California’s Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gases from Dairy and Livestock Operations

California is leading the nation in setting and achieving greenhouse gas reduction goals for a carbon-neutral future and mitigating climate change. SB 1383, passed in 2016, set a target for California’s dairy and livestock sector to reduce its methane emissions to 40% below 2013 levels by 2030. Currently, there are two programs in California, administered through the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), that provide financial incentives to dairy and livestock producers to reduce methane emissions from on-farm manure management. The Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP) provides funding for the development and implementation of biogas-producing digester projects. The biogas is further utilized to generate renewable energy. The Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) provides funding for implementation of non-digester approaches to reduce methane emissions; for example, conversion of flush systems to scrape systems and composting of manure. The two programs complement each other in providing a menu of methane reduction options to dairy and livestock producers across the spectrum of farm types and sizes.

An application for continuing education credit for Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) and members of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) will be submitted.