USDA CLIMATE-SMART COMMODITIES PROGRAM

A Fully Integrated Lifecycle Approach to Reduce GHG Emissions for Beef Cattle at Commercial scale

This project will help to implement climate-smart methods in beef production, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, expanding climate-smart markets, and generating carbon credit revenue for producers. COMET will be used for benchmarking soil carbon storage. This project will use artificial insemination with semen from Select Sires and natural service bulls from commercial cattle operations that have high-performance genetics focused on improving reproductive function and feed efficiency, which will reduce the enteric methane and manure emissions from pilot program cattle. AgSpire will administer climate-smart plantings (using seed from Millborn Seeds), nutrient management plans, and grazing protocols to increase beef yield and reduce nitrous oxide emissions, as well as provide soil testing and technical assistance to producers. Elanco products will be implemented to improve herd health and feed efficiency of program cattle. Enteric methane emissions will be reduced using a novel feed additive from Alga biosciences. Pilot program cattle will be finished at Tiffany Cattle Co. and marketed to commercial beef packing partners with value-added premiums. Solar panels from Helical Solar will be installed at Tiffany feedlot to provide renewable energy and shade for program cattle, which can improve feed efficiency and reduce emissions. Vytelle SENSE equipment and INSIGHT software will be installed at cow-calf ranches and Tiffany feedlot to measure cattle weights and dry matter intake, which are needed to quantify GHG emissions. IMI Global (a division of Where Food Comes From) will work with enrolled producers to provide third-party verification and LCT will use the USDA-approved Low Carbon Beef Process Verified Program (PVP) to certify fed cattle that are raised with reduced GHG emissions and enable the beef to be marketed with an associated animal raising claim. The project aims to produce about 8,000 head of program cattle with reduced GHG emissions and include roughly 30 progressive and diverse cow-calf producers. LCT expects about two-thirds of producers in the project will be small operations or historically underserved farmers and ranchers.

OUR PARTNERS

Millborn Seeds

Millborn will provide assistance in customizing multispecies seed mixes to address particular resource, soil type, regional adaptability, and forage goals of each participant involved in a climate-smart seeding practice. Millborn will provide a discount on cover crop seed, forage seed, and range seed that will be made available to all participants in this program.

Elanco

Herd health and nutrition play a critical role in efficient beef production systems and reducing GHG emissions. Elanco will assist participating producers in developing herd health and nutrition plans to meet USDA Climate-Smart Commodities Pilot Program goals.

ALGA BIOSCIENCES

Enteric methane emissions are the largest source of GHG emissions in conventional beef production and recent research has demonstrated that seaweed can reduce methane emissions by up to 100%12–15. Alga Biosciences (Alga) is decreasing agricultural methane emissions using one of the most scalable resources on the planet: algae. Alga uses modified seaweed to become functionally identical to Asparagopsis taxiformis. The proprietary cattle feed additive is shown to successfully reduce methane while maintaining animal health and growth. Pilot cattle will be fed Alga’s anti-methane feed additive once they are at Tiffany Cattle Co. in 2024. In 2025, cow-calf producers will have the option to feed the additive.

AgSpire

AgSpire will work with participating producers to create a nutrient, soil and grazing management plan based on an operation’s management strategy and geography. Guided by the AgSpire technical team, participants will select a land intervention, erosion control solution that includes planting one, or a variety, of cover crops, forages and grasses.

Vytelle

Vytelle brings together two core capabilities to the USDA Climate-Smart Commodities Pilot Program. Vytelle SENSE IPW technology will be installed at participating cow-calf operations and Tiffany Cattle Co. Not only will individual animal weights be measured noninvasively at cow-calf operations, but further data will be captured at the feedlot where feed intake trials will be underway. Being able to consistently measure cattle growth and performance will provide insight into cattle efficiency traits.

Select Sires, inc.

Select Sires will develop a breeding plan with participating producers. Whether in the spring or fall, the plan will include at least one round of A.I. to a qualified sire from a Select Sires product line, followed by exposure to a natural service animal that meets program EPD thresholds.

Helical Solar

Implementing solar panel shading can lower cattle body temperatures and yield incremental weight gain during the summer months 16–18. Helical Solar will collaborate with Tiffany Cattle Co. and Vytelle to design a panel layout at the feedyard that allows for feed efficiency trials to be evaluated. Helical Solar Solutions will also quantify energy captured to look for opportunities to export electricity to the grid. This could result in cattle operations becoming substantial electricity generation facilities in the future.

Tiffany Cattle Co.

USDA Climate-Smart Commodities Pilot Program cattle will need to be weaned at least 45 to 60 days prior to shipping to the Tiffany Cattle Co. feedyard. Upon arrival, cattle will be weighed , and then be processed, receiving necessary vaccines, wormers, an implant and ear tag.

Where Food Comes From

In order to verify and authenticate traceability claims, accurate records of cattle throughout their life is critical. WFCF utilizes Beef Passport, which is a private, confidential, online database that manages animal data. Feedyards and packers are encouraged to use the EID tag lookup feature to verify purchased cattle are meeting third-party verification requirements.