News

Jacqi Coleman and Bridgett Hilshey of Dairy Management Inc.’s environmental sustainability team, made an appearance on the Farm Food Facts podcast where they highlighted focal points in the dairy sustainability space. Coleman mentioned she is keeping an eye on water use efficiency and economic barriers to implementation while Hilshey touched on her interest in supporting farms in fine tuning their agronomic practices and efficiencies through credible data.

Fertilizing the soil requires a strategic approach – maximizing the use of nutrients in manure in an economically viable way, while protecting natural resources. To implement a comprehensive application plan and balance the nutrient needs of the crop, it is essential to understand the nutrient value of the manure, crop characteristics, sensitive field features, and soil fertility.

The U.S. dairy industry has built its foundation for sustainable advancements through the power of voluntary action. Pre-competitive leadership upheld by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has sparked the initiative for shared values and collective action towards environmental stewardship, animal care, and nutrition security. Industry participation, motivated by ownership rather than obligation, is driving real progress to place the industry years ahead of other value chains.

Researchers at the University of Idaho are studying ways for farmers to earn profits by capturing valuable nutrients and byproducts from manure and wastewater and converting them into bioproducts. Data from the resulting products of biochar, hydrochar, bioplastics, and clean water and their use on-farm have the potential promote a closed-loop system within the dairy industry.

U.S. dairy farmers are working to improve the sustainability of their operations through collaborative work with industry organizations and the implementation of innovative technologies. Although sustainability efforts may look different for every farm, the goal is continuously the same – to provide a high-quality nutritious product while improving environmental stewardship in an economically viable way to support communities for generations to come.

Dairy farms come in all shapes and sizes, as do sustainable solutions. Technologies and practices suited for reducing the environmental footprint of dairy farms are not a one-size-fits-all answer. In fact, a multitude of technologies working together in tandem, are often a best fit for an operation. Alfalawn Dairy cultivates sustainable practices across various sectors of their farm including manure and bedding management, cow comfort and welfare, and operational efficiencies.

Athian is partnering with the National Milk Producers Federation and California Dairies Inc. to develop a “carbon intensity” protocol that would be supported by the FARM Environmental Stewardship (ES) program. The protocol, aligning with FARM ES methodology, will define, quantify, and verify production efficiencies and practice adoption that contribute to a reduced environmental footprint on-farm. This collaboration incentivizes producers for their sustainable practices, while helping food companies reduce their Scope 3 emissions.

Dr. Antonio Faciola, Associate Professor of Ruminant Nutrition at the University of Florida, is researching a new way to reduce methane emissions in cattle through an innovative fat supplement. Using in-lab ruminant simulation, the fat supplement derived from flaxseed and protected by a pea protein matrix, was found to reduce 20% of enteric methane emissions when fed at a 5% supplementation.

Nutrient content in manure can change depending on how it is stored, mixed, and applied, making it difficult for farmers to know the amount of nutrients their crops are receiving. A manure sensor technology, developed by John Deere, uses near-infrared spectroscopy to sensor manure nitrogen as it is being applied and instantly adjusts the tractor’s speed or the flow rate of manure to apply the correct amount of nitrogen to meet crop needs. This adjustment can prevent overapplication, resulting in reduced input costs and lowered risk for nutrient leaching and runoff.

Dairy farmers have practiced the meaning of sustainability for centuries, and today are striving to meet the industry’s 2050 environmental stewardship goals. Dedicated to their land, legacy, and consumers, dairy producers are not only finding new ways to reduce their environmental footprint, but are more open about their efforts in meeting a balance of environmental stewardship, economic viability, and social responsibility when implementing sustainable practices and technologies.