On Farm Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in New York State

1. On Farm Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in New York State Jenifer Wightman T. Wise, S. Vergara, A. Buttel, J. Gaunt, J. Duxbury, Cornell University With the Agricultural Ecosystems Program Team

2. New York State alone, contributes nearly 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. US EPA, Energy CO2 inventories

3. LandUse in NY 1992 Forest - 62% Agriculture - 26% Residential - 6%

4. NY Dairy Economics Milk is the leading agricultural product in the state 12 billion poundsof milk was produced in 2003 Milk value of $1.56 billion in cash receipts. New York is the nations 3rd leading milk producer. http://www.nass.usda.gov/ny/

5. GOALS Assess Energy Inputs for the Dairy System Evaluate Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the NY Dairy Industry Identify Strategies for Agriculture to Mitigate Emissions

6. AEP Team ENERGY Analysis Of NY Dairy Herd

7. AEP Team GHG Analysis of NY Dairy Herd

8. In Summary:

9. Farm GWP By Farm GWP By By Source Greenhouse Gas % % Cow + Manure 61 CH453 Feed production 35N2O 22 Mechanical 9 CO2 25 75 Methane and Nitrous Oxide contribute 75% of total farm Global Warming Potential (GWP)

10. Some Perspective: NY Dairy contributes 2.6% of NY Total Emissions US average agriculture 8 % waste 4 % industry 31% Pataki greenhouse gas report

11. ON FARM MITIGATION STRATEGIES 1) Corn growers can optimize nitrogen application to reduce: 1) costs 2) nitrogen leaching 3) energy inputs 4) nitrous oxide emissions A 30% reduction in N application equals ~0.16% of total NY state emissions 2) Dairies can investigate manure biogas to capture methane A 50% reduction of CH4 from manure equals ~0.25% of total NY State emissions 3) Dairies can optimize feed to further reduce enteric methane

12. Question: Can Agriculture Find Economic Opportunity in Climate Change Mitigation? Can agriculture reduce total GHG’s by movinginto the energy sector and producing renewable bio-fuels?

13. Opportunities for Agriculture to Mitigate Climate Change: Replacing Fossil Fuels with Renewable, Carbon Neutral BIOFUELS Agriculture for food, feed, fiber and FUEL

14. Management of underutilized land for fossil fuel displacement million net fuel net GHG %NY total acres MBTU/ac displacement MMTCO2e CRP land 0.2 Other Cropland 0.5 Total (ReedCG) 0.7 55 2.38 0.97% Woodland 1.6 12 1.41 0.58%

15. FARM OPTION FOR GHG MITIGATION 30% reduction in N application 0.16% 50% capture of manure Methane 0.25% ¾ cord/ac cull wood on farm woodlands 0.58% Reed Canary grown on CRP and ‘other’ ag land 0.97% Mitigation Potential (for 2000 NY total) 1.96%

16. At the end of the day, we are all consumers. Conservation and efficiency are key

17. Summary: Dairy in NY state • NY state contributes 1% of global GHG emissions • NY state provides 12 billion pounds of milk to society with a value of $1.56 billion • NY dairy contributes 6.5 MMTCO2e • NY agriculture contributes ~2% of NY GHG emissions

18. Summary: Mitigation Options • Optimize nitrogen use • Optimize animal feeding • Investigate manure biogas • Farming for carbon neutral, renewable energy • Efficiency of use • Conservation

19. Acknowledgements: • John Duxbury • John Gaunt • Tracy Wise • Alison Buttel • Sintana Vergara • AEP project team members • CSREES for funding of CU Ag. Ecosystems Program Contacts: • Norm Scott (manure biogas) • Jerry Cherney (grass biofuels) • Harold Van Es (Nitrogen management) • Peter Smallidge (forest management) • Larry Chase (animal diet) • John Duxbury (AEP project) • Peter Woodbury (GIS Land analysis)