assessing the greenhouse gas balance of farming and ranching practices with comet-farm - easter
TRANSCRIPT
Assessing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture –
An Introduction to COMET-FarmTM
and COMET-PlannerTM
M. Easter1, M. Stermer1, K. Paustian1, K. Brown1, A. Chambers2, M. Eve3
and the COMET Team
1Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University2USDA NRCS Air Quality Team
3USD Office of the Chief Scientist
Outline
• What are the COMET-FarmTM and COMET-PlannerTM Tools?
• Conservation Scenario Analysis
• COMET Tool Examples
• Upcoming New Features, Training & Outreach
COMET-FarmTM & COMET-PlannerTM
Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases
Source: U.S. EPA
Total U.S. Emissions in 2013: 6,673 million metric tonnes CO2 equivalents
COMET-FarmTM & COMET-PlannerTM
Greenhouse Gases and Agriculture
The COMET Tools Provide a
Systems Approach to
GHG Inventories and
Conservation Scenario Analysis
Nearly Every Land Mgmt Decision Producers MakeAffects Greenhouse Gas Emissions or Carbon Sequestration
CroplandGrazing Land
LivestockAgroforestry
COMET-FarmTM & COMET-PlannerTM
Incentives for GHG Mitigation in Agriculture
• California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32) provides financial incentives for GHG reductions
• Voluntary Markets (Soil and Biomass Carbon Sequestration, Nitrous Oxide Reductions)
• Conservation practices have shared co-benefits for greenhouse gas mitigation, air quality, water quality
Implements the peer-reviewed, USDA-sanctioned entity-level inventory methods.
• Soil-related GHG emissions: “Blue Book” Methods Document
• Livestock-related GHG emissions: “Blue Book” Methods Document
• Energy-related GHG emissions: USDA/NRCS Energy Tool, EPA Emission Factors
COMET-FarmTM
Calculation Methods
EquationFactors,
USDA Methods,IPCC
COMET-FarmTM
How it works
Historic Rotations
NRI, Cropping Practices Survey,
CSRA
Climate & SoilNARR
&SSURGO
Web Interface
CSU Server
Empirical Models
Outputs
Results
SpecificLocation
SpecificActivities
EquationFactors,
USDA Methods,IPCC
COMET-PlannerTM
How it works
Historic Rotations
NRI, Cropping Practices Survey,
CSRA
Climate & SoilNARR
&SSURGO
Web Interface
CSU Server
Empirical Models
Outputs
Average Mitigation Effect
GeneralizedRegion
ConservationPractices
COMET-FarmTM & COMET-PlannerTM
Conservation Scenario Analysis
Cropland Baseline Scenario
(Business as Usual)
TillageReduction
ImprovedFertilizer
Management
Add Cover Crops
} CompareBenefits on the SameBalance Sheet
COMET-FarmTM
COMET-PlannerTM
Business as UsualConservation
PracticePracticeBenefit=
COMET-PlannerTM
How to Use the Tool
1. Enter Location 2. Select NRCS Conservation Practice
3. Enter area to generate results
Completed Scenario
ResultsDetails
COMET-FarmTM
Current Status / Upcoming Improvements
To be added:• Drought Mitigation• Pasture/Rangeland• Perennial & Specialty Crops• Conservation Templates
COMET-FarmTM
Training and Outreach
• Tutorials and Demonstration Scenarios
• Weekly Online Training and Help Sessions
• YouTube Videos• Help Desk
COMET-Farm Team
www.comet-farm.com www.comet-planner.com
USDA-NRCSAdam Chambers (Portland)Greg Johnson (Portland)
USDA-ARSSteve DelGrosso
Colorado State University
USDA-OCSMarlen Eve (DC)
Keith Paustian (Team Leader)Shawn ArchibequeAllison BrownKevin BrownMark EasterRam GurungMelannie HartmanAdriane HuberBen JohnkeKen KillianStephen Ogle
Bill PartonGeoff PietzMatt StermerBen SuttonAmy SwanCrystal ToureeneSobha VelayudhanSteve WilliamsJustin Ziegler
USDA-OCECarolyn Olson (DC)Marci Baranski (DC)
COMET-FarmTM & COMET-PlannerTM
Greenhouse Gas Source Categories
Greenhouse Gas Source Category Net Effect
Soil Carbon Emission orSequestration
Biomass Carbon Emission orSequestration
Manure/Compost Additions Emission or Sequestration
Synthetic N Fertilization Emission
Livestock – Enteric Methane and Manure Management
Emission
Crop Residue/Biomass Burning Emission
Rice Methane Emission
Liming Emission
Evaluated as a Whole in
COMET-FarmTM
Evaluated Individually in
COMET-PlannerTM