What is OFAER?
On-Farm Assessment & Environmental Review (OFAER) Program

Had a check-up lately? While an annual physical check-up is a good idea for everybody, an On-Farm Assessment and Environmental Review (OFAER) is also prudent for Ohio's livestock, dairy and poultry farms.

The goals of the pro-active program are to promote environmental stewardship, minimize livestock impact on watersheds, improve the public's perception of livestock production and move agriculture, particularly animal production agriculture, toward self-regulation.

"Participating in the program provided us with the confidence that we had not overlooked an environmental problem on the farm," said Tony Bornhorst, who along with his brother, Ted, owns, operates and manages a hog farm near Fort Loramie (Shelby County), Ohio, and recently had consultants from OFAER assess their operation. "Going through the OFAER program raised our awareness that we were doing things right in our operation."

Like a comprehensive physical exam, OFAER provides a critical overview of beef, dairy, poultry and pork farms' overall site management, livestock housing and feeding systems, manure management, nutrient management, livestock mortality management and non-regulatory assessment of the livestock production site. The resulting confidential verbal and written report identifies strengths, challenges and recommendations for use in the livestock, dairy or poultry operation as the farmer chooses.

OFAER was developed in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), extension specialists, private agriculture consultants, livestock producers, and commodity organizations. On a national basis, the program is administered by America's Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) a national non-profit organization that received federal funding for the program. Environmental Management Solutions (EMS) of Des Moines, Iowa, handles scheduling of on-farm assessments and oversees the operation of the program. The OLC coordinates the program in Ohio and works in cooperation with ACWF and EMS to make sure farmers who wish to participate in the program properly complete the producer checklist prior to scheduling the on-farm assessment and review.

EMS has trained a variety of agricultural professionals as assessors, with many of them being extension agents, NRCS or soil and water conservation district (SWCD) professionals, private ag or environmental consultants, or agricultural, mechanical or civil engineers. During an on-farm assessment, a team of two assessors with different backgrounds work together to evaluate environmental risks such as surface-water pollution, groundwater contamination, odor or pests.

All sizes of farms are eligible to participate in the OFAER program, and it is open to beef, dairy, poultry, turkey and pork operations. Data from the program indicates that environmental challenges are similar in type no matter what the size of the operation and that well-managed operations of any size can be environmentally successful. When risk areas are identified, producers find that by addressing such areas several valuable benefits occur - a reduction in potential liability exposure, an enhancement in community acceptance, and a savings in operating costs and expenses.

An on-farm assessment and review is the logical next step for producers who have already conducted a self-analysis and evaluation of their operation by participating in the Livestock Environmental Assurance Program (LEAP) and want to make sure they have not overlooked any problems.

Unlike a visit to the physician's office, the OFAER program is of no cost to the producer. Also, when risk areas are identified on farms, most of these risks can be addressed by developing and implementing best management practices (BMPs). Specifically, more than 90 percent of the risks identified have been addressed by BMPs. Structural changes were needed to address only nine percent of the identified risks. And, cost-share funding for such practices and structures may be available from the USDA/NRCS or the local SWCD office.

To initiate an on-farm assessment, please contact the OLC at skuhn@ofbf.org or (614) 246-8288.

How to initiate an OFAER assessment

1. Producer requests assessment by contacting the OLC office (614.246.8288 or skuhn@ofbf.org). OLC office will send producer Form A. Pork producers -- you may also contact the Ohio Pork Producers
Council at (614) 882-5887 to participate in OFAER.

2. Producer provides basic information about livestock, dairy, or poultry farm by completing Form A and returning it to the OLC office.

3. OLC reviews Form A to ensure that all requested information is provided.

4. Form A is forwarded to the EMS office.

5. A two-person assessment team is assigned.

6. The assessment is scheduled.

7. The on-farm assessment takes place

8. Follow-up by producer and EMS.

What information is requested on Form A?

1. Basic description and information about farm.

2. Maps -- county plat/land ownership, aerial photo, site layout

3. Disclosure statement

4. Biosecurity protocol

5. Site and manure management information

6. Land application area information