Earth Friendly, Farm Friendly Certification Elements

How it works

The Center for Global Food Issues is currently working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to approve our pilot certification plan and elements for dairy producers. If you are interested in learning more about our program visit our web site to register and an appropriate member of the Center for Global Food Issues staff will contact you.

To be awarded the Center for Global Food Issues "Earth Friendly, Farm Friendly" Seal of Approval, dairy producers must implement, affirm and verifiably practice agricultural and environmental principles in the management and care of their dairy herds and specifically designed to increase feed efficiency and reduce nutrient excretions. Processors, packagers and retailers sourcing a minimum of 75% of their dairy products (fluid milk, cheese, yogurt, etc…) from certified farms may market their brands with the Earth Friendly, Farm Friendly Seal of Approval and associated descriptive language.

Earth Friendly, Farm Friendly Standards

The following principals, identified by independent agricultural, environmental and consumer experts, will cover the critical production arenas of Management Practices, Feeding Practices and Purchasing and Documentation Practices. The practices outlined have all been validated by independent, peer-reviewed academic research and publication as helping to safely and measurably improve yields and/or reduce inputs in dairy production.

Compliance Requirements

Percentage of Production Levels 75% of milk from qualifying producers/operations for use of EF, FF seal of approval on packaging.

Producer Requirements

ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE

AWARE certification, via EMS LLC

PRODUCTIVITY

1. Maintenance of above average milk production (> than U.S. herd average) and using at least two of the following practices:

• 3X per day milking (increases production per cow by up to 7%)
• Use of proven sired-Artificial Insemination (AI)
• Use of productivity supplements, such as somatotropin and/or rumen buffers
• Rotational grazing of pastures to maximize grass/forage production and utilization

2. Herd/Breeding Record Keeping

1. Dairy Herd Improvement or equivalent

2. Participation in appropriate animal identification systems

MILK QUALITY (*not composition, i.e. fat, protein, etc.)

• Maintaining a Somatic Cell Count (SCC) of less than 250,000 cells/ml milk (lower # equals greater milk production efficiency and reflects better dairy herd health)
• Negative antibiotic residue test
• Negative adulteration test (specific gravity, etc)
• Standard Plate Count <15,000 colony forming units (CFU)
PO Box 202, Churchville, VA 24421 (540) 337-6354 www.cgfi.org

FEED MANAGEMENT

1. Use a certified dairy nutrition consultant (either private or appropriate government extension agent)

2. Use an acknowledged system for balancing animal diets that reflects the National Research Council (NRC) nutrient requirements for dairy cattle. Such systems include the Cornell Net Carbohydrate Protein System (CNCPS), Spartan Ration Balancer, etc.

3. Balance feed rations/diet to account for and minimize phosphorus content of wastes

4. Balance feed rations/diet to minimize nitrogen content. This includes using appropriate amounts of degraded and undegraded protein in the diet.

5. Tuning diet formulations to the appropriate production level of each cow, such as stage of lactation, body size, etc. Can be accomplished via numerous means, such as grouping of like animals, (any others to mention?), etc.

ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES

Soil Conservation and Care

1. Dairy farms producing some or all of the dairy's feed needs must follow cropping and tillage practices that meet T, defined by the NRCS as soil loss levels that are sustainable. Plus at least four or more of the following:

• Utilize conservation tillage practices on at least 50% or more of feed and forage cropland (con-till, no-till, ridge-till, etc.)
• Keep 25% or more of cropland in continuous no-till farming
• Maintain stable or increasing organic matter levels in soils (running 3 year averages)
• Conservation buffers at least 30' wide between cropland and all water bodies and around sensitive areas (sinkholes, wells, wetlands, etc)
• All areas of concentrated flow are controlled (grass waterway or other conservation practice)
• Fence waterways
• Establish riparian forest buffers
• Sloping fields (>3%) either planted with Alfalfa in the crop rotation OR planted with no-till OR strip cropping and contour plowing
• Flat fields (<3% slope) planted with conservation tillage (>30% residue after planting)
PO Box 202, Churchville, VA 24421 (540) 337-6354 www.cgfi.org
• Plant cover crops
• cover crop planted if corn is used for corn silage

Manure Management:

1. A nutrient management plan must be developed and followed, which is approved by the state or local conservation district.

2. If a manure storage is used:

a. Manure slurry must be added to the storage facility below the manure surface to allow a 'floating mat' of bedding and dried manure particles to develop, which inhibits the emission of ammonia and other odor causing compounds to the atmosphere.
b. When manure with low dry matter content is stored where a floating mat will not develop, an impermeable cover must be installed over the storage.
c. The storage must be large enough to store at least 4 months of manure production so that manure can be applied to cropland at optimum times to protect water quality, minimize runoff, maximize crop nutrient availability, and minimize soil compaction.
d. An appropriate 'free board' space must be maintained in the storage to prevent spills.
e. Manure must be incorporated into the soil at the time of field application to minimize odor and ammonia volatilization to the atmosphere and phosphorus loss in runoff to surface waters.

3. If a daily hauling manure strategy is used, manure must be incorporated into the soil at the time of application or at an appropriate time following application when weather, soil, and crop conditions permit.

Other environmental management considerations:

1. Controlling dust production with a combination of vegetative cover, wind breaks and hard surfaced roads.
2. Employing responsible disposal of dead animals (i.e., rendering services or compost).
3. Developing programs for the safe handling and disposal of refuse and chemicals (i.e., used oil, plastic, copper sulfate, paper towels, etc)