Americas Conservation Ag Movement

Data Makes the Difference: PIC Seeks Answers to Environmental Impact of Genetics

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 15:04:22 GMT

When it comes to valuing innovation such as genetic improvement, one of the most important steps you can take is to complete a life cycle assessment (LCA), explains Chris Hostetler, director of animal science at the National Pork Board.

LCAs verify the environmental impact data is defensible, Hostetler says, so you don’t have a situation where an innovation is accused of greenwashing. LCAs allow you to test and verify the entire system to determine if carbon equivalents were, in fact, generated.

“It’s very critical that an LCA be conducted for any innovation that would be coming into the market in terms of a carbon asset,” he adds. “I cannot tell you if I can fit a metric ton of carbon equivalents in my front pocket. Carbon is not visible. So, the data is where the reliability of those claims comes from. For me, being able to collect the data accurately, and in a defensible manner, is critical to ensuring that the carbon assets are what they say they are.”

That’s a gap that PIC has been working to address.

What’s the Benefit of Genetic Improvement?

PIC is in the process of wrapping up LCAs to quantify the environmental benefits that can be achieved through the use of PIC’s genetic improvements, including those achieved through gene editing. The company saw an opportunity for the entire industry to potentially monetize genetic improvements because healthier, more robust pigs are more feed efficient and create less waste.

For PIC, LCAs allow them to compare how their full-line PIC genetics compare to the industry average. Highly respected LCA modeler Greg Thoma is serving as the lead principal investigator for PIC, looking at the impact of genetic improvements in North America, Europe and Asia.

“He’s running independent LCAs that allow us to understand specifically what the impact of our genetics are comparable to the industry averages in those countries. He’s running a separate LCA on the impact of PRRS and with our PRRS-resistant pig, isolating the impact of what that product would do for the environment,” says Banks Baker, global director, product sustainability for PIC.

PIC received International Organization of Standardization (ISO) conformance for its North American LCA in February. The LCA shows that in North America, a full program PIC animal delivers a 7.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the industry average, Baker says.

“Essentially, what that’s saying is, we’re taking the production efficiencies achieved through using a full-program PIC animal and we’re expressing those as an environmental benefit. For a downstream corporation that uses a national emissions factor that says this is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per pound of pork, if that system utilized a PIC full-program animal, it would have a 7.5% reduced greenhouse gas emissions comparable to that average,” Baker explains.

Although that’s great news, what he’s most excited about is that this LCA is one of the first to experience that level of validation to quantify the impact of genetics on environmental outcomes.

“There’s a lot of people making bold, ambitious commitments,” Baker says. “A recent lawsuit says that is not enough, you need to go further now. We’re starting to see a huge increase in greenwashing claims. We’re not interested in being general, we’re interested in doing this 100% correctly.”

That’s why PIC’s LCA is going through such rigorous due diligence, including plans to submit each LCA for academic peer review. There is no doubt that this space is going to have scrutiny, Baker adds.

“We’re talking about creating some type of carbon value that is transferable,” Baker says. “There’s something tangible to that, and especially in a space that’s so immature, we need to make sure that that’s real.”

What is the Cost of Disease?

Not only are there a number of diseases that affect swine production, but there are a number of welfare issues and management practices that affect swine production, too. One of the diseases that weighs on the minds of pork producers across the country is porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

“PRRS is devastating disease. It is a costly disease that’s a huge drag on our efficiency,” Hostetler says. “Efficiency, whether that’s feed efficiency or efficiency of throughput of animals, is really at the heart of sustainability. Improvements in efficiency through mitigation of the impact of disease has a great potential for conveying a carbon asset.”

PIC is currently conducting an LCA on its gene edited PRRS-Resistant Pig genetics and the resulting reduction that can be claimed.

“PIC believes that one of the most important things that can be done to improve the sustainability of protein production is to raise the right animal, one that is healthy, robust and efficient,” says Baker. “Genetic sustainability offers unique opportunities because it mitigates emissions rather than sequestering them and is effective regardless of geographic location.”

PIC expects the results to be coming soon on the PRRS-Resistant Pig LCA.

A Sustainable Pathway

Because animal genetics have never been utilized or invested in this way, PIC is collaborating across the pork value chain to ensure a credible standard is established that allows genetic benefits to be understood, shared and claimed.

“If the gene edit for PRRS becomes commercially available, there will be other gene edits that become commercially available down the road, whether that’s for swine health issues or a practice that reduces painful procedures,” Hostetler says.

This effort could serve as a roadmap for other gene edit innovations to come to the market as well, Hostetler says.

“Some of the strongest programs we’re seeing incorporate sustainability around greenhouse gas reductions. If we can show that genetic improvements can support that, including those that can be achieved through gene editing, it allows for a better platform for market acceptance,” Baker says. “It shows we’re creating a shared value that goes further than just a producer and allows everybody to share in that win.”

Read More:

How Valuing Carbon Could Open Doors for Pork Producers

The Wild Wild West of Carbon Markets: Where Do Swine Genetics Fit?

How Valuing Carbon Could Open Doors for Pork Producers

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:24:35 GMT

Pork producers often think about meat as the only commodity they produce. But Chris Hostetler, director of animal science at the National Pork Board, argues they produce so much more and deserve to see benefits for their efforts.

In October 2022, PIC and the National Pork Board teamed up to develop a framework that will help demonstrate the valuable role genetics play in creating a more sustainable protein supply . This framework will help determine what needs to credibly be done and demonstrated in order for corporations to claim a genetic improvement as a greenhouse gas reduction.

PIC recently completed its first life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify the sustainability benefits that can be achieved through the use of their program’s genetic improvements. A second LCA quantifying the sustainability benefits achieved through gene editing is forthcoming. The company saw an opportunity for the entire industry to potentially value genetic improvements because healthier, more robust pigs are more feed efficient and create less waste.

LCAs are standardized models that allow the environmental impact of a product to be quantified. Hostetler says it’s a good time to gather data to create LCAs to quantify alternative value streams for pork producers.

“We have the ability now, through a variety of technological platforms, to collect data in a very robust way. I think that the timing, in terms of where we’re at as an industry, is really good for gathering that information, warehousing that data, and then scaling that up to the industry as a whole,” Hostetler says.

The ultimate goal is physical monetization of carbon credits that are attributed to innovation leading to genetic improvement, he explains.

“In this project, we are working on innovations related to genetics, but there are other innovations that may convey a carbon benefit as well,” Hostetler adds. “Development of this framework, and ultimately the writing of the protocol and executing a pilot project, creates a roadmap for other innovations in place of a genetic innovation.”

