Management Practices to Reduce Agricultural Emissions: A Workshop for Professionals

Management Practices to Reduce Agricultural Emissions: A Workshop for Professionals

Summary

Agriculture greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) include nitrous oxide (68%) from soil management activities, methane from enteric fermentation (25%), manure management (8%), and carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use, totaling 6.1% of U.S. GHG emissions (1). These emissions contribute to overall climate change and reduction may help slow the impact change will inevitably have on agriculture (2,3). Agriculture has the potential to immediately reduce individual farm emissions and to sequester more carbon that will help offset the emissions of others. Focus on GHG reduction by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may result in the regulation of agricultural emissions (4). Regardless of regulation, reduction in emissions and increase in carbon sequestration ultimately will increase agricultural sustainability, while improving the environment. Agricultural professionals need to increase their knowledge of emissions reduction management practices and the benefits of implementation so they can provide pertinent assistance to farmers.

Collaborators are developing guidelines for management practices that reduce agricultural GHG emissions, increase carbon sequestration and are practical for Maine farms. For instance, a change in feed can reduce methane emissions from cattle, a change in fertilizer application can reduce nitrous oxide emissions (and reduce operating costs) and conservation tillage can increase carbon sequestration and reduce operating costs (5). Though the group is focusing on practices that will work on Maine farms, most will be applicable to other New England states with similar farms, practices and climate.

Two workshops/webinars will be held. The first will provide training in the use of the completed guidelines, practices that reduce emissions, resource availability and assessment of the farm to best serve the farmer. The second will provide updates, assess and verify success of the program and determine the need for improvements. Tools provided will include materials developed by the collaborators, including a “whole farm” assessment tool, and current information, such as fact sheets published by the SARE funded project “Climate Change and Agriculture: Promoting Practical and Profitable Responses”. The training and tools will facilitate dissemination of information to the farmer and an initial “whole farm” assessment, targeting and prioritizing practices that have the potential to yield the most benefit.

The project leadership includes representatives of two Resource Conservation and Development Areas, Maine Departments of Environmental Protection, Department of Agriculture, and Forest Service, Maine Association of Conservation Districts, Maine Rural Partners, Maine Farm Bureau, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District, AVSWCD, agribusiness and farmers.

35 professionals, representing Cooperative Extension, Conservation Districts, Agribusiness, State and Federal agencies, and others will participate, increasing their knowledge of practices that reduce agricultural emissions and/or increase carbon sequestration. Of the participants, 30 will provide information to 1500 farmers, 15 will provide direct assistance and an initial “whole farm” GHG emissions assessment to at least one farmer each within the grant period and extend services beyond the end of the grant. 25 will provide new information to their peers and to 1000 farmers, as it becomes available, continuing outreach beyond the initial grant period.

Objectives/Performance Targets

35 professionals, representing Cooperative Extension, Conservation Districts, Agribusiness, State and Federal agencies, and others, will increase their knowledge of practices that reduce agricultural emissions and/or increase carbon sequestration. Of these participants, 30 will provide information to 1500 farmers through websites, newsletters and meetings. 15 will provide direct assistance and an initial whole farm GHG emissions to at least one farmer each, resulting in 7 farms implementing at least one change that will reduce emissions and/or increase carbon sequestration.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Development of the first draft of the agricultural emissions reduction program ” Earth Smart” was completed by collaborators in the spring of 2012 and the first training workshop for agricultural professionals was held in June, 2012 with thirty in attendance, five less than the goal. Professionals attending included representatives of Cooperative Extension, Conservation Districts, agricultural businesses, State and Federal agencies,Universities, student interns, farmers, and non-profits. Announcement of the workshop was distributed to professional organizations, published on websites, in newsletters and in papers, reaching at least 200 professionals. CEU’s for Nutrient Management certification and Certified Crop Advisors were made available for those who needed them, adding more value to the workshop. A notebook of program materials and other documents was provided to participants. A workshop evaluation form was included and addressed all of the learning milestones associated with each agenda item, however less than half were returned making it difficult to completely evaluate the program. Milestones were related to agenda topics, with some modification from the draft agenda to the final version. The following represents the opinions of the thirteen attendees that returned the evaluations.

1. Agenda Topic: An overview of agricultural GHG emissions, causes, effects, potential reduction solutions and national interest.
Milestone: 35 workshop participants will gain a basic understanding of the issues and and/or increase their knowledge of agricultural GHG emissions, the reasons why emissions reductions are necessary, the on-farm reduction potential and the co-benefits associated with implementation.
Accomplishment: 11 indicated that they gained a better understanding of the topic, 2 did not indicate if they had or had not gained knowledge.

2. Agenda Topic: Update on New England Farmers Union “Buy Local Carbon” project and their work to establish a regional New England offset market.
Milestone: 35 workshop participants will learn about current related projects of collaborators, why the projects were initiated, how they were implemented and the results of implementation. Participants will connect the dots between collaborator projects and agricultural GHG emissions reductions.
Accomplishment: 10 gained in knowledge, 1 said it was not applicable, 3 indicated they did not have a better understanding of the issue. This is a new program in a research/pilot stage and we will ask that a new update on activities and further explanation be given at the second workshop.

3. Agenda Topic: Update on T-AGG work, mitigation potential of various practices in the US, the regional availability of research and data on these practices and an overview of the developing carbon offsets protocols and program and practice based approaches.
Milestone: 35 workshop participants will increase their knowledge of current regulation, events and issues related to supply chain activities and agricultural GHG emissions reductions. They will increase their understanding of the reasons why it is necessary to provide assistance to farmers to help them navigate their markets.
Accomplishment: 11 indicated they had gained a better understanding of the topic. This topic is wide reaching, complicated and changing fairly rapidly. This too will require a brief update on new developments at the second workshop.

