Upcoming Events
Spring 2023 webinar series to be announced soon.
Webinar Recordings
(by topic below, or chronologically via our YouTube Channel)
GHG 101
Introduction to agricultural Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission and mitigation potential – a New York case study applicable to the Northeast, presented by Jenifer Wightman (Cornell University, Soil & Crop Sciences). October 21, 2021
SOILS
Examining net greenhouse gas impacts of soil health practices – using the FAST-GHG tool and key research results, presented by Peter Woodbury (Cornell University, Soil & Crop Sciences). October 21, 2021
LIVESTOCK
RUMEN 101: The Magical Mystical Rumen and Dairy Cattle Sustainability presented by Dr. Larry Chase. January 25, 2022
GRAZING: Comparison of Confinement Vs Grazing Dairy Systems: Effect on production performance, nutrient use efficiency, and enteric methane emissions in dairy cows presented by Dr. Andre Brito
MODELS: The Role of Models in Farm Systems Management for GHG Mitigation presented by Kristan Foster Reed (Assistant Professor of Dairy Cattle Nutrition & Management, Cornell University). November 18, 2021
FEED: Feed Management Implementation From a PA NRCS Perspective- Moving from Water Quality to GHG Mitigation presented by Dan Ludwig (State Resource Conservationist, USDA-NRCS Pennsylvania). November 18, 2021.
MANURE – Cover + Flare System
Panel discussion on Retrofitting a manure storage for Cover+Flare system (learn from engineers, installers, farmers, technical support, NYS grant opportunities) to destroy methane from liquid manure storage.
Dale Stein – Chair of the Soil Water Conservation Committee and farmer shares his farm experience of operating a Cover+Flare system. See also Dale’s comments in the Q/A after Jennifer Clifford’s session, starting at minute 7.30.
Jennifer Clifford – NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, presents on the new round of funding for Cover+Flare Systems under the Climate Resilient Farming (CRF) and Agricultural Non Point in NYS
Jessica Skinner – JESS Engineering, PLLC – discusses her firm’s design experience with Cover+Flare systems for farms in NYS
Ken Van Slyke – will discuss mechanical separation of manure liquids/solids for different use of these resources (this presentation was not recorded)
Jason Taylor – Environmental Fabrics, Inc., discusses his firm’s experience installing Cover+Flare systems in NYS.
Al Fagan – District Manager at Wyoming County Soil & Water Conservation District – discusses how SWCDs can help a farm evaluate the suitability of Cover+Flare system.
FOREST
INTRO: Forest Management for Climate Change Mitigation in New York presented by Tim Fahey (Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor @Cornell University). December 16, 2021.
NY POLICY: New York State climate change legislation impact on forests and carbon sequestration statewide panel recommendations and current incentives for private landowners presented by Bryan Ellis (Forest Climate Section Leader, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Lands and Forests @New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS DEC). December 16, 2021
LAND USE
Learn how land use can impact Greenhouse Gases. Consider what area is ‘idle’ and consider how a land owner might ‘activate’ that land: afforestation, bioenergy feedstocks, solar, new food production, etc.
Identifying idle land in NYS; some considerations for choosing different biomass opportunities presented by Peter Woodbury and Jenifer Wightman, Cornell University
Solar and Agriculture, from Competition to Co-Location presented by Zachary Eldredge, Technology Manager, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Futures Study, solar energy could occupy as much as ten million acres nationwide by 2050 if we are to meet our climate goals. While there is sufficient land in the United States to realize this development, competition for prime land area (close to transmission, favorable climate, relatively flat) is likely to be expected and could pose an issue for realizing decarbonization goals. In this talk, I will describe work at DOE to advance the practice of agrivoltaics, the combined use of land for both solar and agriculture.
Land use implications of more circular and sustainable food systems presented by Lori Leonard, Professor, Department of Global Development
A large proportion of the world’s arable land is used to produce food (crops or livestock) that is never eaten. By reducing food waste, it is possible to conserve forested land and reduce GHG emissions associated with agricultural production. Keeping excess food, including food scraps, in the human food chain is also vital to reducing the pressure on land from agriculture and reducing the food-feed competition. This means privileging some recycling strategies, namely diverting food waste for animal feed.
