Climate Smart Dairy Field Day Set For Friday

The latest technologies for the dairy industry will be on display Friday at Royal Dairy in central Washington.  Washington State University and Cornell University will share their latest research when it comes to helping producers curb greenhouse emissions on their farms.  The Climate-Smart Dairy Farming Field Day will showcase projects using sensors, weather monitoring, biochar and feed additives to understand and manage emissions.

"Accurate and continuous emission information can help farmers reduce their greenhouse footprint," said Lav Khot, WSU associate professor and project leader of the Climate-Smart Dairy Farming test bed. "As scientists, we want to provide low-cost, reliable technology to support data-driven decisions that improve sustainability."

Funded by the Washington State Conservation Commission, through the 2021 Climate Commitment Act, WSU and Cornell researchers are conducting a one-year research and demonstration project at the Royal City farm. 

Khot's team is gathering baseline and treatment-specific data using a local network of emission sensors to monitor methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide, as well as real-time weather conditions at various locations around the farm.

A Variety Of Issues Can Impact Emissions

"Dairy cow physiology, and thus their greenhouse gas emissions, are linked to seasonal, monthly, and daily weather conditions," Khot said. "Tying weather and diet to emissions will help our team find interventions that reduce emissions and support climate-smart dairy farming."

Cornell scientists are using the WSU-collected data to create strategies that reduce or mitigate emissions. One idea being tested treats manure with biochar; another uses cattle feed additives to reduce methane gas emissions from the cows themselves.

The day includes a tour of both the experiments and Royal Dairy’s regenerative farming projects, as well as farmer perspectives. 

Admission is free.  Click Here to learn more or to register for Friday's event.

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