By Geetika Joshi, CDFA Senior Environmental Scientist, in the Journal of Nutrient Management

Farmers and ranchers in California know that their Golden State is more than palm trees and beaches. It is the largest dairy producing state in the nation, and based on 2017 data, California housed 1.7 million cows and produced 39.8 billion pounds of milk on 1,331 dairies.

The overwhelming majority of our dairy cows — 91% — live in the Central Valley, while the remaining 9% reside in the northern coast and southern regions. These areas vary significantly in climate, water, and air quality, all of which play a role in on-farm animal and manure management methods. The cooler climates up north are well-suited to pasture-based operations, while larger feedlot-style, flush-based systems prevail in the Central Valley.

The methane challenge

California’s large number of cows contribute methane emissions, which result from the action of methanogenic bacteria that thrive in the cows’ guts. Methane from livestock comes from two main sources: enteric fermentation, such as cow belching, and storage of manure in anaerobic (wet) conditions, such as ponds and lagoons.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG), and its emissions are responsible for about 20% of the global warming now driving climate change. In California, agriculture accounts for 8% of the total inventoried GHGs, and about 53%of that is from animal agriculture. Enteric fermentation contributes to 28% of our agricultural methane emissions, while 25% stems from manure storage.

State legislation passed in 2016, SB 1383, requires California’s dairy and livestock sector to reduce its methane emissions to 40% below 2013 levels by 2030. The statute requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB), in consultation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), to potentially adopt regulations beginning in 2024 to reduce methane from dairy and livestock manure management operations. SB 1383 also requires CARB to work with a broad range of stakeholders to identify and address challenges and barriers to the development of dairy methane emissions reduction projects.

While reducing enteric fermentation methane emissions remains a challenge that needs additional research and development, methods of manure management are well-researched and commercially available. One such method is establishment of anaerobic digesters to capture the methane produced from stored manure, which can then be used to generate renewable energy. There are also several nondigester technologies and practices that focus on eliminating wet storage conditions of manure to realize methane emissions reduction.

Funding for projects

California currently offers voluntary financial incentives for implementing measurable methane reductions at dairy and livestock operations. These incentives are provided through two CDFA-administered programs: the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP) and the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). These programs are funded through California Climate Investments, also known as the Cap-and-Trade program.

DDRDP was first developed and implemented in 2014-15 with an initial appropriation of $12 million. In its first year, the program funded six dairy digester projects in the Central Valley, where the captured methane was used to make renewable electricity. DDRDP to date has awarded approximately $181.6 million to implement 107 projects located on individual dairies throughout California. These projects generate renewable compressed natural gas (RCNG) fuel in addition to renewable electricity-generating projects. Thirteen dairy digester projects are now complete, and the remainder are in various phases of completion.

Funded dairy digester projects are located across seven counties in the Central Valley, and collectively they reduce approximately 2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MMTCO2e) annually, which equates to 420,000 cars being taken off the road each year.

AMMP was first developed and implemented in 2016-17 in response to stakeholder interest in non-digester management practices. The need for large amounts of digester feedstock, a 50% financial match, proximity to natural gas pipelines, and ease of connection to existing electric grids are some of the key factors attributed to successful digester projects. Subsequently, smaller or more remotely located dairy operations needed a menu of additional options to participate in California’s methane reduction efforts.

AMMP incentivizes nondigester-based manure management practices. This includes conversion from water flush systems to dry scrape systems; solid separation followed by drying or composting of manure solids; compost-bedded pack barns; and increasing the amount of time animals spend on pasture.

AMMP has funded 106 projects totaling $61.9 million. Of these, 28 projects are complete, and the remainder are in various phases of completion. Funded projects are located across 12 counties and collectively reduce approximately 200,000 metric tons of CO2e annually. This is equivalent to more than 42,000 cars being taken off the road each year.

In 2019, CDFA also funded three demonstration projects, totaling almost $2 million. The aim of these projects is to showcase new and innovative manure technologies as well as conduct outreach and educate dairy farmers.

Opportunities exist

With expectations for Cap-and-Trade funding to continue, California is poised to meet its target within the next decade for early and measurable methane reductions. In addition, many co-benefits exist that dairy producers can expect with a digester or alternative manure management practices. For example, digesters can provide an important revenue stream from the sale of renewable energy, which also contributes to climate change adaptation. Similar benefits may also be provided through production of compost.

Methods such as anaerobic digestion and drying of manure solids can potentially help reduce impacts to water quality, since these projects transform manure into a stabilized, easier-to-handle form. The resulting dried manure compost can be moved and used as a soil amendment benefiting plant and soil health.