When No Standards Exist

The framework is almost complete and will answer a lot of questions for companies interested in monetizing innovation, says Banks Baker, global director, product sustainability for PIC.

“It outlines all the things that must exist in order for a corporation to make a claim. How do you validate? What does the reduction have to occur? Who gets the claim? It’s kind of a precursor to a carbon protocol,” he says.

In this emerging carbon space, limited standards exist, Baker adds. Because of that, there are no standards to create a standard either.

“We worked with National Pork Board and the Context Network, an agricultural-based consultancy, to help us build out what that framework would look like. They helped us engage with the whole value chain all the way from producers to carbon experts to downstream buyers of this potential asset, like foodservice and processors. We wanted to know what they would have to see in this framework to make it credible and usable,” Baker says.

They opened up the proposed framework for public comment for a two-month period, received over 100 pieces of feedback and revisions, and then went back to work on the framework. A final public comment period for the revised framework was held in March.

“We’ll make revisions again,” Baker says. “And then we’ll have an outline of what needs to exist in order for genetic improvements to be claimed as a scope three greenhouse gas reduction downstream.”

Once the framework is finished, PIC plans to pilot it with the food system partners to go out and demonstrate that carbon value can be created, that it exists and that it can also be transferred to other stakeholders in the supply chain.

“We’re in the final stages of building out what those pilots could look like,” Baker says. “We’d like to do a full inset carbon program pilot, where we’ll start with a producer that utilizes a full-program PIC animal and track the carbon reduction benefits to the packer/processor and the primary origin foodservice or retail user. There may also be opportunities to include a renderer and user of that rendered product.”

There is a piece of that carbon value that each member in that inset pilot project can claim, he adds.

“We don’t know if this will end up being a minted carbon credit. I think we’re starting to see carbon treated as a preferential product attribute similar to what you would see in the meat industry like a quality grade or some type of differentiated product, like a no antibiotic ever or specific housing system,” Baker says. “But we believe there’s some value the producer can get from that, whether it be a direct economic incentive from a premium, or a minted carbon credit that can be sold, and they can retain some of the value.”

At the end of the day, PIC and National Pork Board are trying to figure out the different ways that this could potentially play out, while understanding how they can enable significant reductions at scale for all of those different members that are in the value chain.

“We’re hoping to have the pilot done by the end of 2024,” Hostetler says. “We welcome and encourage other companies that have genetic innovations or other innovations to use this framework and protocol adopted to their specific needs to monetize their carbon credit, too. This has been paid for by the pork producers, so it’s publicly available for use by others.”

How Can It Help You?

Coming off nearly two years of economic challenges, Hostetler encourages producers to think about additional revenue streams that they produce beyond pork.

“We see it over on the dairy side,” he says. “The dairy producers in California are not making money on their milk. They’re making money on methane that they harvest off of their manure storage.”

There may be other valuable components to sustainability that pork producers produce beyond carbon, Hostetler points out. For example, water may be monetized at some point in time. Through manure, nitrogen is monetized already. As other markets develop for ecosystem assets in the future, he believes what the pork industry is doing today in the carbon space could have direct correlation to those ecosystem asset markets as well.

Production efficiency already delivers value back to a producer, Banks says, through healthy, robust, efficient animals. But he’s excited that there could be even more captured from improvements in efficiency beyond the farm.

“Now we’re able to share that outcome back to corporations that need these benefits,” Baker says. “Many things we’ve seen invested in, like regenerative agriculture, no-till and grazing, are all important interventions and will be a part of the solution that get us to 2030 and 2050.”

But he points out that they are also very complex models to validate progress. Typically, they focus on sequestering carbon, which is a biological process that can be hindered by a variety of environmental variables.

“One of the things we’re excited about on the genetic side is that it’s a mitigation opportunity. We’re able to actually abate those emissions before they even occur. We’re lucky in pork because so many of our production systems are inside. We’ve got limited environmental variables and the models we use to estimate those impacts are much cleaner and easier to demonstrate,” Baker says.

All of this results in a higher degree of credibility.

“I think it will be exciting when we get large brands on board and this goes from being this theoretical possibility to something that’s real where we can actually show that this value does exist and there’s a new value proposition for producers at the end of it,” Baker says.

Read More:

Data Makes the Difference: PIC Seeks Answers to Environmental Impact of Genetics

The Wild Wild West of Carbon Markets: Where Do Swine Genetics Fit?

A Sustainable Approach to Sustainability

Tue, 03 May 2022 16:00:00 GMT

Far more than a buzzword, “sustainability” is a term and a concept that we’re all hearing more about, and for good reason. After all, what can be more important than meeting the needs of today while making sure we’re not compromising the future? Especially for farmers and ranchers, many of whom want to pass their farming and ranching operations down to the next generation.

Even if you’re totally on board with the importance of sustainability, it can be daunting to consider what role you can play to move the needle in such a big conversation. The Animal Agriculture Alliance recently hosted a webinar as part of our 2022 Stakeholders Summit that posed just that question – “Sustainability: Where are we going, and how can we all help get there?” The three panelists shared what companies, organizations and farmers and ranchers of all sizes are all doing to demonstrate and achieve continuous improvement across all three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic and social).

There were some exciting advancements shared, such as the fact that U.S. pork production has improved in the past six decades by using 75% less land, 25% less water and 7% less energy. Pig farmers have some ambitious goals to go even further, including reducing their GHG emissions by 40% from a 2015 baseline by 2030. Companies are also getting in on the sustainability game. For example, Elanco has a new UpLook tool that estimates greenhouse gas emissions and identifies key drivers of an operation’s carbon footprint with the potential to evolve to other sustainability indicators in the future.

If you’re just getting started with your farm, company or organization’s approach to sustainability, you’re not alone – about half of our webinar attendees also reported being early on in the process. It might seem daunting, but the speakers offered insights for taking a sustainable approach to tackling sustainability. Their suggestions included making sure there is support for sustainability efforts at all levels, including executive support, but assigning a point person to take leadership and make sure sustainability goals are aligned with broader organizational objectives. As part of that goal-setting, determine what your objectives are and make sure they are SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound). And once your goals are set, track progress and trends. More than once the speakers stressed the importance of setting metrics and measuring progress. Once you have made some strides, make sure to communicate and share the great news!

