In June 2003, Brandon Howell, summer intern for the Ohio Livestock Coalition (OLC), analyzed information provided to the OLC office by Livestock Environmental Assurance Program (LEAP) participants on their individual applications for LEAP certificates of attendance. Upon analyzing this, we have drawn the following conclusions about the LEAP program:
* Participation has come from all major animal commodity groups, including horses.
* Beef producers had the highest number of individuals undergo LEAP training sessions. However, poultry and dairy had the largest percentage of producers from their respective commodity group participate, followed by swine, beef, and sheep.
* As of August 27, 2003, there have been 4,863 participants in the LEAP Level 1 and the LEAP Pasture programs since the programs' inception.
* Over 70% of those participating in LEAP have less than 500 animal units.
* Over 80% of the participants are less than 55 years old.
* Over 90% of the participants responding considered themselves the owner or operator of the animal production unit.
* More than 45% of those participating indicated they plan on changing management practices as a result of LEAP.
An original evaluation of the Livestock Environmental Assurance Program (LEAP) was conducted and developed by Jon Rausch, extension associate for animal manure management, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ohio State University. In the fall of 2000, a 14-question survey was mailed to all LEAP program participants whose names had been entered into the confidential LEAP certificate application database in the Ohio Livestock Coalition (OLC) office. 432 surveys were returned in 2000, accounting for approximately 25% of the 1,775 sent via regular US mail.
A similar survey conducted by Brandon Howell, OLC summer intern, was analyzed and evaluated in August of 2003. 592 surveys were returned in 2003, accounting for 16.6% of the 3,567 sent via regular US mail. Postage-paid, pre-addressed reply envelopes were used for the survey, courtesy of the Ohio Cattlemen's Association. A copy of the survey sent to all LEAP participants is attached for your reference.
Results from the survey indicate the following:
* The two most prominent issues that motivated livestock and poultry farmers to participate in a LEAP training session have remained the same in comparison of both surveys from 2000 and 2003: Environmental issues pertaining to animal agriculture and the requirement by the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts that agricultural pollution abatement grant recipients must attend a local LEAP training session.
* LEAP participants that said they would invest in new manure storage and treatment facilities after participating in LEAP:
-- 2000 = 22%
-- 2003 = 16.6%
* LEAP participants that said they would change the way they manage their manure handling or treatment facility after participating in LEAP:
-- 2000 = 29%
-- 2003 = 32.1%
* LEAP participants that said LEAP has changed the way they manage their farm's manure nutrients in one or more of the following ways :
* Nutrient content of manure has been tested at least one time because of LEAP.
* Nutrient credit is given for manure before applying fertilizer.
* The farm has taken at least one soil test because of LEAP.
-- 2000 = 62%
-- 2003 = 67.3%
* LEAP participants that said LEAP has changed their manure application practices, such as :
* Changed where manure is spread.
* Changed application methods (inject, knife, incorporate manure).
* Manure is spread over more acres.
-- 2000 = 63%
-- 2003 = 75.5%
* As a result of LEAP, participants that said they have changed the way they view odors from their livestock or poultry operation, with many indicating they have taken steps to minimize the impacts of odor.
-- 2000 = 47%
-- 2003 = 27.1 %
* LEAP participants that said because of LEAP, they have tried to improve their farm's image using the following practices because of LEAP:
* Planted flowers/shrubs/trees to beautify farm.
* Built or planted privacy screen around buildings.
* The farm has become more neighbor-oriented (snow removal, held BBQ/picnic, etc.)
-- 2000 = 60%
-- 2003 = 60%
* After participating in LEAP, LEAP participants that said they learned new facts about their operation by completing a site evaluation of their respective farming operation. New facts participants learned included the following:
- Separation distances between neighbors and manure holding/application area.
- Separation distances between water well/public drinking and manure holding.
- The amount of water used by a lagoon.
- Land and slope of manure holding structure from roadways.
- Visibility of manure holding structure from roadways.
- Number of animal units on the farm.
- Farm's potential to affect groundwater.
- Ratio of animals to land area available for spreading manure.
-- 2000 = 75%
-- 2003 = 95%
* LEAP participants that had a manure management plan prior to participating in LEAP:
-- 2000 = 42%
-- 2003 = 29.3 %
* LEAP participants that have modified or developed a manure management plan because of their participation in LEAP:
-- 2000 = 25%
-- 2003 = 21%
* The greatest environmental challenge/concern facing LEAP participants' operations,
Manure Management:
· 2000 = 25%
· 2003 = 27%
* An almost equal percentage in both surveys said that pest control/management, odor emission, and location of current or future facilities is their biggest environmental challenge:
-- 2000 = 17%
-- 2003 = 12%
* LEAP participants in 2000 and 2003 expressed that less than 13% of their greatest challenges are due to soil erosion and water quality.
* LEAP participants attending LEAP Level 1 training that said they would be interested in attending an in-depth workshop that would assist them in developing a manure nutrient program or comprehensive nutrient management program (CNMP):
-- 2000 = 75%
-- 2003 = 57%
* LEAP participants that said the classroom instruction format that is currently used in the LEAP training sessions works best for them.
-- 2000 = 43%
-- 2003 = 51%
* LEAP participants that said that farm tours would be a better-suited workshop format:
-- 2000 = 43%
-- 2003 = 32%
* The remainder of LEAP participants would like to see a combination of both the class room method and the farm tour format conducted in the LEAP training sessions.
* On a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being not valuable and 5 being very valuable, the skills learned from a LEAP training session achieved.
-- 2000 = 3.71 (valuable) rating mean.
-- 2003 = 61.4% (valuable to very valuable rating: 4 being valuable and 5 being very
valuable).