while avoiding environmental liabilities.

The Environmental Education Center at the expo is sponsored by Bio-sun Systems and will have information available on how producers can participate in programs. The on-farm odor environmental assistance program is a free compliance tool for producers. Trained independent assessors will visit the farm and conduct a voluntary comprehensive pollution management evaluation on the operation.

Also featured at the center are exhibits representing checkoff-funded programs administered by the National Pork Producers Council including an "odor solutions initiative," the environmental assurance program, the environmental stewards award program and a new program called the agriculture technology evaluation program.

Technical assistance also will be availble from officials from Bio-sun, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Association of Conservation Districts, Conservation Technology Information Center, Sustainable Environmental Solutions, AgStar Program, Farm A Syst, America’s Clean Water Foundation, Indiana State Conservation Association and Trees Forever.

"We realize as an industry the importance of being knowledgeable with regulatory issues," says Jeff Schoenbacher, NPPC director of environmental services. So the center will have informational booths for discussion of total maximum daily loads, effluent limitation guidelines, comprehensive nutrient management plans, animal feeding operations and concentrated animal feeding operation regulations.