The dairy industry is taking significant strides to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable agricultural practices. One of the key strategies dairy farmers are employing is investing in soil health through regenerative agriculture. For example, more than 90% of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) farmer-owners have implemented soil management plans.
In agriculture, soil health refers to the soil’s ability to sustain productivity while protecting environmental resources. This approach not only helps to sequester carbon, but also improve the yield of their feed crops, such as silage and alfalfa, which are essential for dairy cows.
For dairy farmers, soil is more than just dirt — it’s a living ecosystem. When soil health is compromised, the entire ecosystem — including water, plant and animal life — is at risk. Conversely, investing in soil health can significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from feed production, a significant component of a dairy farm’s carbon footprint.
Regenerative agriculture: A path to sustainability
Regenerative agriculture, a set of farming practices aimed at restoring and maintaining soil health, is increasingly becoming a cornerstone for sustainable dairy farming to reduce the environmental impact.
These practices include planting cover crops during the offseason to protect and replenish the soil, employing low-till or no-till farming techniques to minimize soil disturbance, and using natural fertilizers like manure to enhance soil organic matter.
These methods help replenish soil nutrients, reduce runoff, increase the longevity of the soil’s quality, and maintain soil carbon stocks. Recent studies have shown that these regenerative practices can increase the amount of carbon sequestered in soil.
Regenerative ag practices include:
1. Planting cover crops to protect and replenish soil during winter
2. Implementing low-till or no-till field practices to minimize soil disturbance
3. Using natural fertilizers, such as manure
New sustainable dairy programs
Recognizing the potential of these practices, Truterra, an agricultural sustainability business, launched its first-ever programs specifically for dairy producers in August. Jamie Leifker, president of Truterra, said the focus of these new programs is to target the feed production side of dairy farming. By helping farmers manage the crops grown on their farms more sustainably, they can significantly reduce the carbon intensity of the milk produced.
“We’re matchmakers,” Leifker said. “We work with climate-conscious food and ag companies that are looking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in their supply chains and are willing to invest in helping farmers implement those practice changes.”
Truterra’s Summer 2024 Dairy Soils Carbon Programs reward pre-qualified dairy producers who adopt sustainable farming practices on the crops they use for dairy feed. Supported by leading dairy companies including Land O'Lakes, Bel Brands and Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), these programs offer financial incentives for practices that improve soil health.
Open to long-term and near-term adopters, silage and alfalfa acres are eligible for the program. Participating farmers could earn US$15 per acre from Land O’Lakes and Bel Brands, or US$30 per ton of carbon sequestered under DFA’s program.
Truterra’s approach is data-driven and highly precise.
“The fidelity of our data is of utmost importance because, ultimately, that’s the only evidence we have of the progress we’re making,” Leifker said.
By partnering with ag retailers who have access to on-farm data, Truterra can accurately quantify the carbon tons removed from the environment and translate this into reduced carbon per kilogram of milk delivered to the consumer.
“We’ve developed systems to be able to accurately manage the data and are also applying tools like artificial intelligence to help us derive insights so that we can not only report on carbon, but in the future begin to expand our offerings to other solutions and environmental attributes, like water or biodiversity,” Leifker said.
Looking to the future
As the dairy industry continues to innovate, the focus on soil health is expanding to include other aspects of sustainability. Truterra is already looking ahead, with plans to address manure management and methane reduction in future programs.
“The dairy farmers are resilient, and they’re innovative,” Leifker said. “It’s the pride they have in what they’re doing, their ability to create a legacy and keep that legacy moving through the generations in their family. This translates directly to sustainability.”
The story of sustainable dairy farming begins with the soil beneath our feet and extends to the glass of milk on our table. Through innovative programs, technology and partnerships, dairy farmers are working together to build a more sustainable future — one that balances environmental stewardship with economic viability. As the dairy industry continues to lead in sustainable agriculture, investing in soil health will be key to reducing its carbon footprint and feeding a growing world responsibly.
