Assessing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture –

An Introduction to COMET-FarmTM

and COMET-PlannerTM

M. Easter1, M. Stermer1, K. Paustian1, K. Brown1, A. Chambers2, M. Eve3

and the COMET Team

1Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University2USDA NRCS Air Quality Team

3USD Office of the Chief Scientist

Outline

• What are the COMET-FarmTM and COMET-PlannerTM Tools?

• Conservation Scenario Analysis

• COMET Tool Examples

• Upcoming New Features, Training & Outreach

COMET-FarmTM & COMET-PlannerTM

Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases

Source: U.S. EPA

Total U.S. Emissions in 2013: 6,673 million metric tonnes CO2 equivalents

COMET-FarmTM & COMET-PlannerTM

Greenhouse Gases and Agriculture

The COMET Tools Provide a

Systems Approach to

GHG Inventories and

Conservation Scenario Analysis

Nearly Every Land Mgmt Decision Producers MakeAffects Greenhouse Gas Emissions or Carbon Sequestration

CroplandGrazing Land

LivestockAgroforestry

COMET-FarmTM & COMET-PlannerTM

Incentives for GHG Mitigation in Agriculture

• California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32) provides financial incentives for GHG reductions

• Voluntary Markets (Soil and Biomass Carbon Sequestration, Nitrous Oxide Reductions)

• Conservation practices have shared co-benefits for greenhouse gas mitigation, air quality, water quality

Implements the peer-reviewed, USDA-sanctioned entity-level inventory methods.

• Soil-related GHG emissions: “Blue Book” Methods Document

• Livestock-related GHG emissions: “Blue Book” Methods Document

• Energy-related GHG emissions: USDA/NRCS Energy Tool, EPA Emission Factors

COMET-FarmTM

Calculation Methods

EquationFactors,

USDA Methods,IPCC

COMET-FarmTM

How it works

Historic Rotations

NRI, Cropping Practices Survey,

CSRA

Climate & SoilNARR

&SSURGO

Web Interface

CSU Server

Empirical Models

Outputs

Results

SpecificLocation

SpecificActivities

EquationFactors,

USDA Methods,IPCC

COMET-PlannerTM

How it works

Historic Rotations

NRI, Cropping Practices Survey,

CSRA

Climate & SoilNARR

&SSURGO

Web Interface

CSU Server

Empirical Models

Outputs

Average Mitigation Effect

GeneralizedRegion

ConservationPractices

COMET-FarmTM & COMET-PlannerTM

Conservation Scenario Analysis

Cropland Baseline Scenario

(Business as Usual)

TillageReduction

ImprovedFertilizer

Management

Add Cover Crops

} CompareBenefits on the SameBalance Sheet

COMET-FarmTM

COMET-PlannerTM

Business as UsualConservation

PracticePracticeBenefit=

COMET-PlannerTM

How to Use the Tool

1. Enter Location 2. Select NRCS Conservation Practice

3. Enter area to generate results

Completed Scenario

ResultsDetails

COMET-FarmTM

How to Use the Tool - Cropland

COMET-FarmTM

Current Status / Upcoming Improvements

To be added:• Drought Mitigation• Pasture/Rangeland• Perennial & Specialty Crops• Conservation Templates

COMET-FarmTM

Training and Outreach

• Tutorials and Demonstration Scenarios

• Weekly Online Training and Help Sessions

• YouTube Videos• Help Desk

COMET-Farm Team

www.comet-farm.com www.comet-planner.com

USDA-NRCSAdam Chambers (Portland)Greg Johnson (Portland)

USDA-ARSSteve DelGrosso

Colorado State University

USDA-OCSMarlen Eve (DC)

Keith Paustian (Team Leader)Shawn ArchibequeAllison BrownKevin BrownMark EasterRam GurungMelannie HartmanAdriane HuberBen JohnkeKen KillianStephen Ogle

Bill PartonGeoff PietzMatt StermerBen SuttonAmy SwanCrystal ToureeneSobha VelayudhanSteve WilliamsJustin Ziegler

USDA-OCECarolyn Olson (DC)Marci Baranski (DC)

COMET-FarmTM & COMET-PlannerTM

Greenhouse Gas Source Categories

Greenhouse Gas Source Category Net Effect

Soil Carbon Emission orSequestration

Biomass Carbon Emission orSequestration

Manure/Compost Additions Emission or Sequestration

Synthetic N Fertilization Emission

Livestock – Enteric Methane and Manure Management

Emission

Crop Residue/Biomass Burning Emission

Rice Methane Emission

Liming Emission

Evaluated as a Whole in

COMET-FarmTM

Evaluated Individually in

COMET-PlannerTM