Over recent years, the issue of climate change has steadily risen up company, government and civil society’s agendas and is now recognized as a significant issue that must be managed. Agricultural activities are tied closely to the changing climate. They are important sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: CH4 (methane) from livestock; N2O (nitrous oxide) from nitrogen in soils and manure; and CO2 (carbon dioxide) from fuel burned in tractors and barns. Beyond that, farms also store carbon, mostly in their soils. When managed poorly, this carbon can be lost to air as CO2 but if well managed it can actually remove CO2 from the air. Because farms are so connected to the air, what farmers do—how they manage their land and livestock—affects profoundly the air that surrounds us all.
Another significant issue, one that is closely linked to climate change, and equally important, is that of water – more specifically, water use and requirements to produce food and fiber.
We work closely with our clients to develop and implement carbon, water, and nitrogen footprint accounting and reporting systems allowing them to comply with increasing business and regulatory issues.