Hopefully these tips will help you get started or take the next step on your sustainability journey. After all, we’ll need everyone in animal agriculture to come together to help continue to make meat, poultry, dairy and eggs the proteins of choice for healthy diets and a healthy planet.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Sustainability: It’s More than a Buzzword in Animal Agriculture

It’s Time to Get on the Bus: National Pork Board Unveils Sustainability Goals

Pig Farmers Commit to Sustainability: Here’s the Proof

The Proof is in the Data, Minnesota Pig Farmer Says

Sustainability and the Pork Industry: Make Money, Save Money, Save Time

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 19:58:12 GMT

What makes the pork industry’s sustainability goals different from others? The inclusion of metrics and key performance indicators to prove how those goals will be met.

“Other companies and groups have put out sustainability goals. But when asked how they are going to measure those goals, there’s often no response or they might say, ‘Check back with us in the future,’” says Sara Crawford, vice president of sustainability at the National Pork Board.

When U.S. pork producers helped develop the pork industry’s recently announced sustainability goals , she says they wanted to make sure they had key performance indicators in place to back those goals up before they were announced.

It Starts With Data

“The adoption of sustainability practices is fantastic for our people, pigs and planet, and producers have been doing that. But increasingly, we need to make sure that producers also understand their return on investment,” Crawford says. “We are always trying to help producers make money, save money or save time. As we think about our sustainability practices, how do they do those things?”

Supported by a measurement infrastructure already in place to collect real, on-farm data, each goal will be tracked and reported regularly on behalf of the industry. Future reports will share data based on “pigs reported” – meaning progress toward the metric will be gauged on percentage of pigs or farms that’s received and aggregated data through an industry-wide database.

A key component to the industry’s established metrics infrastructure is the Checkoff-funded On-Farm Sustainability Reports, which provide farm-level data to help pork producers establish an individual baseline for social, environmental, and economic sustainability. The reports provide metrics on manure – application and agronomic rates, water quality and use, and community donations and service hours.

Everyone knows data can be used to create opportunities, to make improvements and increase profitability. But you need to have the data in the system so you can participate in those opportunities as they arise, Crawford adds.

“We’ve had fantastic foundational programs like Pork Quality Assurance Plus for decades, we’ve done worker and safety health programs for many years, we’ve had the We Care Ethical Principles for 14 years, and that looks at more than just the environment,” she says. “Those programs gave us the great foundation on which to build these sustainability goals and metrics.”

Build Sustainability Into Your Story

Crawford is quick to remind producers that sustainability is something they can build into their story – it doesn’t necessarily have to be the whole story.

“Think about sustainability,” she encourages. “Yes, we’ve changed light bulbs, for example, because it saves money. But remember that also reduces your carbon footprint when you change your light bulbs to more efficient light bulbs. Let’s start thinking about the fact that yes, we have the business case, but also these are sustainable practices.”

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

It’s Time to Get on the Bus: National Pork Board Unveils Sustainability Goals

U.S. Pork Seeks To Reduce GHGs 40% By 2030, Announces On-Farm Sustainability Report For Producers

The Proof is in the Data, Minnesota Pig Farmer Says

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 14:00:00 GMT

Minnesota pig farmer Randy Spronk knows consumers have questions and doubts when it comes to modern pork production practices. He can quickly put those fears at ease when a consumer visits his farm for a tour and learns more about what they are doing on the farm.

“Many consumers just don’t know what we do,” Spronk says. “Anytime we explain what we’re doing here on the farm, it adds a comfort level, especially when they see what we’re doing with manure application and the science and technology we’re using.”

He has collected data for 30 years core sampling manure pits. Before he goes into a field and begins spreading manure, he knows exactly what the manure’s nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and percent solids are. Then, he programs the appropriate manure application rate in and the flow meter adjusts to apply that accurate amount on the field.

“It’s amazing how technology and third-party providers have given us the accuracy we need to grow crops better,” Spronk says.

Opportunity to Benchmark

Data is the proof, he explains. It’s the proof that farmers are continually improving upon how they produce food.

Capturing data allows producers to benchmark against each other, to figure out what areas need improvement and learn from the experiences of their peers, he adds. He uses MyJohnDeere for recordkeeping and data management.

“All my data, whether it’s from the planting tractor to the sprayer to the combine to the tillage practice to the manure application, it’s all wirelessly uploaded to the cloud,” he says.

That’s one reason why he quickly agreed to gather his data together to test out the National Pork Board’s On-Farm Sustainability Report in 2020 and is wrapping up his 2021 information now.

“To me, those measurements in the National Pork Board’s On-Farm Sustainability Reports will help us see where we can improve. The benefit lies in not only measuring it, but then evaluating the reports collectively and individually to say, ‘This is where you can improve,’” he adds. “The more we have exposure to that data, the better. Once somebody sees somebody doing it better, they’re going to want to do it better on their farm, too.”

From improving tillage practices to using cover crops to sequester more carbon, he says it’s about measuring progress.

“If we don’t measure it, you can’t improve it. I am looking forward to seeing how changes we’ve made in the past year impact our report in 2021,” he says. “We’ve improved our data collection to make sure it is as verifiable as possible and as easy as possible for us to obtain so we’re not spending days collecting the data.”

Numbers Don’t Lie

When it comes to sustainable pork production, Spronk says there are two hotspots that require farmers’ continuous attention: manure and feed.

“How are you storing manure and handling it? How are you producing your crops?” he asks. “Research proves we’ve got a model here in the Upper Midwest, where we can grow corn and be very cognizant of our tillage practices and then use animal manure to grow that crop. We can actually be a carbon sink that’s positive for society.”

Some of the changes he’s made recently include using vertical tillage tools that leave residue on top and result in less soil loss. They have also changed how they incorporate manure into the soil – using technology to improve the accuracy and accountability of where manure is applied.

He also planted a new cereal grain crop that provides some advantages from a soil erosion standpoint.

“We actually have planted some of the hybrid rye, KLM, that comes out of Denmark. The reason we’re looking at it here is because it has 90% of the values of corn when it comes to energy and protein. It is a cereal grain crop, so it also has some advantages from a soil erosion and disease standpoint,” he says. “A third crop rotation offers an allelopathic effect of literally using no herbicides.”

Despite farming on the Buffalo Ridge in Southwestern Minnesota at 1,700 feet and with a short growing season, Spronk says he is considering cover crops to improve his farm’s sustainability and always have “something living and growing.”

Sustainability is Inherent

Spronk argues sustainability is just what farmers do.

