Ag Alert. April 27,2022

Seaweed Continued from Page 13

• Continuing a 20-year farming plan, first created in 2013, with a goal of reduc- ing the carbon footprint. • Eliminating fossil fuel dependence by converting all farmequipment to renew- able electricity. StrausOrganicDairy Farmestimated it can reduce its carbon footprint by 1,380 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year. That is calculated on land practices that sequester carbon and build soil health and use of a methane digester to reduce manure emissions. The farm’s renewable energy produced from the methane digester can replace fossil fuel use and offset greenhouse gas emissions by replacing grid electricity with farm-generated electricity. The methane digester has been oper- ational on Straus Organic Dairy Farm for 18 years and nowproduces all the farm’s electricity. In 2019 and 2021, Straus also collaborated with BMW Group to take advantage of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program. It incentivizes renewable electricity as a pathway to electric vehicles. “Four and a half years ago, we put to-

Albert Straus, Joan Salwen and animal scientist Mallory Honan, from left, test milk from cows that were fed seaweed. Top right, feed formula is produced at Blue Ocean Barns for cows at Straus Organic Dairy Farm, lower right.

Straus read newspaper articles on feeding trials in Australia and Canada using red seaweed. “They were get- ting up to 95% reduction in enteric methane, the belches coming from the cows,” he said. Straus was a consultant on the UC Davis trials, and his cows were part of the studies. “Last summer, we were the first com- mercial trial in United States for feeding red seaweed. It was the longest and larg- est trial to date,” Straus said. Straus had 24 cows in the trial. They were fed seaweed in very small amounts. He said it took a little time for the cows to adapt to the seaweed. Ultimately, there was an average of 52% reduction in enteric methane with a few cows over 85%. The difference in effectiveness was due to some cows eat- ing more of the seaweed than others. “It was a successful trial,” Straus said, adding he wants to feed the seaweed in pellet form in the future so it’s more pal- atable and easier tomeasure. Salwen said her firm is prioritizing development of a pellet form for distri- bution. “Right now, we have a powder, and to put that into a pellet is relatively easy,” she said. Some producers prefer the pellets while others want a powdered form

gether a fully electric truck to feed the cows that’s powered by the cow waste, and we just finished a full-scale John Deere loader that we converted to elec- tric as well,” Straus said. “By 2023, the milk coming frommy dairy will have an equal or lower carbon footprint than any plant-based alternative dairy products.”

79720 Straus is predicting an 80% to 90% reduction on methane emissions in his dairy operations by 2023. He said, “I think the red seaweed and methane digesters are part of that solution.” (Kathy Coatne y i s a repor t e r in Bend, Oregon. She may be contacted at kacoatney@gmail.com.) What you see: He saidhewill start feeding hismilking cows seaweed, and eventually it will be fed to all of his cows. What we see: “It’s been a goal and a mission to re- ally show that farms can have a positive impact on the environment and our food system,” Straus said. What you see: “Initially, the seaweed has a slightly higher cost,” Straus said. “But between all the different programs—the cap and trade and all these carbon markets are doing—I feel that it’s going to either be budget neutral or cost neutral, or it will actually be an income source for farmers because they’re doing a service for soci- ety in combating climate change.” There are also large companies that want to showtheir commitment togreen- house gas reductionby funding adoption of seaweed within their supply chain at no cost to farmers, Salwen said. because they’re already mixing sup- plements in a powdered form, and they want to feed the seaweed in the same manner.

What

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Purina ® Omolene ® Fee The textured feed you’ Keep your horse perfo nutritious fuel sources for gastric support and retailer, or visit purinam

Purina ® Omolene ® Feeds, now with Outlast ® Supplement. The textured feed you’re used to has changed for the better. Keep your horse performing with confidence with the same nutritious fuel sources, now with Outlast ® Supplement for gastric support and proper pH. Talk to your local Purina retailer, or visit purinamills.com/omolene © 2019 Purina Animal Nutrition LLC. All rights reserved. Feed s own is Omolene ® 200 Horse Feed. Other feeds may vary.

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14 Ag Alert April 27, 2022

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