Most importantly, these voluntary initiatives provide California’s dairy families with the tools and capacity to engage in climate change efforts. Dairy agriculture is an important economic and food contributor, and it is also playing a key role in California’s efforts to lead the nation in practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

For more information on CDFA’s Dairy and Livestock Methane Reduction Programs, visit: DDRDP and AMMP. Follow us on Twitter: @CDFAClimateNews.

Link to article on the Journal of Nutrient Management web site

California Small Farm Conference

CDFA is pleased to be part of this year’s 32^nd annual California Small Farm Conference that runs from Thursday, February 27 through Saturday, February 29 at Cuesta College North County Campus, 2800 Buena Vista Dr, Paso Robles, CA, located in San Luis Obispo County.

This year’s conference theme is “Strength Through Diversity”, honoring the resilience of diversity in agricultural systems. The conference attracts family farmers, ranchers, farmers market managers and advocates for local food from across the state.

The keynote presentation on Friday will feature CDFA’s Farmer Equity Advisor Thea Rittenhouse. CDFA staff will be available at exhibition booths – look for information about CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation, the Certified Farmers’ Market Program, the California State Organic Program, the Produce Safety Program, the Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), the Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division, and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.

More information and tickets can be found at www.casmallfarmconference.org

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Black Farmer Conference with Urban Farmers

CDFA is also pleased to be part of the one-day statewide Black Farmer and Urban Farmer Conference that will take place on Saturday, February 29 from 7:30 am – 3:00 pm at the West Fresno Family Resource Center, housed in the Maxie Parks Community Center, 1802 E. California, Fresno, CA.

CDFA Farmer Equity Advisor Thea Rittenhouse will be at this conference, as well, and there will be representatives providing information about the Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation, the California State Organic Program, the Produce Safety Program, the Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), the CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Division, the Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division, and the Animal Health Branch.

For more information and registration, visit: wfresnofrc.org/BlackFarmersConference

Note – Food deserts are urban areas where people find it difficult to find affordable, nutritious food.

CDFA’s Healthy Stores Refrigeration Grant Program has made funding available to organizations and markets looking to bring fresh, nutritious foods to low-income or low-food-access areas throughout the state. The grants are used for refrigeration units stocking California-grown fresh produce, nuts and minimally processed foods.

One such project was introduced yesterday at Rivera Mart in Sacramento’s Del Paso Heights neighborhood. The market’s owner, Joseph Zaki, said he pursued the grant through the Public Health Institute Center for Wellness and Nutrition after customers began asking him to stock fresh produce.

The program was created by legislation introduced by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), and it has awarded a total of $4.5 million to 67 grantees.

During the ceremony in Del Paso Heights one local customer yelled, “Thanks, Joe!” and the crowd erupted in applause.

Groundwater sustainability plans that have been submitted to the state are now online at the DWR SGMA Portal.

Plans are open to public comment for 75 days after they were posted online. Below is a table of the submitted plans, the counties they cover and details about the public comment period for that plan.

Information about how to comment on a plan can be found in a new fact sheet in English and Spanish. Public comments are welcomed and encouraged – a SGMA Portal account is not necessary.

Two members of CDFA’s Information Technology staff were honored this month at the 2020 Public Section CIO Academy Awards ceremony in Sacramento. In the category of IT Leadership, the CDFA awardees were:

Marc Grijalva – Customer Delivery Unit Manager

Marc Grijalva has made substantial improvements in the delivery of projects within CDFA. He’s established, implemented, monitored and improved the project management process. He established a quality control program with quality assurance for continual improvements to existing practices. He applied a similar approach to the Enterprise Test Office. The testing processes, procedures, and standards he implemented have significantly reduced defects. While there are organizational change issues that remain to be remediated, Marc’s management and leadership is making very clear progress in this area.

Sherri Winfree Budgets, Business Operations and IT Contracts Manager

Sherri Winfree recently acquired responsibility for IT Asset Management, a critical and challenging function due to the high number of field staff at CDFA and the frequent movement of IT assets. Sherri implemented a top-down review of how asset management was performed and identified gaps. With her team, she restructured the processes to be consistent with LEAN processes. Her leadership has led to significant improvements.

Congratulations to Marc and Sherri!

New research published in the Journal of Dairy Science finds the climate footprint of milk production in California has been significantly reduced over the past 50 years (1964 to 2014). The amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced per unit of milk was reduced by more than 45 percent. Scientists at the University of California, Davis conducted a life cycle environmental assessment (cradle to farm gate) of California dairy farm production, using the latest scientific models and international research standards.

“The study documents the productivity, efficiency, and overall sustainability of milk production in California and the critical role dairy cows play in regenerative agricultural practices and sustainable food systems,” said Dr. Ermias Kebreab, Professor at UC Davis and Sesnon Endowed Chair, who led graduate student Anna Naranjo in completing the research project.

The study’s key findings are as follows:

• The amount of greenhouse gas emissions per each unit of milk (e.g. glass or gallon) produced has decreased more than 45 percent, due to increased milk production efficiency, including improved reproductive efficiency, nutrition, comfort, and overall management.
  