“We are always trying to improve what we do. We have a very positive story, but we need to share it better,” he says.

Compiling data to show the aggregate changes over time allow farmers like Spronk to show the farm’s sustainability – not only from a soil loss and carbon footprint standpoint – but also to reinforce they are producing a safe, affordable product that is environmentally friendly.

“It really comes down to being transparent, measuring what we’re doing and showing a constant state of improvement,” Spronk says.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Pig Farmers Commit to Sustainability: Here’s the Proof

ACAM Executive Q&A: Dr. Brett Kaysen of the National Pork Board

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 15:00:00 GMT

Throughout 2021, Trust In Food is inviting leaders of the Foundational Partners of America’s Conservation Ag Movement to share their vision for the future of conservation and sustainability in U.S. agriculture. In this post, we spotlight Dr. Brett Kaysen, senior vice president of sustainability, National Pork Board, an ACAM partner.

Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you arrive in this leadership role within your organization, and how does a commitment to sustainability inform how you show up to work each day?

I’m a farm kid. I grew up with pigs my entire life and have always loved them. That inspired me to a career as an animal scientist. I thought, ‘Isn’t that cool? You can become a scientist focused on pigs.’ The Pork Board was a logical fit. I like people, and I was recruited to join in sustainability. I’ve always been a believer in using management systems to solving problems. I joined the team three years ago as assistant vice president, as an N of 1, and built the team to a robust, talented group. I’m so excited. It’s a fun job, and I’ve enjoyed every day.

What’s one book you’ve read recently that’s challenging how you think about conservation or the future of food and agriculture?

One book I recently completed that fits, by John Maxwell, is “LeaderShift”. The other one is “The 4 Disciplines of Execution,” by Chris McChesney. Some will say, ‘But Brett, there’s nothing in there about sustainability, stewardship or conservation.’ But they fit because the way we’re approaching this challenge in sustainability in agriculture takes a LeaderShift mentality, and it starts with leaders. We’ve got to think differently than we’ve ever thought to lead our industries into prosperity. You’ve also got to be able to execute on that and have ruthless focus on wildly important goals to move forward in the strategy we have around sustainability.

It’s going to take big leaders that are willing to think different and execute at a high rate of speed.

In a sentence, describe National Pork Board for executives in our audience who are unfamiliar with your work.

The National Pork Board’s mission is to do research, education and promotion of pork products on behalf of the 62,000 pig farmers that pay into the checkoff, to ultimately build trust and add value to the pork supply chain. That is our simple mission, although a challenge.

What is the biggest sustainability challenge your organization is facing, and how are you navigating possible ways to address and overcome that challenge?

It’s more of an opportunity than a challenge: The opportunity is to continue to bolster our relationship with the United Soybean Board and the National Corn Growers Association and work synergistically because of the amount of bushels of corn and soybeans that pigs consume every year.

We feed pigs predominantly corn and soy, which makes them efficient and sustainable protein. But we also understand that comes with ramifications for the environment. Those national associations are working in conjunction with state associations to bolster soil health. I believe sustainability starts with soil health. Pig farmers play a role there not only in the feed pigs consume but also this magical thing called pig manure, which we incorporate back into the soil to keep those regenerative practices going.

What are some of the most exciting sustainability initiatives underway for pork producers and the pork industry today, building on the We Care commitment? Where are you headed in 2022, and how can other segments of the value chain best engage to support producers on this journey?

Building on the We Care commitment, we’re going beyond that to bolster the proof points of how we’re getting better. You’ll hear more out of us after the first of 2022 about announcing pork industry sustainability goals, metrics and KPIs that we’ll measure, monitor and report against.

We’ve been going farm to farm since March 2021 creating sustainability reports for pork farmers and also corn and soy farmers. We’ve developed 70-plus reports for farmers proving their sustainability across 13 states. The magic is real data to prove our commitment to continuous improvement. We’ll continue to compile and scale in 2022.

Animal health and the prevention of foreign animal diseases is a major focus for pork producers. Can you talk about the work being done to mitigate risk and preserve the economic sustainability of pork operations?

Priority No. 1 for checkoff dollars is to prevent and prepare for a foreign animal disease. When we use the example of African swine fever and how it has decimated the pork population of other countries, obviously that’s not a sustainable business model when you have the tragic death of pigs throughout wide geographies. Thirty percent of U.S. pigs are exported to feed the world. Pork is nutrient dense from a diet perspective. We play a huge role here.

It starts with our partners at USDA as well as state animal health officials to protect and prepare our borders to the best of our ability. A tangible example of a tool we are using on behalf of checkoff-funded investments is called AgView. It’s simply contact tracing for pigs. Coming out of the pandemic, folks can relate to that. Producers have funded the tool. It allows us to track movements of where pigs go in a digital space so we can continue to think about if—heaven forbid—we had a foreign animal disease, we could create control zones as quickly as possible to continue to have business continuity in this country and, hopefully, be able to leverage that with our international partners.

It is a powerful and robust tool. Nothing like it has been done before in the industry. We’re very proud to lead the industry from the front.

Feed is a crucial input for pork producers, yet tracing its origins and understanding the sustainability impacts are complex for all segments of agriculture. How is the National Pork Board working to assess and improve our understanding of the role of feed in sustainable farming systems?

My perspective is that we should make the impossible possible. I say it that way purposely. To be honest with you, I often hear, ‘There are a lot of acres of corn and soy that go into feeding a pig, and it gets mixed together. There’s no way we can source and verify where it came from.’ I’m not a fan of, ‘We can’t, it’s impossible.’ Let’s figure out how we can and make it possible. We might not have the technology today to take it back to a particular plant at a particular field. But technologies do exist to ID grain-shed geographies where a crop came from.

We met with a group the other day using biotags to understand and biologically tag corn or soy and be able to verify where it came from. It’s still acceptable for human health consumption and animal health consumption. It’s cool technology—and that’s just one technology. We need to continue to challenge ourselves today and think about the innovation and science and the way it’s developing, what the future state could be. I think we need to lean into that.

What sustainability trends have you most excited and optimistic about the future of U.S. agriculture and farming in the next four years, relative to National Pork Board’s sustainability priorities?

I think agriculture is the solution to the problem. Animal agriculture, as well as crop production, is a solve to some of the challenges that we face. That gets me excited. We can take a proactive approach to having a global impact beyond nourishing the world and actually saving the planet and increasing the health and longevity of the planet. There are some out there who say, ‘We’re not part of the solution because we’re not part of the problem.’ We do use natural resources to produce a fantastic protein, bottom line. We need to improve our efficiency and augment that to best of our ability. With the work of corn, soy and pork, we can have a really big impact in mitigating environmental challenges.

