NE1544: Dairy Production systems: C,N, and P management for production, profitability and the environment.
(Multistate Research Project)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
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1) The need, as indicated by stakeholders.
The dairy industry has defined a sustainable industry as one that can adopt new practices and management approaches that: address the uncertainty of climate change, efficiencies of water and energy use, with an emphasis on nutrient management, and profitability.
At each of our individual stations, representative stakeholders are supportive of the objectives of this project as assessed by formal stakeholder meetings, field days and education events, and presentation of research results at industry meetings.
Objective 1) Reduce GHG emissions and transport of nutrients, pathogens, pharmaceuticals, and VOCs from livestock production systems. This will include management of feed, manure collection, manure storage, and manure application
Objective 2) Characterize the opportunities for selecting dairy cows for feed efficiency and adaptability to different production systems.
Objective 3) Develop science-based tools and educational materials to promote environmental stewardship on US dairy industries.
2) The importance of the work, and what the consequences are if it is not done.
There is increasing evidence and concern that excessive nutrient use and gaseous emissions from agriculture contributes to water and air quality impairment at local, regional, and global scales. The public is demanding accountability of animal agriculture.
Environmental and climate related information is in high demand in the dairy sector, and the dairy industry depends on this public investment in research as a key source of information for a sustainable dairy industry. Producers need to control or reduce leaching of nutrients to ground water, runoff of nutrients in surface water, release of hazardous compounds to the atmosphere and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. If additional research is not forthcoming, the dairy industry will be at greater risk of negatively impacting the environment, greater financial risk, and at increased jeopardy of environmental lawsuits.
3) The technical feasibility of the research
This project has a 30+ year history of research productivity and cooperation based on sustained grant funding. Three tenets of this proposal (production, profitability, and the environment) are win-win-win as a result of the systems research approach. Evidence of research productivity is demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications, decision aid tools (e.g. IFSM, FMNP$.net), webcasts, field days, and web content. All research sites are well equipped (e.g. laboratories, land, animals and dairy facilities) to conduct the necessary studies.
4) The advantages for doing the work as a multistate effort.
The diversity of production systems for major dairy regions in the US are represented by location of the participants of this project. This creates a unique opportunity to address regional issues but also address challenges that are of strategic importance on a national basis. The scope of this work requires a multi-state approach because the needed technical expertise is not present at any one location and because livestock production systems vary so much across the country. In addition, the most pressing environmental problems differ by region. The investigators participating in this project represent various disciplines with a broad range of knowledge and skills from field research to modeling, and all regions of the country. Coordinated efforts through this project will advance our understanding of these issues and identify strategies and management practices to mitigate environmental problems while maintaining farm profitability. The products and tools developed by this project will be used by a wide range of audiences including service and supply dealers, producers, nutrient management planners, policy makers, and extension and university educators.
5) What the likely impacts will be from successfully completing the work.
Through our outreach methods (peer-reviewed publications, decision aid tools (e.g. IFSM, FMNP$.net), webcasts, field days, and web content) we will disseminate the outcomes of the project to producers, agri-professionals, researchers, and policy makers.
Adoption of these practices will lead to enhanced economic and environmental sustainability of the US dairy industry. We anticipate 20-30% increase in feed use efficiency and similar reductions in nutrient loss and GHG emissions. Greater resilience to climate change will be realized through enhanced animal genetics, and adoption of management strategies that conserve nutrient, energy, and water resources.
The dairy industry has defined a sustainable industry as one that can adopt new practices and management approaches that: address the uncertainty of climate change, efficiencies of water and energy use, with an emphasis on nutrient management, and profitability.
At each of our individual stations, representative stakeholders are supportive of the objectives of this project as assessed by formal stakeholder meetings, field days and education events, and presentation of research results at industry meetings.
Objective 1) Reduce GHG emissions and transport of nutrients, pathogens, pharmaceuticals, and VOCs from livestock production systems. This will include management of feed, manure collection, manure storage, and manure application
Objective 2) Characterize the opportunities for selecting dairy cows for feed efficiency and adaptability to different production systems.
Objective 3) Develop science-based tools and educational materials to promote environmental stewardship on US dairy industries.
2) The importance of the work, and what the consequences are if it is not done.
There is increasing evidence and concern that excessive nutrient use and gaseous emissions from agriculture contributes to water and air quality impairment at local, regional, and global scales. The public is demanding accountability of animal agriculture.
Environmental and climate related information is in high demand in the dairy sector, and the dairy industry depends on this public investment in research as a key source of information for a sustainable dairy industry. Producers need to control or reduce leaching of nutrients to ground water, runoff of nutrients in surface water, release of hazardous compounds to the atmosphere and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. If additional research is not forthcoming, the dairy industry will be at greater risk of negatively impacting the environment, greater financial risk, and at increased jeopardy of environmental lawsuits.
3) The technical feasibility of the research
This project has a 30+ year history of research productivity and cooperation based on sustained grant funding. Three tenets of this proposal (production, profitability, and the environment) are win-win-win as a result of the systems research approach. Evidence of research productivity is demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications, decision aid tools (e.g. IFSM, FMNP$.net), webcasts, field days, and web content. All research sites are well equipped (e.g. laboratories, land, animals and dairy facilities) to conduct the necessary studies.
4) The advantages for doing the work as a multistate effort.
The diversity of production systems for major dairy regions in the US are represented by location of the participants of this project. This creates a unique opportunity to address regional issues but also address challenges that are of strategic importance on a national basis. The scope of this work requires a multi-state approach because the needed technical expertise is not present at any one location and because livestock production systems vary so much across the country. In addition, the most pressing environmental problems differ by region. The investigators participating in this project represent various disciplines with a broad range of knowledge and skills from field research to modeling, and all regions of the country. Coordinated efforts through this project will advance our understanding of these issues and identify strategies and management practices to mitigate environmental problems while maintaining farm profitability. The products and tools developed by this project will be used by a wide range of audiences including service and supply dealers, producers, nutrient management planners, policy makers, and extension and university educators.
5) What the likely impacts will be from successfully completing the work.
Through our outreach methods (peer-reviewed publications, decision aid tools (e.g. IFSM, FMNP$.net), webcasts, field days, and web content) we will disseminate the outcomes of the project to producers, agri-professionals, researchers, and policy makers.
Adoption of these practices will lead to enhanced economic and environmental sustainability of the US dairy industry. We anticipate 20-30% increase in feed use efficiency and similar reductions in nutrient loss and GHG emissions. Greater resilience to climate change will be realized through enhanced animal genetics, and adoption of management strategies that conserve nutrient, energy, and water resources.
Measurements of impacts will be assessed by enhanced feed efficiency (kg milk/kg feed, and rate of gain) reduced GHG, reduced N losses (air and water), reduced P losses (water), while enhancing C sequestration in soils.