This document summarizes lessons learned from estimating the environmental footprints of Midwest farms. It acknowledges funding from the National Pork Board and cooperating producers. It discusses existing sustainability calculation tools and the need to work with producers to estimate metrics in a way that makes sense to them and those they talk to. Example tools are shown, along with an example footprint report for a wean to finish barn. Barriers to adoption like awareness, priority and trust are discussed. Shared goals among industry groups could help overcome barriers by enabling producers to stronger participate in sustainability conversations and minimize impacts through socially acceptable means. Building trust through comparing estimates to perceptions and focusing on results that are useful will help. Footprints have potential to add to descriptions of continuous improvement.

1. Lessons Learned from
Environmental Footprints of
Midwest Farms
Erin Cortus
Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
Allen D Leman Swine Conference
September 18, 2018

2. Acknowledgements
Diane DeWitte
Sarah Schieck
Jason Ertl
Lee Johnston
Joel Tallaksen
Brian Hetchler
Richard Stowell
Amy Millmier Schmidt

3. Acknowledgements
National Pork Board Award 18-042
“Environmental Footprints for Regional
Swine Production Systems Now and in
the Future – A Demonstration Pilot
Project”
Cooperating producers

4. Calculating and Communicating Sustainability with Livestock
Producers and Consumers
Existing calculators and tools
are available to estimate
sustainability metrics
To Do List
➢ work with producers
to estimate metrics
➢ understand
“sustainability” of
local industry now and
in the future
➢ What language and
metrics make the
most sense to
producers and those
they talk to?
Sustainability is a hot topic of
conversation for the livestock
industry
Shared programming
increases the
conversation
Producers enabled to be
stronger participants in
sustainability “conversations
Environmental impacts
are minimized through
socially acceptable and
cost effective means

5. Example Tools in the Toolbox
Agriculture and Land Use National
Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Software
https://www.nrel.colostate.edu/proj
ects/alusoftware/home
Field to Market
https://calculator.fieldtomar
ket.org/fieldprint-calculator/
Carbon Benefits Project
https://cbp.nrel.colostate.e
du/

6. Environmental Footprint Calculator

7. Example Footprint Report for a
Wean to Finish Barn

8. Example Footprint Report for a
Wean to Finish Barn

9. Example Footprint Report for a
Wean to Finish Barn

10. Example Footprint Report for a
Wean to Finish Barn

11. If you build it, will they use it?

12. Perceived Incentives to Adoption
Continuous improvement
Part of the story
Someone asked me

13. Perceived Barriers to Adoption
Awareness
Low priority
Input data
Utility
Trust

14. What roles can we play?

15. There are shared goals among us…
National Pork Board
State Pork Boards
Extension
Producers
Veterinarians
Shared programming
increases the
conversation
Producers enabled to be
stronger participants in
sustainability “conversations
Environmental impacts
are minimized through
socially acceptable and
cost effective means

16. Utility – set a baseline

17. Utility – recognize trade-offs

18. Utility – opportunities for change
Mortality management by
composting
Mortality management by
rendering

19. Building from experience
Trust
• How do estimates compare to perceptions
or measurements?
• What results are most useful and why?

20. Lessons Learned
• Footprints have potential to add to the
description of continuous improvement by
an operation
• Need to overcome barriers
• Shared goals and roles

21. Questions?
Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
University of Minnesota
www.bbe.umn.edu