Understanding and Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agriculture and Forestry: Livestock

In collaboration with Cornell University, please join us to learn more on how greenhouse gases (GHG) can be reduced on farms in regards to livestock and feed management planning.

The Role of Models in Farm Systems Management for GHG Mitigation

Kristan Foster Reed, Assistant Professor of Dairy Cattle Nutrition & Management, Cornell University

Dairy farms are complex systems with the main sources of GHG emissions coming from enteric methane, manure management, and feed production. However, opportunities exist to mitigate emissions from each of these sources and due to the nature of the dairy farm system, a single management decision can mitigate multiple emission sources. Models are tools that help us understand the downstream impacts of management practices and quantify emissions and other environmental impacts. I will review some existing dairy farm system models and introduce the Ruminant Farm Systems model currently under development.

Feed Management Implementation From a PA NRCS Perspective- Moving from Water Quality to GHG Mitigation

Dan Ludwig, State Resource Conservationist, Pennsylvania NRCS

During this presentation, participants will learn about what comprises a feed management plan as well as the concepts on how a feed management plan allows producers to make improvements to water and air quality on their farm as well as it’s potential to improve income over feed costs. This presentation will share results of ration manipulation on select farms in Pennsylvania as well as the potential interaction of ration adjustments to mitigate GHGs. The presentation will also discussion financial assistant options through NRCS programs and how nutritionists can become qualified plan writers or Technical Service Providers (TSP).