How does the CSBP measure performance against the standard?
There are two basic approaches to evaluating the environmental performance of an agricultural or forest operation with respect to specific resource concerns: performance metrics or evaluation of practices implemented. Performance metrics provide participants a clear understanding about the relative success of resource treatments in place on an operation. In some cases, performance metrics may be expensive to test, or it may be difficult to establish a causal relationship between the resource that is being measured and the actions taking place on an operation. In these situations, the level of treatment of a resource concern can be evaluated by looking at the management practices that are in place. In many cases, state and federal agencies, universities and other organizations have identified management practices that have been proven effective in achieving environmental performance. CSBP will use performance metrics in the standard when they can economically and feasibly be adopted in
