The Panel Discussion on Climate Change during the 2021 NEAFA Annual Meeting and Forum
By Rick Zimmerman, NEAFA Executive Director
Climate change and animal agriculture’s potential role to address it was a popular topic at the 2021 NEAFA Annual Meeting and Forum. Held at the Turning Stone Resort and Golf Club, this was the first face to face meeting for NEAFA members in a year and a half. The session proved to provide an important opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing animal agriculture in the context of climate change. Moderated by Cornell professors Tom Overton and Larry Chase, panelist members Mike Van Amburgh, Ph.D., Jamie Jonker, Ph.D. and Curt Gooch P.E., addressed the various aspects of climate change policy that could impact U.S. animal agriculture. The panel also took on the task of looking forward to potential outcomes and opportunities for the industry from climate change initiatives.
Jonker and Gooch both delivered strong arguments supporting the important role that the dairy industry can play in reducing methane emissions and providing a carbon sink for the agriculture industry. Specifically, through the leadership provided by the National Milk Producers’ Net Zero Initiative, the dairy industry can be an “environmental solution” by becoming carbon neutral or better. The dairy industry can potentially remove more carbon from the atmosphere that what it contributes with currently available technology. Jonker observed globally that the sustainability landscape continues to intensify through public policy commitments by countries and states, as well as through dairy customer expectations and dairy company leaders competing in the marketplace. Furthermore, investors are looking to decarbonize their portfolios, thereby influencing long term industry decisions.
Curt Gooch complimented Jamie Jonker’s argument with specific data driven evidence that dairy farmers can significantly contribute to net carbon reduction primarily through biofuel’s role in a renewable fuel portfolio. “On farm anaerobic digesters are a key to linking agriculture, the community, and the industry towards a sustainable future,” stated Gooch. “Renewable natural gas (RNG) and electricity can be significant renewable fuels and destroy methane at the same time.” Gooch further stated that farm-based anaerobic digestion not only contributes to renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction, but also benefits dairy farmers and their community with odor control, pathogen reduction, water quality protection, and fertilizer for crops.
Mike Van Amburgh focused on the enteric emissions side of the cow. He is optimistic towards feed rations that could significantly reduce methane emitted through belching, a significant component of the dairy industry’s contribution to greenhouse gases. Enteric methane can contribute to more than 50% of a dairy farm’s total GHG emissions, according to a sustainable dairy fact sheet from the University of Wisconsin. “Finding the diet solution to reducing enteric emissions is a noble cause,” stated Van Amburgh. “However, unless public policy establishes an economic incentive for dairy farmers to invest in feed additives that reduce emissions, there is little economic justification for changing the diet, and significant potential risk from unintended consequences from the diet change. Farmers do not want to negatively impact milk production or cow health as a result of pursuing enteric emissions reduction.” Van Amburgh further indicated that additional feeding trials are needed to get a better grasp on the impacts from feed additives that promote enteric emissions reductions.
The policy debate on climate change will continue at the federal and state government levels. The agriculture industry needs to be at the table for these conversations with good science-based proposals that contribute to the solution and maximizes agriculture’s opportunities at the same time.