DAIRY FARM GHG 101 In 2012, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy completed a series of studies to improve its environmental performance. These studies determined that more than one-half of the GHG emissions from the fluid milk supply chain came from the production of milk (see Figure 1). Another 20 percent of emissions came from the production of animal feed supply for the dairy herd. A similar result was found in the cheese and whey supply chain, with 46.5 percent of GHG emissions coming from milk production and 22.4 percent from feed production. 1 Using peer-reviewed scientific data, several organizations have since developed calculators to quantify the GHG emissions associated with dairies. The two leading tools are the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Environmental Stewardship (ES) program developed by the National Milk Producers Federation 2 and the Cool Farm Tool developed by Unilever and maintained by the Cool Farm Alliance. 3
Both tools classify GHG emissions from dairies in the following four categories: 1. Feed and forage production: Approximately 20 percent of the GHG emissions on dairy farms comes from feed and forage production. The tools quantify these and identify opportunities for improving feed efficiency and productivity. Emissions related to tillage, planting, harvest, grain drying, and nutrient application, based on regional production practices, are calculated. 2. Manure: The storage and treatment of manure accounts for approximately 45 percent of the GHG emissions of dairy farms that handle wet manure. The tools quantify the emissions associated with the collection, transport, storage, treatment, and application of manure across the farm. The tools also calculate the impact of interventions and technologies that reduce emissions from manure management, including separation of solids, composting, and conversion from flush to scrape. 3. Enteric methane: Another third of GHG emissions from dairies comes from the generation of methane (CH4) from enteric fermentation. The tools account for the stage of production and ration makeup (including any grazing impact) to enteric fermentation. The most recent version of the Cool Farm Tool allows dairies to calculate the reduction in GHG emissions from the use of feed additives that can reduce CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation. 4. Energy: This is the smallest category of emissions, at less than five percent of the total. Both tools quantify GHG emissions from both electricity and fossil fuels used in dairy operations, such as electricity use for chillers and diesel use in tractors. The tools also calculate the reduction in emissions from the use of renewable energy, as some dairies are installing solar panels on their barns or property.
FIGURE 1
4.9% Consumer 6.5% Retail 7.7% Transport/Distribution
3.5% Packaging 5.7% Processing
51.5% Milk Production
20.3% Feed Production
3
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