An environmental sustainability parameter was developed for dairy, hog and poultry producers in the lower Fraser River Valley in British Columbia. The parameter rates the farm waste management practices relative to a selected sample of area farms which were identified as being operated at various levels of sustainability; consequently, the method can be adapted to any farming area. Information regarding the waste management practices was obtained through questionnaires and a site visit to each farm. Farm operations which complied with the B.C. Code of Agricultural Practice for Waste Management or the individual commodity group Environmental Guidelines were considered to be operating in an environmentally sustainable manner. The farming operations considered in developing the parameter were manure storage and handling, in addition to waste from yard, silage, milk parlour and wood-wastes. The environmental sustainability parameter makes it possible to identify areas of waste management which should be addressed by the producer, as well as the comparison of a particular farm with other farms in the area. The environmental sustainability parameters for more than 200 farms in two drainage basins were compared to a water quality index developed from over 45 sets of water quality measurements. A positive correlation was found between the two.
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