[PCA] Fwd: Greenhouse Gas Report to Assist Producers Facing Climate Challenges

[De Angelis, Patricia]

Thought this might be of interest as it includes managed wetlands, managed
forests, and managed grazing lands...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: USDA Office of Communications <usda at public.govdelivery.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 31, 2014 at 11:01 AM

   USDA Press Release


  Release No. 0161.14  Contact:  Brian K. Mabry (202) 720-4623     Greenhouse
Gas Report to Assist Producers Facing Climate Challenges     *For the First
Time, USDA Climate Hubs Get New Tools to Gauge Progress in Building
Drought-Resistant Healthy Soil*

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today
released a report that, for the first time, provides uniform scientific
methods for quantifying the changes in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and
carbon storage from various land management and conservation activities.
The report, titled *Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Agriculture and
Forestry: Methods for Entity-Scale Inventor*y, will help USDA evaluate
current and future greenhouse gas conservation programs, as well as develop
new tools and update existing ones to help farmers, ranchers and forest
landowners participate in emerging carbon markets.

"America's farm, ranch and forest managers are stewards of the land, and
have long recognized the significance of managing soil health, plant
productivity and animal nutrition. Conservation practices and other
management changes can reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon storage
while improving soil health, productivity, and resilience to drought and
other extreme weather," said Undersecretary for Natural Resources and
Environment Robert Bonnie. "In partnership with USDA and the Obama
Administration, State and regional GHG offset programs and voluntary GHG
markets can help make these practices less costly to implement and increase
the producer's bottom line."

Today's report outlines science-based methods for quantifying changes in
GHG emissions and carbon storage at the local farm, ranch or forest
operation. Reducing GHG emissions and increasing carbon storage builds
healthy, carbon-rich soils and more resilient production of food, fiber and
fuel. USDA recently established Regional Climate Change Hubs to assist
landowners with management challenges that arise from weather variability
and climate change. The methods report and the tools provided in it will
aid the Hubs in giving landowners information on management options to
improve agriculture production, soil health, and resource conservation.

The report is the work of 38 experts in GHG estimation in the cropland,
grazing land, livestock and forest management sectors across academia, USDA
and the federal government. The report was reviewed by an additional 29
scientists, other Federal experts, and the public. While developing the
report, reviewers considered scientific rigor, transparency, completeness,
accuracy, and cost effectiveness, as well as consistency and comparability
with other Federal GHG inventory efforts. The report can be downloaded at
www.usda.gov/oce/climate_change/estimation.htm
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNzMxLjM0NjI0MzExJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDczMS4zNDYyNDMxMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MDE2ODA5JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.usda.gov/oce/climate_change/estimation.htm>
.

Current USDA carbon tools, such as USDA's COMET-Farm, are being updated to
incorporate the new methods. Using COMET-Farm, a land manager who is
considering a shift to no-till production system, for example, can evaluate
the soil carbon benefits of that system and consider revenue opportunities
provided by entering into a voluntary agreement with a carbon market. The
methods in the report are comprehensive, addressing a wide variety of
cropland, grazing land, livestock and forest management practices.

For more information on USDA's Climate Change activities, please visit
www.usda.gov
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNzMxLjM0NjI0MzExJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDczMS4zNDYyNDMxMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MDE2ODA5JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://www.usda.gov/>
and click on "Climate Solutions."

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a
complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800)
795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).


 ------------------------------

If you have questions about USDA activities, please visit our Ask the Expert
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNzMxLjM0NjI0MzExJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDczMS4zNDYyNDMxMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MDE2ODA5JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&115&&&http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=ASK_EXPERT2>
page. This feature is designed to assist you in obtaining the information
you are seeking.

*USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of
discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800)
877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).*
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