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.