What one sustainability trend or issue keeps you up at night and gives you heartburn?

It’s the discussion around greenhouse gas emissions. The reason it keeps me up at night is I know it’s important. We’re leaning into it as an industry. But it’s also something that’s challenging to measure, monitor and report. It is an evolving science. Marguerite Tan, director of environmental programs at National Pork Board, says it best: You can’t put a flow meter on greenhouse gas emissions like you can on other things. I know we need to be proactive and engaged. There are models that are directionally correct, but there are still a lot of unknowns. How do we refine the measurement? How do we define the measurement? How will the measurement change over time? We’re learning. It’s evolving, and it’s changing.

What’s the single most important action step that conservation- and sustainability-oriented food and ag professionals should be taking in the next 12 months?

I would challenge us all to think about sustainability as a management systems approach and understand that there’s tradeoffs. When we look to make a practice change in agriculture, there’s a tradeoff that impacts another piece of that system. I relate it to a balloon. You blow it up for a birthday party, you start to push on balloon and something else pushes out in another spot. There are constant pushes and pulls. We need to be willing to look at that and think holistically. At the end of the day, it has to be fiscally sustainable for the producer. They’re ready, willing and able to deploy, but if financially they cannot compete in today’s global marketplace, agriculture’s not a sustainable business.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Sustainability: Where is the Pork Industry Headed?

The Carbon-Neutral Pig and Chicken: The Pivotal Moment is Now

Creating a Sustainable Pig...All Starts in the Field

Fri, 21 May 2021 14:20:42 GMT

By Roger Cochrane, Feed Mill Director, Pipestone Nutrition

The pork industry is a buzz with carbon reduction goals and even carbon neutrality. Two questions often asked are what is a carbon neutral pig and what can farmers do? A carbon neutral pig has net zero carbon dioxide emission equivalents (CO2e) into the atmosphere during its lifetime. CO2e is a term used to express the impact of multiple greenhouses gases in a common unit of CO2 which would give a single value for global warming potential. The lower the CO2e the more sustainable an operation has become.

In a pig’s lifetime, 88% of the CO2e is represented by feed and manure. When looking further into what causes these numbers to be the driving factors for CO2e it boils down to crops, the associated tillage, and manure management practices. A pig consumes roughly 540 lbs. of corn, 100 lbs. of DDG, and 40 lbs. of SBM. This makes up 96% of their overall feed consumption. Because of the large percentage associated with the three ingredients, it is worthwhile to look further into crop management practices that can help to reduce CO2e of the crops thus lowering the footprint for feed and manure.

Below are strategies that farmers may be using from a management standpoint that serve as CO2e reduction strategies.

Strategies
Two of the major contributors to the CO2e of pigs are soil nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Both are major contributors to the overall carbon footprint for the farm and pig.

Many pig farmers today are using manure (organic fertilizer) to replace synthetic fertilizers. By replacing synthetic fertilizers with 50% manure and utilizing a nitrogen application rate of 132 lbs N/acre, a reduction of up to 66% CO2e has been modeled for a field compared to a typical rate of 200 lbs N/acre with no manure in Southwest Minnesota. An option is also available for those who do not have access to manure in which a reduction of synthetic fertilizer from 200 to 132 lbs N/acre reduced the CO2e of the field by 46%.

A second step that can be taken is the use of carbon considerate tillage practices. Conventional tillage creates the most soil disturbance followed by reduced and no-till. In general, the less soil disturbance that occurs, the lower and better the CO2e for the field. For instance, moving from a conventional to reduced tillage or no till practice can reduce CO2e by 37% and greater than 100%, respectively.

A third step is the incorporation of cover crops into the crop rotation. This strategy can also help improve the soil health by preventing erosion, suppressing weeds, and increasing nutrient management. Cover crops help to hold soil in place during the vulnerable time of year and hold key nutrients in the soil. Improving the soil quality can benefit crop yields, resulting in a more sustainable field. Utilizing cover crops correctly can reduce N needed for the following crop year, thus reducing the CO2e.

Carbon Sink
Combining each of the practices listed before in a field can lead to what is known as a carbon sink. A carbon sink is when a field can hold carbon in the soil that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere.1 Reducing tillage practices, and adding crop rotations and cover crops will hold carbon in the soil that would otherwise be emitted. For example, if a field moves from conventional till with synthetic fertilizer to reduced tillage with 50% manure, an 86% reduction in CO2e per field could be achieved thus lowering the carbon footprint.

To reduce the footprint even further, no-till can be incorporated with manure and cover crops to achieve over a 100% reduction meaning a carbon sink was created for the field. The reason the sink is important to the field is that it would give a net zero or negative land emission factor for corn and soybeans harvested from the land. This in turn would be factored into the corn and SBM that is processed and used to feed the pigs.

In some cases, farmers are doing one or all the above practices in their fields today. I hope this sheds light on the sustainability side of the equation for those already using these strategies. For those not currently using one of these practices, I hope this helps you to think about adoption of sustainable efforts on your farm.

Sheehan, J.J., et al., 2014. Scenarios for low carbon corn production.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

The Carbon-Neutral Pig and Chicken: The Pivotal Moment is Now

The Carbon-Neutral Pig and Chicken: The Pivotal Moment is Now

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 19:09:11 GMT

Building trust in food begins with empowering farmers through one of the largest and most diverse conservation- and sustainability-focused public-private partnerships in our nation’s history: America’s Conservation Ag Movement. To find the latest news and resources related to the Movement, visit AgWeb.com/ACAM .

Installing solar modules. Injecting manure into the soil. Planting cover crops. Switching to LED light bulbs. Converting manure into energy. The list goes on and on when it comes to the number of ways pork and poultry producers are advancing conservation and sustainable farming practices in their operations.

Admittedly that sounds good on paper. But do those factors fully capture what sustainability means to a livestock operation?

“Your confusion is my confusion,” says Brett Kaysen, vice president of sustainability at the National Pork Board. “As an animal scientist, I am peppered daily to define sustainability. The United Nations would define it as a balance of economic, environmental and social concerns.”

The reality is that no universally accepted definition exists. Sustainability is defined by business owners and operators such as farmers as they see it through their eyes, Kaysen explains.

What Does It Mean to You?
For Sanderson Farms, the No. 3 poultry processor in the U.S., the term “sustainability” didn’t resonate early in its conservation journey.

“We didn’t like the term ‘sustainability.’ We thought it should simply be ‘responsibility,’” says Pic Billingsley, director of development and engineering for the company. “We’ve got a saying here that you can’t manage what you can’t see.”

In 2008, Sanderson Farms started looking more closely at its data, including natural gas and other utilities and products in its business that create emissions. Because they took the time to create a baseline, they can now evaluate what they’ve done to date to reduce their carbon footprint.

“If you’d told me 30 years ago that we would be able to do this, it would at times have been a reach to me,” Billingsley says. “Now we’ve got systems in place that take the methane gas off of our anaerobic lagoon as part of our wastewater plant. Then, it goes through and cleans it up to a natural gas–a pipeline-quality natural gas that we can use in our facilities.”

And that’s where conservation becomes important.

“Conservation to us means utilizing only that amount of natural resources that you absolutely have to have to do your business,” Billingsley says. “It’s simple. There’s nothing hard about it – you only take what you need.”

For other industry leaders, conservation and sustainability are synonymous. Farmers have to be environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically viable in order to be around for the future, and the terms capture those principles, says Ryan Bennett, executive director of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs and the International Poultry Welfare Alliance.

“Conservation is usually focused more on that environmentally sound aspect of sustainability,” Bennett says. “But if what we’re doing is not also socially responsible and economically viable, it’s not possible to implement conservation practices. On the same hand, if we’re not doing something that’s environmentally sound, then we’re not going to remain economically viable and be able to continue to produce poultry and eggs in a sustainable manner in the future.”

An emphasis on conservation enables producers to both reduce impact today while also making decisions that will have beneficial outcomes for the poultry value chain in the future, Bennett explains.

Solar modules at Triple E Farms near Altona, Ill. Photo by Dan Erickson.

The Pivotal Moment is Now
Although transportation and energy use are the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, according to 2018 data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, scrutiny is often placed on agriculture, which accounts for roughly 10% of emissions. Kaysen sees that as an opportunity for farmers to continuing be part of the solution.

“I’m not so sure that the pivotal moment in our journey to more sustainable livestock production isn’t now,” he adds. “Whether or not you believe the wildfires in California are attributed to climate change, there’s no debate that the climate is changing. We know that people on this globe have an impact on the environment. But we also know if there’s ever been a time in the history of the world, now’s the time where agriculture can be a part of the solution.”

Farmers have demonstrated they can capture and reduce carbon. In Kaysen’s mind, that’s a huge opportunity.

“Since Day 1, farmers have had this continuous improvement idea, and we’re committed to that. The beautiful thing for farmers in general is they can be part of the solution. But being part of the solution actually rewards them on farm, too,” he says.

The benefits extend beyond just economics.

“I like the word “reward” because it can mean a lot of different things. Often, we default to ‘How am I going to make money?’ That’s part of it, but there’s other rewards. I think this is an opportunity for farmers to be seen as climate change heroes.”

Sustainability and conservation efforts require your whole team working together, says Pic Billingsley. Photo by National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff.

Carbon-Neutral Livestock Production
One of the topics bringing animal protein groups together is feed, Bennett says. Many resources go into creating feed for poultry and pigs. Bennett and his colleagues across the protein complex want to explore how farmers and the industry can make even better use of the resources used to make feed.

“We have a shared vision of improving sustainability within our respective programs, and we realize there are many things we can work together on,” Bennett says.

The science and technology needed to reach these goals is still developing. Kaysen says improvements will require communication and collaboration.

“I think the barnyard—dairy, poultry, beef, lamb, pork— realizes that we’re stronger together than we are apart. We’ve got enough folks coming at us from the outside. We don’t need to do that from the inside,” Kaysen adds. “I do think there’s an opportunity for us to convene more often in a collaborative approach, while not disparaging each other.”

By 2035, Kaysen believes the pork industry can create a carbon-neutral pig. He applauds the dairy industry’s announcement on Earth Day this year to produce a carbon-neutral dairy cow by 2050.

“I think it’s bold, I applaud them for taking that step,” Kaysen says. “I think we’ll have the opportunity to prove it at a high level that the majority of pigs in this country are raised in a carbon neutral or carbon negative way.”

Whether you raise chickens or pigs doesn’t matter, Billingsley says. What matters is your commitment to take a deeper look at the products and inputs you use on your farm and to only use what you need. Then, you must work to convey those values so they become important to everyone in your organization.

“It’s got to be a culture,” Billingsley says. “Your whole team has to understand that for your company to be good, this is the world we live in today. This isn’t yesterday. The world today expects you to minimize your footprint on this earth.”

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Two-Headed Consumer Demands Change from Farmers, Food Companies

Sprawling Urban Development Threatens Livestock Production

Consumers Speak Up: Sustainable Farmers Wanted

Feed Sustainability: Moving the Animal Protein Industry Forward

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:22:09 GMT

As the animal protein industry continues to find innovative ways to decrease the carbon footprint of animal products, a new resource guide may help move those efforts forward.

The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) recently released the Resource Guide on Sustainable Animal Feed , a digital resource to help companies in the animal feed supply chain better understand and address how the demand for animal protein products – and subsequently animal feed – affects the environment, including air, land, soil, water and biodiversity.

The free resource guide was developed by TSC alongside a group of stakeholders made up of over 20 different organizations including the National Pork Board, Pipestone Systems, BASF, The Nature Conservancy, Syngenta, American Feed Industry Association, Sustainable Food Lab, and others.

“As the demand for animal protein increases, so does the demand for animal feed. Every company along the value chain has the opportunity to make a significant contribution towards feed sustainability. This resource guide supports these organizations in their efforts,” Christy Slay, TSC’s senior director of science and research, said in a release .

Demand Is Rising
Population growth, rising income and changes in diet are just a few reasons why the global demand for animal protein is increasing. According to TSC, recent life-cycle assessments estimate that feed production accounts for 70% of the total carbon footprint of animal products.

The resource guide was created as a resource for sustainability professionals, procurement teams, feed and animal protein industry professionals, researchers, and non-profits. The guide brings together relevant resources and information related to feed sustainability globally with a focus on the U.S.

“The National Pork Board is committed to greater transparency about our industry’s efforts regarding environmental sustainability and our journey of continuous improvement,” Brett Kaysen, vice president or sustainability at the National Pork Board, said in a release. “This means making information, resources and tools available to those who buy pork to sell pork and help them better understand the animal feed supply chain. We’re proud to work with TSC and the other stakeholders to produce this valuable guide.”