4. Agenda Topic: Overview of ecosystem services.
Milestone: 35 workshop participants will gain an understanding of available pertinent and current resources, services and programs as related to agricultural GHG emissions reductions.
Accomplishment: This topic was inadvertently omitted from the evaluation form, however the presenter did a fine job and there were no comments relating to it in the comment section of the evaluation form. Updated materials will be available at the second workshop as programs may change with adoption of the new farm bill.

5. Agenda Topic: The economics and co-benefits of agricultural management practices that reduce GHG emissions.
Milestone: 35 workshop participants will increase their knowledge of agricultural management practices that can be used to reduce agricultural GHG emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and the current pertinent research associated with practices.
Accomplishment: 10 indicated they had a better understanding of the topic as a result of the presentation. 2 said they did not and 1 “not so much”.

6. Agenda Topic: Best Management Practices for Maine farms, expected effects on sustainability, co-benefits, estimated cost of implementation of priority practices and estimated emissions reductions, potential transferability to other states.
Milestone: 35 workshop participants will learn about and/or increase their knowledge of agricultural best management practices that will reduce GHG emissions most effectively on Maine and New England farms. Knowledge gained will include estimated cost of implementation of practices, effects on economic sustainability, co-benefits such as increased wildlife habitat, reduction potential of priority practices, transferability to other states.
Accomplishment: 10 indicated they gained an increased understanding in all topics, 1 was mixed and 2 had to leave during the presentation, thus had no opinion.

7. Agenda Topic: A separate agenda topic addressing this milestone was not included but it was covered as part of the general discussion in other presentations (Topic 2 and 5 above)
Milestone: 35 workshop participants will learn about related activities and consider applicability of Maine practices to other New England states.
Accomplishment: See topics 2 and 5.

8. Agenda Topic: Overview of quantification methods that relate to modules. The presentation was shortened considerably due to time constraints after discussion of best management practices was extended.
Milestone: 35 workshop participants will gain enough basic understanding of GHG emissions quantification methods and applicability to practices to make recommendations to farmers when warranted.
Accomplishment: As expected, 2 indicated that they needed more time with this, one did not increase understanding, 1 left early, 2 did not answer and 6 indicated they increased their understanding. More time will be devoted to this topic in the next workshop.

9. Agenda Topic: Training in use of developed modules and assessment tool. Hands on group activity and case studies, discussion.
Milestone: 35 workshop participants will gain a basic understanding of the program guidelines and protocols, and how to use the assessment/survey tool. They will learn how to do “whole farm” preliminary assessments, and increase their ability to provide requested services to farmers and to make recommendations for prioritization of best management practices.
Accomplishment: 8 indicated they gained a basic understanding, 1 did not, 3 did not evaluate. Additional training will be given at the second workshop, emphasizing group activity and discussion.

10. Agenda Topic: Discussion of future commitment need, explanation of tracking, evaluations.
Milestone: 35 workshop participants will understand the expectations, tracking and commitment needed.
Accomplishment: The majority of those remaining indicated they gained understanding of commitment and tracking needs. This has been reinforced via emails.

Overall , the workshop was judged to be excellent by 2 attendees, above average by 10 and average by 1. Comments were favorable with suggestions for more in-depth discussion of topics that can be addressed in the second workshop. As a result of the discussion that ensued at this workshop, comments were taken into account, changes were made to the program modules and additional program materials were developed. The edited versions and revised instructions were sent to all participants as were new materials.

The program has been slow to start, in part because the decision was made to hold off on assessments until after the growing and harvest season to ease stress on farmers and in part because document revision and new additions took longer than expected to develop. Lesson learned-don’t delay.

Performance milestones include:

1. 200 agricultural professionals receive workshop announcement.
Accomplishment: Workshop announcement was sent to professional organizations, state agencies, cooperative extension, non-profits etc. and was published in newspapers.

2. 35 attend workshops, increase their knowledge of practices that reduce GHG emissions, learn how to do a “whole farm” preliminary assessment and increase their ability to provide requested services to farmers.
Accomplishment: 30 attended the first workshop, increasing their knowledge and ability to provide service.

3. 30 will provide initial information about the program, best management practices and benefits to at least 1500 farmers via direct contact, newsletters, websites and agricultural venues.
Accomplishment: Not yet completed. The goal of 1500 farmers will be reached.

4. 15 opt to provide additional services and assistance to at least one farmer upon request, including doing or assisting with, the preliminary “whole farm” assessment, leading to on farm implementation of management practices to reduce emissions and/or increase carbon sequestration.
Accomplishment: Not yet completed.

5. 25 will track contacts, activities, results and chart progress, providing information to the Project Leader.
Accomplishment: Not completed.

6. 35 will attend the second session and will participate in discussion of their local and regional activities and successes, make recommendations for improvements to the program and tools, learn about new pertinent information and best management practices, provide tracking information and map future activities to extend beyond the end of the grant.
Accomplishment: Not completed.

7. 15 will continue to provide direct assistance to farmers who wish to reduce emissions, increase sequestration and implement new management practices that will help maintain or increase farm sustainability.
Accomplishment: Not completed.

8. 25 will continue to increase their ability to provide accurate information and enhanced services to their clients, by actively keeping updated as new information on best management practices as it becomes available, providing that new information to their peers and 1000 farmers.
Accomplishment: Not completed.

• Beneficiary Form

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Collaborators: