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Dairy Management Inc.’s (DMI) Bridgett Hilshey and Reza Afshar discuss the latest sustainability research work that is accelerating progress towards the U.S. dairy industry’s 2050 environmental stewardship goals of achieving greenhouse gas (GHG) neutrality, improving water quality, and optimizing water use while maximizing recycling.

As of 2020, U.S. milk had a farm-level carbon intensity of 1.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilogram of milk. To achieve industry greenhouse gas (GHG) neutrality goals by 2050, it is imperative for dairy farmers to understand their farm’s carbon intensity. Using farm data encompassing herd size and livestock types, milk production, feed rations, manure management, energy use, and transportation in GHG estimation tools can guide farmers in identifying practice or technology implementations that best align with their operation.

Katie Cook, Elanco’s vice president of livestock sustainability and farm animal marketing, highlights the benefits and initial steps for farmers in adopting Bovaer, a newly Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved feed ingredient designed to reduce methane emissions. By suppressing the methane-producing enzyme in the rumen, Bovaer decreases enteric methane emissions by approximately 30% per cow per year. This feed ingredient not only improves the environmental footprint of dairy farms but also introduces an additional revenue stream for farmers through carbon crediting.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) recently announced $10.2 million in grant funding, awarded through the Conservation Partners Program, to help farmers implement voluntary conservation and regenerative agriculture practices across 14 states. These climate-smart practices are aimed to build soil health, sequester carbon, and improve water quality in an economically viable way.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville is participating in a six-year multistate study to evaluate the impact of various field management practices on soil health, water quality, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and farm productivity. On-site researcher, Dennis Busch, explains the preliminary results the research team has seen thus far on water infiltration rates, nutrient loading, surface water quality, and runoff events between commonly used field practices and soil health management systems.

On May 28th, Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced that Bovaer® (3-NOP) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This signifies that the methane-reducing feed ingredient is deemed both safe and effective for application in lactating dairy cattle. Bovaer® has the potential to reduce enteric methane emissions about 30% per lactating dairy cow per day. The product launch is expected in the third quarter of 2024 and will enable farmers to generate carbon credits by using Bovaer®, which they can then sell in a carbon marketplace. This provides a scalable financial incentive, rewarding farmers for their sustainability efforts and creating a new revenue stream.

Dr. Frank Mitloehner, a professor at the University of California-Davis, discusses diverse strategies to reduce dairy cattle methane emissions. He emphasizes the importance for dairy farms to have access to a range of resources within the methane mitigation toolbox, including manure technologies like anaerobic digestion, feed ingredients, genetics, and additional methods.

Quail Ridge Dairy, located in Fort Morgan, Colorado, produces more than just milk on its 4,500-cow dairy; it also generates renewable energy. The farm utilizes an anaerobic digester system to convert waste from their thousands of cows into renewable energy, in turn reducing methane emissions from manure. This renewable energy serves as both an additional revenue stream to the farm if sold and a potential means of decreasing energy expenses when used on-farm.

As public concern for environmental stewardship rises, industries like dairy are under increasing pressure to demonstrate transparency and action. The U.S. dairy sector, a pioneer in environmental reporting, is embarking on updated life cycle assessments to align with evolving global standards, reaffirming its commitment to sustainability and accountability.

The 2024 report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2022,” highlights agriculture’s near 2% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2021 to 2022, marking the largest decrease amongst all economic sectors. By leveraging various sustainability initiatives, innovative technologies, expert technical assistance, and advancements in soil, crop, and animal management practices, agriculture is steadily progressing towards its sustainability objectives.