| As many of you get ready to head out to do field work this spring, I want to offer some things to think about in your spare moments. |
| My journey starting in 2021 after leaving a nutrient management position with PRO-DAIRY to work on the topic of dairy greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) has been eye-opening. I have had the opportunity to see first-hand, in detail, how dairy farm systems work in all the major dairy producing areas across the USA. I have had conversations with people who work in many parts of the dairy value chain – producers, processors, cooperatives, consumer package goods companies, researchers, and environmental organizations. |
| One thing is clear: tremendous pressure is on the dairy value chain to reduce the environmental impacts of dairy farming, especially greenhouse gas emissions, but also water and air quality.
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| Not only are we being asked to reduce our environmental footprint, but we are also asked to improve soil health and increase biodiversity. Ideas such as nature-based solutions and regenerative agriculture are being promoted. This pressure is not going to go away, and it will affect how we farm. A lot of work is needed to improve our ability to assess greenhouse gas emissions on dairy farms and things will improve over time. We cannot wait for everything to be perfectly clear to get started. |
| New York and the Northeast have tremendous advantages. Our cool, moist climate is good for cows and for producing high-quality forage. Natural rainfall means we do not need to rely on unsustainable or fragile water resources to support crop production, and even when we do irrigate, we can use naturally replenished water. The things that all of you do every day, year after year, help to reduce the dairy environmental footprint – breeding better cows and finding new ways to feed and care for them all mean more milk per cow, increasing crop yields, and improving nutrient management. All of these practices combined mean lower GHG emissions per gallon of milk and they reduce other impacts too. |
| If you have not already, in the coming months, or certainly within the next year or two, your dairy will likely be approached by cooperative or other milk market representatives to begin to assess your operation for greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, and water use. It may be tempting to dismiss these efforts. I hope many of you will take on the challenge.
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| Significant cost-sharing opportunities are available to support practices for any dairy – soil health, riparian buffers, feed management, cover and flare, and other GHG reducing practices. Focusing on soil health offers GHG benefits and will help your fields be more resilient when heavy storms or hot dry conditions are experienced. Work with your trusted advisors to see what practices at the farmstead and in the fields can fit your operational goals and needs, then make contact with county Soil and Water Conservation District staff to develop a grant. It is not too early to start planning for next year’s grant cycle. Some dairy organizations have received grant funding, contact your team to see what may be available. |
| Additionally, colleagues at the Nutrient Management Spear Program at Cornell offer a whole farm mass balance and greenhouse gas footprint program that helps farms improve efficiency and see what their GHG footprint looks like. Participation can help point you to potential next steps. Contact Olivia Godber (ofg6@cornell.edu) or Quirine Ketterings (qmk2@cornell.edu) for more information. |
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