A Holistic Approach to Sustainability
The authors behind the guide, Slay and TSC research assistant, Teresa Garcia-Moore, LL.M., hope companies will use this guide to create a more holistic approach to enhancing the overall sustainability of the animal and environment systems.

The guide addresses these key topics:
1. Leading organizations engaged in feed sustainability efforts
2. Useful tools
3. Reports and case study spotlights
4. Research
5. Companies’ feed sustainability initiatives

TSC plans to continually update the guide as resources become available. Access the free, digital guide here .

More from Farm Journal:

The Carbon-Neutral Pig and Chicken: The Pivotal Moment is Now

U.S. Pork More Sustainable Than Ever, Study Shows

Need Conservation Dollars? Call Your State Ag Commissioner.

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:53:18 GMT

Where will the dollars come from to fund that next conservation practice you want to implement on your farm?

Your state department of agriculture might have just the answer—and resources—you need.

That was the message Barb Glenn, CEO, National Association of State Department of Agriculture, delivered to farmers this week as a panelist at the 2019 Sustainable Agriculture Summit in Indianapolis.

“We have some amazing commissioners, and they’re leading some programs that you all need to know about,” Glenn said.

She, and fellow presenter, David Festa, senior vice president of ecosystems, Environmental Defense Fund, highlighted various funding opportunities by state. The opportunities are also detailed in a new report they co-wrote, Innovative State-Led Efforts to Finance Agricultural Conservation, available here: https://bit.ly/2O8qTlw

Some of the funding opportunities Glenn and Festa discussed, included:

In Iowa, the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) created the Cover Crop-Crop Insurance Demonstration Project in 2017.

“They pay a $5 rebate to farmers for every acre planted to cover crops,” Glenn says.

A coalition of farmers, agricultural organizations and conservation groups developed the program to help meet the goals of the state’s nutrient loss reduction strategy.

The three-year project has been so successful, Illinois Department of Agriculture officials announced earlier this year they will implement a similar program with farmers, called Fall Covers for Spring Savings: Crop Insurance Reward Pilot Program. Similar to the Iowa program, Illinois will also provide $5 per acre to farmers who adopt cover crops.

In Delaware, the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) has a program focused on nonpoint source pollution called the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Program (AgNPS). The program has historically provided loans for poultry and dairy farmers to implement management practices that reduce nutrient and effluent runoff.

Delaware has a large poultry industry, and 784 of the 830 loans administered under this program have gone to poultry farmers. Producers must be under contract with certain integrators in order to be eligible to receive a loan. These integrators have signed a memorandum of understanding guaranteeing repayment of the loan.

“The guarantee is if you default, you won’t lose the farm. The integrator assumes the risk,” said Festa, who noted there’s been “essentially zero” defaults.

Integrators assume the loan risks, because they need a robust, sustainable and local supply chain.

“If there’s a big disruption in supply, the integrators will have to go far away to (get product) to meet demand, and that’s complicated and expensive,” Festa explained.

There are currently four poultry integrators (Perdue, Allen Harim, Mountaire and Tyson) and two dairy integrators (Land O’ Lakes and Dairy Farmers of America) that participate in the Delaware program.

Elsewhere, in Pennsylvania, there’s a program available that gives a tax break to companies that help farmers, with financial incentives, adopt conservation practices.

“This is a program that hasn’t been taken on very much because it hasn’t been publicized,” Festa said. “But this is the kind of thing that I get excited about when we start to see all of these little pieces coming together to really fundamentally alter the reality around the economics of farming.”

Festa and Glenn said of all the various ways states are addressing the funding of conservation practices, one that they especially like is in California. There, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Karen Ross, has taken revenue from the state’s 2019-20 Cap & Trade Expenditure program, about $200 million, and set up services to help farmers adopt a variety of conservation practices.

California’s funding available for farmers to tap into for 2019-20 includes:

$65 million to lower emissions by replacing and upgrading ag diesel engines for equipment such as tractors, harvesters, and heavy-duty trucks;
$34 million for dairy manure methane reduction programs; and
$28 million for the Healthy Soils program.

The funding doesn’t include grants only, Festa noted. “Ross is helping support more students at the local community colleges that are very important to the ag industry,” he said, as a for instance. “She’s taking a full-spectrum approach. I think that is really a powerful, powerful new way of looking at how to accelerate the ability of farmers to take off on these actions and yes, be good for business and good for the planet.”

Looking forward, Festa said he would like states and the federal government to look at how they spend dollars set aside to address natural disasters. He noted that in 2018 here was $20 billion set aside for that purpose compared to $6 billion in the farm bill earmarked for conservation.

“Imagine if we could direct a portion of that $20 billion towards our farm activities. That would be a whole new source of revenue, and it would be a way for farmers to really participate in helping protect our country from extreme weather events that we see happening,” he said.

Both Festa and Glenn encouraged farmers to reach out to their respective state departments of agriculture to see what is being done to fund the adoption of conservation practices.

“Ask them, “What are you doing for me on this right now? What are we doing together? And who do we need to bring to the table to enhance a new program that’s really innovative and provides me with support like what’s going on in Delaware or California is doing,’” Glenn advised.

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Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Powered By Agriculture

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 21:00:03 GMT

A tree you’ve never heard of could be the key to a novel COVID-19 vaccine. Currently in development, this vaccine uses a compound called QS-21 from the Quillaja saponaria tree in Chile—one that also provides valuable agricultural compounds.

“By combining biotech with this native plant from Chile, we’ve been able to on one hand discover novel chemistry that allows us to participate in the [ag] production work today, and on the other hand have a sustainable method to produce a well-known adjuvant for modern vaccines,” says Gastón Salinas, CEO of Botanical Solutions Inc. (BSI).

The Quillaja saponaria tree is native to Chile and grows up to 60’ tall. It’s considered an evergreen and is used for more than just agricultural and pharmaceutical purposes, including for soap. The tree itself isn’t endangered, but it’s in relatively short supply for all of its different uses and there are strict laws about deforestation. Therefore, Salinas had to find a solution that left mature trees alone but still provided valuable ingredients from this evergreen.

“We put together a novel platform to produce Quillaja saponaria using scalable tissue culture techniques—it creates ingredients at high purity and consistency, and at a low cost,” Salinas says. He started this process to create a novel biofungicide at scale—Botristop—which is used in specialty crops in South America and will soon be launched in North America.

