Posted September 4, 2013
USDA has released a report containing methods for quantifying entity-scale greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals from the agricultural and forestry sectors. The notice, available here, seeks comments from the public on the proposed methods.
The report, available here, was mandated by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. It was prepared by 38 technical experts and reviewed by 29 scientific reviewers. USDA “anticipates that the methods will be used by landowners and USDA to improve management practices and identify actions to reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon sequestration.” The guidelines and methods “could also be used by farmers, ranchers, and forest owners to facilitate their participation in voluntary state and regional GHG registries and programs.”
According to the Report Fact Sheet, project methods will include the estimation of carbon sequestration and GHG emissions reductions associated with farm, ranch, and forest management activities including: cropland soils, agro-forestry, enteric fermentation, field residue burning, fertilizer management, forest management, manure management, lime applications, afforestation, grazing land management, wetland soils, and rice production.
USDA highlighted transparency, consistency, comparability, completeness, accuracy, cost effectiveness, and ease of use as key considerations in the development of the methods and estimation tools in the report.
USDA will accept comments through October 11, 2013.
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