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

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: Planning for a second workshop has been completed. Workshop topics will build on the knowledge gained in the first. The first presentation will be “The Maine Experience”, an overview from Maine’s Climate Future to the present including broad natural resource area effects, with a touch on adaptation specifics and tradeoffs in the adaptation toolkit.

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: The second workshop will also include information about collaborators current related projects. For instance: Dr. Allison Morrill Chatrchyan, Cornell University, Institute for Climate Change and Agriculture will speak about their programs and the development of a network for climate change and agriculture for the Northeast among other topics.

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: This will not be addressed as a separate topic in the second workshop, however pertinent information will be provided if available.

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: As mentioned above, speakers will address their current programs and services.

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: Topics presented in the second workshop will build on the first. This workshop will focus on adaptation and mitigation practices as they relate to program specifics. One presentation will be on “Weed Communities and Weed Management in a Changing Climate” particularly pertinent to organic farmers. Another presentation will be on the “Soil Management and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in High-Value Production Systems”and a third will be “Farm Practices to Protect Soil and Water Resources in a Changing Climate”.

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: See above. This workshop will not address cost and/or co-benefits as separate topics, however more than likely it will be included as part of certain presentations and if not, questions can be asked at the end of the presentations if there is interest.

 Milestone: 35 workshop participants will learn about related activities and consider applicability of Maine practices to other New England states.

Accomplishment: Speakers represent Cornell University, Tufts University and University of Maine. There has been interest in learning about what opportunities there will be for future collaboration, so this workshop should address that well.

 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: There most likely will not be time to include this topic separately, however the basic information will be provided via hand-outs and if there are questions they will be addressed. If time does permit, Comet Farm, a relatively easy free on-line quantification program that can be used to estimate reduction of emissions when management practices are changed among other things will be demonstrated.

 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: This was covered in the first workshop. A panel consisting of program participants, including those who have conducted assessments and farmers who have had them will reinforce understanding. Discussion of what they are seeing, how they are adapting to climate change, what tools they need to succeed, suggested program changes, what works and what doesn’tmay lead to program changes and better understanding of what is needed for the program to succeed.

 Milestone: 35 workshop participants will understand the expectations, tracking and commitment needed.

Accomplishment: On-going program expectations, tracking and commitment may change as a result of the second workshop. Response to tracking requests has not been good and we hope to be able to obtain the data needed at the second workshop by including time for participants to respond to the questions then. Lack of response may indicate either lack of time or lack of interest. For instance, I know that there are participants who have posted information on their websites and have done other activities, yet they did not respond to requests for information for whatever reason. Hopefully they will document their activities before the end of the tracking period.

Performance Target and Milestones

Performance milestones met include:

200 agricultural professionals receive workshop announcement.

Accomplishment: The second workshop announcement has been sent to professional organizations, state agencies, cooperative extension, non-profits etc. and will be published in newspapers, again reaching the goal of 200 professionals.

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. The second workshop is scheduled for February 24, 2014.

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 target number of farmers will be reached, however the target of 30 active professionals will not be reached.

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-The target of 15 professionals was overly optimistic given it was based on volunteer efforts and no compensation was awarded, thus we do not expect to hit that goal. Six professionals have or are providing some form of service and or assistance so far. Though there are fewer participants than hoped for, they represent six Maine counties and assessments represent target farms, including small vegetable/market farms, dairy and blueberry.   There may also be one large potato farm who opts in, but that has not yet been confirmed. Assessments will continue until the end of the grant period and hopefully beyond.

25 will track contacts, activities, results and chart progress, providing information to the Project Leader.

Accomplishment: Not completed-We will not reach the goal of 25.

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. We had 30 attend the first workshop and do not expect more than that for the second. One possible outcome will be the incorporation of the program into a Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry umbrella certification program. A meeting to discuss this will be held after the first of the year. If this does indeed happen, it will be a very good for the extended life of the program and expected outcome.

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, though it is expected that increased regional interest in GHG emissions reduction and climate change adaptation will lead to continued assistance.

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, however it is expected that this workshop will provide an update and increase their ability to provide information.

• Beneficiary Form
• 2014 Workshop Agenda

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Not complete.

Collaborators: