Develop Your Own EMS

Now that you have read how the process of developing and using an environmental management system works, take the first steps towards developing one for your operation.

An environmental management system or EMS is a voluntary, flexible business management system that helps you develop your own strategies for integrating environmental improvement into the daily operations of your farm. It starts from your knowledge and experience of how to best manage your operation.

Important aspects of an EMS include:

  1. developing an environmental policy
  2. working towards full compliance with all applicable environmental regulations
  3. identifying areas of environmental risk
  4. maintaining records
  5. reviewing your records for areas of improvement.
two Wisconsin cows

Identification of environmental risks on your farm is crucial to the successful implementation of an EMS. The Wisconsin Dairy EMS contains a series of assessments that allow you to identify practices, facilities or procedures on your farm that are potential environmental risks. Wisconsin Focus On Energy also offers an assessment of your electrical energy consumption.

The multi-worksheet action plan, found at the My Action Plan link, will help you continue to move along in the ems process. The single worksheet action plan, which follows your completion of an assessment, allows you to identify corrective measures and set your own time frame to complete them. Both of these planning tools can be printed out for your records.

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We would like to hear your feedback on your experience in using our online assessments or other comments you may have. Please contact us at: Farm and Home Environmental Management Programs. Any technical difficulties you encounter should be reported to: Web Coordinator.
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