Micheal Clements, NAFB News Service

Dairy Farmers of America seeks to become the first U.S. dairy cooperative to set a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The national dairy cooperative is setting a science-based target and committing to reduce both direct and value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. By having their targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, DFA supports the Paris Agreement’s broader goals to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius. Additionally, DFA’s target is aligned with work of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and its goals for the U.S. dairy industry to become carbon neutral or better by 2050. Ways to reduce greenhouse gasses, according to DFA, includes mitigating methane emissions from cows by supporting advances in feed efficiency, herd nutrition and feed additives designed to reduce emissions. Additionally, the plan calls for using renewable energy methods, anaerobic digesters, capturing emissions through healthy soil and crops and creating transportation and hauling efficiencies to reduce emissions.