For more: http://www.extension.org/67689 Quantifying the long term environmental impacts of dairy and beef production is complex due to the many interactions among the physical and biological components of farms that affect the amount and type of emissions that occur. Emissions are influenced by climate and soil characteristics as well as internal management practices. Software models are needed to perform an integrated and comprehensive assessment of all important environmental and economic effects of farm management and mitigation strategies.
Software For Evaluating the Environmental Impact of Dairy and Beef Production Systems
1. Software for Evaluating the
Environmental Impact of Dairy
and Beef Production Systems
USDA, Agricultural Research Service
University Park, Pennsylvania
C. Alan Rotz
3. Production costs continue to increase more
rapidly than the value of farm produce
This is forcing our farms to become more
efficient and often larger
Larger farms tend to exacerbate
environmental concerns
7. Process-level simulation provides
an effective tool
Relatively rapid, inexpensive,
and comprehensive evaluations
Supported with field
data, provides the best
assessment possible
8. Life Cycle Assessment: an environmental
accounting program
Process-based model: a simulation of the
production system
Combined simulation and LCA:
Simulation is used to provide the
parameters for the LCA
9. Integrated Farm Systems
Model, IFSM
Dairy Greenhouse Gas
Model, DairyGHG
Dairy Gas Emissions
Model, DairyGEM
11. Process-Level Farm Simulation
Soil
Establish
Crop Harvest
Storage
AnimalManure
Grazing
Volatile loss
Exported manure
Purchased feed,
bedding, etc.
Feed sold
Volatile loss
Fixed
nutrients
Volatile loss
Purchased
fertilizer
Runoff &
Leaching loss
Milk and
animals
Engine exhaust
12. Crop yields and quality
Feeds produced
Feeds bought and sold
Milk or meat produced
Manure produced
Labor, fuel and equipment use
13. Annual production costs (crop
production, harvest, storage, feeding,
etc.)
Annual income from milk, animals, and
feed sold
Net return or profitability
14. Ammonia emission
Hydrogen sulfide emission
Denitrification N loss
Leached N and N concentration in groundwater
Erosion, soluble and sediment P runoff losses
Greenhouse gas emissions
N, P, K and C balance
16. Feed Production
Animal Production
Manure Handling
Resource inputs
Fuel
Electricity
Fertilizer
Pesticide
Plastic
Machinery
Off-farm heifers
Purchased feed
Imported manure
Milk sold
Animals sold
Feed sold
Exported manure
Direct Sinks and Sources
Fixed CO2 CO2 N2O CH4 CO2 CH4 CO2 N2O
Farm
Pre-chain Sources
CO2 CH4 N2O
Emissions
allocated to
other farm
products
(Cradle-to-farm gate)
17. A research tool for evaluating and comparing
the economic and environmental
sustainability of crop, dairy and beef
production systems
An educational tool for individual, workshop
and classroom evaluation of production
systems
Limited value as a decision
support tool
18. Dairy Gas Emission Model
Soil
Establish
Crop Harvest
Storage
AnimalManure
Grazing
Volatile loss
Exported manure
Purchased feed,
bedding, etc.
Feed sold
Volatile loss
Fixed
nutrients
Volatile loss
Purchased
fertilizer
Runoff &
Leaching loss
Milk and
animals
Engine exhaust
19. A simpler tool with fewer inputs and more
graphical output
Primarily developed as an educational aid
for individual, workshop and classroom
evaluation of dairy production systems
Can be used as a decision
support tool, but caution
is advised
23. Herd of 1100 cows plus 925 replacement heifers
producing 26,000 lb of milk (3.5% fat) per cow
2500 acres of shallow loam soil (840 acres
alfalfa, 1200 acres corn, 200 acres wheat, 120 acre
soybean, and 150 acres grass)
Manure handling includes anaerobic
digestion, liquid/solid separation, rapid
incorporation, export of 12% of manure solids
Simulated for 25 years of Syracuse, NY weather
24. Slurry storage, surface application, and no-till
crop establishment with no manure incorporation
Liquid/solid separation, recycling of solids for
bedding, open storage, rapid incorporation of
stored liquid following surface application, export
of 12% of manure solids
Same as 2, except manure storage is enclosed and
a flare is used to burn the biogas produced
Same as 2, except an anaerobic digester is used
prior to separation and storage
35. The Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM)
provides a research tool for evaluating the
environmental impacts and economics of farming
systems
The Dairy Gas Emissions Model (DairyGEM)
provides an educational aid for studying the
effects of farm management and mitigation
strategies on air emissions and related footprints
36. USDA
Pasture Systems and Watershed
Management Research Unit
University Park, Pennsylvania
Agricultural Research Service