Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative is partnering with Farmers for Sustainable Food (FSF) on the FSF Climate-Smart Program. This initiative helps farmers identify effective conservation practices and provides tools to measure their environmental impact. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities award.
In its first year, 53 farmers participated and significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Their combined efforts equated to removing 11,467 U.S. passenger vehicles from the road or powering 6,602 homes for a year. Drew Kessler, scientist and principal of Houston Engineering, Inc., shared these results during a panel discussion at Dairy Strong.
“The first year of the FSF Climate-Smart Program shows promising results,” Kessler said. “This five-year effort empowers farmers and adds value throughout the supply chain.”
FSF assists farmers in collecting farm data, which contractors like Houston Engineering analyze. The data generates greenhouse gas emissions reports, carbon scores, and other insights. Farmers then use this information to set sustainability goals for the following year. Participants receive compensation for their involvement.
“The program has been so successful that we’re already at capacity for the second year,” Kessler added.
Farmers are not required to share their data outside the program. At Dairy Strong, three participants shared how the program impacted their dairies.
Kristin Quist, co-owner of Minglewood Inc. in Polk County, Wisconsin, uses sustainable practices like a Sterjnholm Sand Separator, the first installed in the U.S. She said her first-year score created a strong baseline for future improvements.
“The data is new to us, but our creamery was happy to see it,” Quist said. “Most of us already use sustainable methods like no-till farming and cover crops. This program connects those efforts to our carbon footprint.”
Patrick Maier, a partner in Maier Farms, LLC in Dane County, Wisconsin, joined the program to better understand his farm’s carbon dioxide output.
“Consumers are more interested in carbon footprints, so I wanted to learn more about our farm’s impact,” Maier said.
Michael Crinion, a dairy farm owner in Lake Benton, Minnesota, noted that product manufacturers want to hear how farmers reduce their carbon footprint. Some may even pay more for sustainable dairy products.
“Consumers care about this topic, so having this information is valuable,” Crinion said. “We can use it to tell our own stories because most consumers don’t know what steps we take.”
Crinion informed his processor about the program, sparking discussions with a cheesemaker about potentially paying more for milk from sustainable dairies.
The FSF Climate-Smart Program also allows farmers to review their scores with experts. Maier acknowledged that data collection required effort but said the insights made it worthwhile.
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