Agriculture to solar land use change in New York State, presented by Peter Woodbury (November 2022)
FOOD WASTE
Learn how citizens can help farms and landfills reduce greenhouse gases –while saving money, land area, and natural resources– by reducing food waste.
Food Waste: What we know and what we don’t presented by Dr. Zach Conrad (Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Global Research Institute at William & Mary)
Food waste is an issue for public health, the environment, and food affordability. This webinar describes the current state of science on these relationships, drawing from the most contemporary evidence from around the world but focusing on the United States. Specifically, this webinar describes the difference between food loss and waste, food waste reduction targets, health impacts, environmental impacts, economic impacts, which foods are wasted most, why we waste food, and ways to reduce food waste at the individual level and system level.
Innovative Case Studies from a New Hampshire Landfill presented by Marc Morgan (Solid Waste Manager for the City of Lebanon in Lebanon, New Hampshire)
During this webinar, you will learn how a municipal solid waste facility is working to reduce waste disposal and have a positive impact on the environment. This is being accomplished through a food scrap composting program. The City of Lebanon’s Food Scrap Program is open to commercial accounts and as a drop off for residents.
Key Publications – GHG Emission & Mitigation
FACT SHEETS:
3 Key Gases from US Agriculture. Wightman & Woodbury. 2021.
How Greenhouse Gases Affect Climate. Wightman & Woodbury. 2021.
5 Ways to Act Now! Wightman & Woodbury. 2021.
Northeast Agriculture & GHG. Wightman & Woodbury. 2021.
we will be adding more, soon!
POLICY WHITE PAPERS:
New York Agriculture and Climate Change: Key Opportunities for Mitigation, Resilience, and Adaptation. Wightman & Woodbury. 2020. NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets Report.
Sources and Sinks of Major Greenhouse Gases Associated with New York State’s Natural and Working Lands: Forests, Farms, and Wetlands. McDonnell et al. 2020. NYSERDA Report Number 20-06.
Current and Potential Methane Production for Electricity and Heat from New York State Wastewater Treatment Plants. Wightman & Woodbury 2014. New York State Water Resources Institute.
Renewable Fuels Roadmap and Sustainable Biomass Feedstock Supply for New York. Wojnar, et al. 2010. NYSERDA Report Number 10-05.
PEER REVIEWED PAPERS:
Predicting greenhouse gas benefits of improved nitrogen management in North American maize. Tonitto et al. 2020. Journal of Environmental Quality.
Towards applying N balance as a sustainability indicator for the US cornbelt: realistic achievable targets, spatio-temporal variability and policy implications. Sela et al. 2019. Environmental Research Letters.
Maximizing social benefit from finite energy resource allocation. Wightman & Woodbury. 2019. Energy, Sustainability and Society.
Natural Climate Solutions for the United States, Fargione et al. 2018. Sci. Adv.
Agriculture can mitigate climate change at low cost to help meet Paris Agreement goals. Woodbury. 2018. BioScience.
Natural climate solutions. Griscom et al. 2017. PNAS.
New York Dairy Manure Management Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mitigation Costs (1992–2022). Wightman & Woodbury. Journal of Environmental Quality. 2016.
Assessing Sustainable Bioenergy Feedstock Production Potential by Integrated Geospatial Analysis of Land Use and Land Quality
Land Quality and Management Practices Strongly Affect Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Bioenergy Feedstocks
About Us
This education and outreach programming is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture – Smith Lever Project 2019-20-110.
We are Jenifer Wightman and Peter Woodbury, researchers in Cornell University (CU), College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), School of Integrated Plant Science (SIPS), Soil and Crop Sciences Section. The content behind this website has been supported by many funders, including but not limited to NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYSERDA, USDA-NIFA Hatch and USDA-NIFA McIntire-Stennis Capacity Grants, and others.
