2017 December Board Book

2018 Programs and Projects

Environmental Health & Safety, Quality, and Biosecurity Protect License to Operate

ONGOING Science-Based Educational Projects California Dairy Quality Assurance Program

The California Dairy Quality Assurance Program provides science-based educational tools to California dairy producers to manage their facilities to be compliant with local, state and federal environmental regulations, with animal care and biosecurity objectives. As of today, nearly 800 California producers are certified. Certified facilities are eligible for a 50 percent cost savings in their annual water quality permit fees, a benefit currently estimated to save the industry more than $2 million annually. Ongoing since 1997. Dairy CARES Support provided to Dairy CARES maintains and increases awareness of California’s dairy sustainability initiatives and accomplishments among opinion leaders, and encourages industry adoption of best practices. Ongoing since 2003. ONGOING Scientific Research Projects Feed Formulation Variability and Environmental Impact Analysis California producers are highly regulated and need science-based data to defend the industry. No reliable information exists on California dairy farms’ emission intensity related to feed formulation. As feed formulation changes, so does the emissions intensity; this uncertainty has never been quantified. This project will improve estimates of environmental impact due to ingredient variability in feed. Currently, only national numbers are available to use in the estimation of these calculations; yet, national numbers do not represent the uniqueness of California’s situation. The deadline for this project has been extended. Funding leverage: 2:1 . Time line 2018-2018.

*** Please note that the above project ties into CDRF’s work on, “Telling the Great California Dairy Story: 1964 to 2014 Environmental Impact Analysis.” The 2017 project, Environmental Impact of California Dairy Industry over 50 Years, has been recently completed. Researchers are currently working on their final report documenting results and conclusions. Results will be presented once these final steps are complete.

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CDRF 2018 Proposed Budget Request