The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this week announced its selection for a national 2018 Government Experience Award for its Electronic Manure Management Plan (eMMP) project, which allows farmers to submit manure management plans online. The project is recognized by the Center for Digital Government in the Government-to-Business Experience category, one of six categories recognizing how governments are working to improve interactions with citizens.
In the past, about 7,000 Iowa farmers had to fill out paper forms, drive miles to get them signed, leave a copy of the manure management plan at the county courthouse, and then submit the signed forms to DNR. “Our goal was to cut the time and effort it takes for farmers to submit annual plans, while maintaining the information we need,” said Bill Ehm, head of DNR’s environmental division. “Now instead of days, they can use their smartphone to file the plan and pay fees online in minutes. That’s a tremendous savings for all involved.”
Learn more about the eMMP here, or see the project featured in the ECOS 2018 State Innovation Award Waste & Emergency Response category nominee video starting at the six minute 30 second mark.
