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The Greener Cattle Initiative, created by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, is an international consortium studying various technologies to mitigate enteric methane emissions. Opening its second request for research proposals, the Greener Cattle Initiative is offering a maximum request of up to $5 million for proposed projects surrounding scalable technologies that reduce enteric methane emissions and benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has released its ninth U.S. Dairy Sustainability Report, addressing the progress, strategy, and partnerships achieved across three pillars; Advance Well-being, Regenerate the Environment, and Care for Animals and Communities. This report showcases elements of the three pillars such as U.S. dairy’s 2050 environmental goals, the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment, the U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative (NZI), and the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program.

Dr. Alex Hristov’s research group at the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences found that the use of botanical extracts, such as chili pepper (capsicum oleoresin) and clove oil, have the ability to reduce both the yield and intensity of enteric methane. The study showed a combined supplementation of capsicum oleoresin and clove oil resulted in a more efficient feed energy use, resulting in an enteric methane reduction of 11%.

Livestock supply chains produce greenhouse gases (GHGs) in various ways, namely through digestive processes, manure management, feed production, and energy consumption. Athian, the world’s first voluntary livestock carbon insetting marketplace, verifies, certifies, and sells carbon credits within the dairy value chain. Incentivizing farmers for their GHG reductions transforms the food chain, advancing Scope 3 emission reduction goals.

Panel participants at the 2024 Dairy Strong Conference discussed consumers’ attention towards the carbon footprint associated with the production of dairy products, starting with the producer. This attention is driving dairy supply chain stakeholders to focus on helping dairy farms become more sustainable.

Dairy farmer, Greg Bethard, shares how he defines sustainability in a panel discussion at the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Dairy Forum. Shedding light on areas of economics, cow care, community, stewardship, and more, Greg emphasizes the varying meaning of sustainability between every entity.

BC Organics, a biorefinery located just outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin, offers dairy producers solutions in nutrient management that are both economically feasible and sustainable. Nearly 900,000 gallons of manure is collected daily from about 30,000 cows and is managed in the facility’s 16 anaerobic digesters. Manure is processed into dried fiber bedding, clean water, and renewable gas, of which taps directly into a nearby interstate pipeline.

Since its commercial debut in 2008, genomic testing in dairy cattle has helped dairy producers make informed breeding decisions. Not only has the science of genomics allowed farmers to produce more milk, butterfat, and protein, but also use less resources while doing so.

Spruce Haven farm, located in Union Springs, New York, is looking at a circular approach to sustainability, as it will become the state’s first commercial dairy to run separated solids from digested dairy manure through a biochar kiln. When added to soil, biochar has the potential to retain nutrients, reduce manure storage costs, sequester carbon, and reduce odors, providing both environmental and economic benefits to the farm.

With goals to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is building a culture of sustainability by supporting its farmers’ current stewardship practices and encouraging the adoption of innovative practices. The use of a multi-faceted approach in TCCA’s climate action plan for their facilities and fleet, on-farm practices, and packaging has played a key role in their sustainability efforts.