Through a lunch conversation with a friend in the pharmaceutical industry, Salinas quickly learned that his techniques could provide value beyond the agricultural industry. At a current cost of $400,000 to $500,000 per gram for QS-21, his scalable technique could provide the world with a better quality and more affordable COVID-19 vaccination.

“It was something we discovered by accident and since then, the last eight months, we’ve been focusing on this new business opportunity,” he says.

Sustainable vaccine production

The process they’re using is more sustainable and reliable than simply harvesting ingredients from mature, wild trees. In just 30 days they can extract QS-21 and Botristop ingredients from Quillaja saponaria ‘in vitro.’

Essentially, the tiny trees they’re pulling extracts from are about the size of sprouts you can order for your sandwiches. Using these sprouts addresses two major issues with botanical products: reducing environmental footprint and stretching the availability of a limited supply. The plants can be produced year-round and it standardizes chemical composition so every plant is chemically identical—unlike in nature.

Quillaja saponaria tree in the lab. This process uses trees that are only 30 days old to extract biofungicides and potential human health compounds. C: Gaston Salinas, BSI

For use in pharmaceuticals, identical chemical composition is critical. This makes extraction and inclusion in not only the COVID-19 vaccine, but many others, much easier. QS-21 is considered the “gold standard” in human immune system activators, so this improved process helps create more than just one vaccine.

In today’s processes that exploit natural resources, companies can only extract about 20 million doses of QS-21, about one kilogram. With this technique, Salinas says BSI’s current capacity creates dozens or even hundreds of kilograms. They’re poised to scale up production, too, as needed.

Right now, the vaccine is still in the testing process, so it won’t be available next week. However, pending FDA and other relevant approvals, this vaccine is just one way that agriculture and agricultural companies do more than just provide food—they could help save the world.

Reel In U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service News At Farm Journal Field Days

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:21:33 GMT

Farmers are, by their nature and daily focus, intent on production practices that preserve their land as well as habitat that supports and protects wildlife and fisheries.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director, Aurelia Skipwith, will speak to those priorities as part of a panel discussion during the Farm Journal Field Days event, set for Aug. 25-27.

“Her participation illustrates the importance of voluntary collaboration among federal agencies, farmers and ranchers to ensure the future of agriculture includes healthy working lands and wildlife habitat as well as a diverse and inclusive conservation ag workforce,” says Amy Skoczlas Cole, Executive Vice President for Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative.

Two recent successes farmers and ranchers achieved in partnership with FWS have been to enhance the habitat for the western sage grouse and the eastern cottontail rabbit. Populations of both have improved in recent years, thanks to the collaboration.

During Farm Journal Field Days, Director Skipwith will share the agency’s perspective on the importance of close collaboration with farmers and ranchers, many of whom operate adjacent to the hundreds of millions of acres under FWS management, including the National Wildlife Refuge System. Director Skipwith also will share how the agency’s rich history, diverse workforce and strategic partnerships are creating a more resilient future for conservation agriculture and conservationists of all backgrounds, including Black, Hispanic, Latino and Native American communities.

The panel discussion, “Scaling Diversity and Inclusion Across U.S. Agriculture,” will be available via on-demand video in the Farming For Today + Tomorrow Pavilion at the event.

Joining Director Skipwith on the panel are:

Zach Ducheneaux, Rancher, Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, South Dakota
Shannon Kellner, AVP Food Animal Business Team, Merck
Anatomia Farrell, National President, Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences

Learn more and register for Farm Journal Field Days at FarmJournalFieldDays.com

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Road Map for Animal Well-Being

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:14:24 GMT

Consumers continue to crave more information about how their food is produced. As such, livestock production practices can be caught in the spotlight. Most farmers say proper care of animals is part of their DNA, but as these three producers will tell you, good stewardship is paramount to their success. Animal welfare is vital to the financial and environmental sustainability of their businesses.

Healthy Pigs = Happy Consumers

“We have an obligation to treat the animals comfortably, and it’s for the good of everybody. It’s not only good for the animals; it’s for the good of the workers and the business of farming. In addition, consumers want to know how their animals are treated and where their food comes from — and they have every right to know that. It’s important we do the very best we can to get that message to them. I’ve been raising animals my whole life, and I think animals are treated better today than they ever have been in the history of animal farming. Still, there’s always room for improvement, and it’s imperative we make sure the animals have the best care possible. One of the ways we continue to improve animal care is to use industry professionals, who have to the opportunity to visit other farms, to point out little things we can be do better.”

Poultry Farm Opens Doors

“On our farm, we installed a viewing room in one of the chicken houses. The general public can see directly into our chicken houses, without risking biosecurity. We don’t have anything to hide. In order to keep the animals healthy, happy and growing, we have to implement best management practices that influence a positive reflection of what chickens want and need. Welfare is No. 1 for me. I’m in my chicken houses every day monitoring how they’re feeling and making sure that they are happy. In the 22 years we’ve been raising chickens, welfare has changed dramatically. Not that we were doing anything wrong before, but there’s been a lot of research and development in the poultry industry in the past 10 years. With every single flock we raise, we’re collecting data, learning and observing to see what’s best for the chickens.”

Committed to Cow Comfort

“I believe animal welfare is important to all farmers. We know there is a direct correlation between the care we put into our animals and the products those animals produce. Myself and our employees are reminded, and understand, our cows produce milk and milk sales are our main source of income. If we take care of the cow, she will take care of us. On our farm, we use a team of professionals to ensure our cows are cared for under the current best practices. Our veterinarian and nutritionist share their knowledge with our team to make sure we are up-to-date with the standards of high-quality care of our cows. Animal welfare is evolving every day on our farm, but the one consistent theme is common sense. We teach and train our employees to use common sense when handling and caring for our cows.”

3 Tips to Improve Animal Care

Livestock producers have come a long way in terms of animal care, but you can always do more. Emily Yeiser-Stepp, senior director with the National Dairy Farmers Advocating for Responsible Management Program, offers three steps toward a long-term
commitment to animal care.

Adopt new practices. Producers can’t rest on the we’ve-done-it-this-way-for-30-years mentality.
Engage with experts. Surround yourself with advisers and peers who will provide constructive criticism.
Engage your workforce. Explain the “why” behind each and every practice, and give your employees ownership of the animal care culture on your farm.

To learn more strategies to make animal care a priority on your farm, visit AgWeb.com/animal-care-tips

Read the 2019 America’s Conservation Ag Movement Annual Report in Farm Journal.