What: A partnership agreement aimed at protecting California's natural resources by helping dairy producers better manage their manure will be signed by representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the University of California and several state agencies. The agreement, accompanied by a $443,740 EPA grant, supports university-coordinated educational workshops for dairy producers, creation of environmental farm-management plans and on-site evaluations of dairy facilities. When: Thursday, Sept. 9 o 11 a.m. -- Partnership agreement signing. o Noon -- Lunch for 50 attendees representing state and federal agencies, farm and environmental organizations, and the university. o 1 p.m. -- Tour of the UC Davis dairy. Where: Dairy Cattle Facility, Dairy Road, UC Davis Visuals: Ceremonial signing, tour of UC Davis' 100-cow working dairy. Background: California, the nation's leading dairy state, is home to 2,400 dairies with a total of roughly 1.3 million cows. Each year those dairy cows produce nearly 30 million tons of manure, which if not handled properly, has the potential to contaminate the state's water supplies and promote bacterial and viral human diseases. Deanne Meyer, a UC Davis Cooperative Extension livestock waste-management specialist, created an environmental stewardship program to help dairy producers develop efficient and economical manure-management plans. More than 500 California dairy producers have completed the three-class workshop that Meyer has offered with UC Cooperative Extension dairy farm advisors throughout the state. Directions: From Interstate 80, take Highway 113 north toward Woodland. Exit at the first opportunity onto Hutchison Drive. Take Hutchison right (east) toward campus. Go through the stop light at La Rue Road and turn right at the next intersection onto Dairy Road. Almost immediately, turn right into the UC Davis Dairy Facility parking lot. To park free, place a business card marked "MEDIA" on the dashboard of your vehicle.