  
• The amount of water used per unit of milk produced has decreased more than 88 percent, primarily due to improved feed crop production and water use efficiency.
  
  
• Dramatically improved feed crop production and utilization of agricultural byproducts have led to significant reductions in the amount of natural resources used to produce each unit of milk, including, land, water, fossil fuels, and energy.  

“The study shows we are producing milk more efficiently and sustainably, minimizing our climate footprint in the process,” said Richard Wagner, a San Joaquin Valley dairy farmer and chairman of the California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF). “While there is always more work to be done, the findings show a significant overall improvement in environmental performance, producing more wholesome, nutritious milk and dairy products with fewer natural resources, less water, less energy, and fewer fossil fuels.”

Over the past 50 years, California dairy production has undergone significant advancements, from animal feeding and housing practices to overall animal and crop production efficiency. The researchers expect that as milk production per cow continues to increase through improved feed formulations, reproductive efficiency, and management techniques, it will lead to further improvements in dairy farming’s environmental footprint.  

As the study documents, more than 40 percent of dairy feed ingredients in California are byproducts of other agricultural and food production processes, such as almond hulls, citrus and tomato pulp, culled carrots and other similar products that are not suited for human consumption but make healthy, nutritious feed for cattle. As a result, nearly half of the feed needed to produce California milk—which represents about 20 percent of all U.S. milk—is being provided without a single drop of additional water. Dairy cows are efficient recyclers, making use of food and agricultural byproducts that are either indigestible or undesirable for humans and avoiding the need to landfill or otherwise dispose of these materials.  

“Cows are natural bioprocessors and upcyclers of nutrients,” said Dr. Kevin Comerford, Chief Science Officer for CDRF. “As a result, cows will continue to play essential roles in healthy and sustainable food systems all over the world. This study demonstrates the environmental benefits in California, where dairy farmers have been especially successful in recycling and repurposing resources.”

While the analysis demonstrates significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions intensity (more than 45 percent), these estimates can be considered conservative, and more progress toward climate-smart practices continues to be made. The research does not factor in the implementation of large solar panel arrays, which has occurred on more than 150 dairy farms in California and represents a significant shift toward renewable energy. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has also reported that through the implementation of dairy methane reduction projects, California’s dairy farms will soon be more than halfway to achieving the state’s world-leading target (a 40 percent reduction in manure methane emissions), equating to millions of metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions each year. 

“California dairy farms have made major improvements in environmental performance over the past 50 years,” said Denise Mullinax, Executive Director of CDRF. “We know our farms are continually increasing their overall efficiency. This study advances our understanding of the environmental benefits and verifies that farmers are on a path toward continued improvement.”

This research was supported by California Dairy Research Foundation and the Sesnon Endowment fund of University of California, Davis.

Link to news release

By Karen Ross, Secretary
California Department of Food and Agriculture

As I walked the (enormous) grounds of the World Ag Expo in Tulare earlier this week, I was impressed by how well this event truly shows how big – and yet how intricately connected – agriculture is.

It is a SYSTEM that starts with farmers and ranchers and employees, and then it extends into so many other titles and job descriptions and varieties of expertise before that raw agricultural commodity gets to its ultimate consumer and satisfies its purpose.

Visiting the exhibits and booths at the expo, I was reminded of the full range of vendors and partners and suppliers and value-adders out there, working every day with our farmers and ranchers on so many facets and functions of agriculture. Bankers and managers. Students and teachers. Scientists and engineers. Processors and entrepreneurs.

Even with all of this help, the modern farmer has to know a lot about a lot of things. They are planters, and waterers, and harvesters. They are investors and borrowers and employers. They are fence-fixers and on-the-spot inventors of tools. They are self-taught recyclers and reducers and reusers. Mathematicians and prognosticators of weather.

Put simply, they are wearers of hats – many hats. They do what the day requires.

And all of you who call “agriculture” – job, whether you work on a farm or not, are also consumers; that may be easy for folks to overlook, but the farmers and ranchers and everyone who works with them are all eaters and wearers and users of the crops and commodities that they produce, just like the rest of us. They appreciate a good meal – and a good deal – just as much as the next person.

There was a lot to take in at the World Ag Expo this week, from shiny tractors and futuristic innovations to feed, fertilizer and everything in between. But most of all, there were farmers and there were ranchers, and there were thousands of people who share the calling that is “agriculture.”

So this Valentine is for all of you. Every job you do and every title you hold contributes to the food we eat and the clothes we wear and the futures we build every day. And to the special occasions – the meals we eat with loved ones, and even the flowers we send on Valentine’s Day.

You remembered, right? Because a farmer grew those for you.

Happy Valentine’s Day.