While milk might have a higher greenhouse gas score than other beverages such as orange juice or soy drink, it brings with it a much denser package of nutrients. And when that fact is considered, milk provides the most nutrition with the least environmental impact.
USDA has announced the opening of the application period for proposals to conduct feasibility studies on prospective renewable energy systems, including anaerobic digesters, under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
Nutrition is the key to milk production, and forage quality is the key to good nutrition. We use two main forage sources, triticale haylage and corn silage.
Dairy producers in California's Central Valley who have identified deficiencies in their nutrient management infrastructure or need other improvements can apply for funds to address those issues under the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP).
EPA and USDA's enhanced collaboration will provide up to $3.9 million over the next five years to help the farms overcome obstacles preventing them from recovering and using biogas.
The most recent agriculture census counted more than 20,000 farms and ranches that were producing renewable energy via solar panels, wind turbines and methane digesters. This spring's survey will further explore how this energy is generated and used.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's announcement today that $2 million will be made available to dairy, beef, poultry and swine producers to help cut energy-related production costs
In New Mexico, where groundwater is the major source of water for humans as well as farms, the state's dairy industry has been negotiating with the Environment Department to determine the specifics of new water-quality regulations.
Washington State's Snohomish River just downstream from French Slough is once again meeting state water quality standards for fecal coliform and dissolved oxygen, according to Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) testing. French Slough was directly impacted by a large manure spill last week and continues to show evidence of water quality problems.
Federal water supplies to agricultural producers in California's lower San Joaquin Valley have been increased to 30%, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced Thursday.
A Cargill-built and -operated anaerobic digester on the Bettencourt Dairy B6 Farm in Jerome, Idaho, is converting manure from the farm's 6,000 cows into 1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a month.
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.'s (DFA) board of directors and management are taking a series of proactive steps to emphasize its commitment to proper treatment of animals.
The dairy industry was addressing global warming long before that was cool. We're producing 59% more milk with 64% fewer cows than in 1944. We use 77% less feed, 65% less water, 90% less land, produce 76% less manure and have a 63% smaller carbon footprint per gallon of milk produced than we did 66 years ago.
I attended the Sustainability Summit for U.S. Dairy in June 2008, put on by Dairy Management Inc. The topic was reducing the carbon footprint of the U.S. dairy industry.
Carbon emissions and going green definitely seem to be tied to everything these days and dairy farms are in the thick of the debate. Agriculture as a whole has always been at the forefront of efficiency and maximizing productivity to survive. The economic challenges of this past year have put any and all inefficiencies and wasteful practices under a microscope.
Today's technology has greatly improved our ability to decrease our carbon footprint. As stewards of the land, farmers care more for the environment than anyone else in the world. We make our living off of the land; why wouldn't we take care of it?
Forage quality also contributes to an operation's carbon footprint. We put significant research into selecting hybrids that give us good tonnage as well as high digestibility. If we can maximize forage digestibility, the cows will more efficiently turn nutrients into milk.
The 60-day public comment period for the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on Roundup Ready (RR) alfalfa ends on Feb. 16. Even so, there's still some uncertainty about when USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will finally give the go-ahead to put the genetically engineered crop back on the market.
Bonus content: Comments Draft EIS To submit comments The 60-day public comment period for the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on Roundup Ready (RR) alfalfa ends on Feb. 16. Even so, there's still some uncertainty about when USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will finally give the go-ahead to put the genetically engineered crop back on the market.
Do neighbors grumble about your farming practices when you're out of earshot? Those who had a chance to anonymously register their complaints recently in a New York State survey didn't—much.
