The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) asked USDA to reconsider a proposed regulation on “climate-smart agriculture” (CSA) crops used as biofuel feedstocks because it fails to consider manure’s role in providing a renewable source of crop nutrient and reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs), the organization said in Capital Update on Monday. Current scientific literature shows that replacing some amount of commercial fertilizers with manure maintains annual crop yields, increases soil organic carbon storage, reduces GHG emissions, and reduces crops’ carbon footprint.
On Jan. 17, the last business day of the Biden Administration, USDA published an interim rule to establish guidelines for quantifying, reporting and verifying GHG emissions related to the production of biofuel feedstock crops. NPPC pointed out that the rule covers CSA practices that could reduce GHG emissions or sequester carbon, including reduced till and no-till, cover crops, and nutrient management, such as the use of nitrification inhibitors.
“Despite numerous comments to the agency urging it to recognize the important role in crop production manure plays as ‘not only the original sustainable and organic renewable resource but also as a superior soil conditioner,’ USDA’s Office of Energy and Environmental Policy decided to not recognize the use of manure nutrients as a climate smart practice under the regulation,” NPPC said.
NPPC wants USDA to reconsider the rulemaking and the process for developing CSA technical guidelines.
“NPPC greatly anticipated the release of the interim rule to fully understand how the hog and other livestock farmers would play a role in the production of CSA crops used as biofuel feedstocks,” NPPC wrote in its comments. “Needless to say, pig farmers are extremely disappointed to find absolutely no mention or role for hog or other livestock farmers in the interim rule.”
The organization also noted that agronomically sound use of manure rather than commercial nitrogen fertilizer to produce crops reduces the net carbon intensity (CI) score of the feedstock being produced.
“This practice must be included in the list of practices for which … Cl scores are calculated,” NPPC stated, pointing out that manure use has other environmental benefits, including improved soil health, better nutrient cycling, and support for a more circular economy, where “wastes” are put to productive and efficient uses.
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