Tool to Estimate Farm-Level Greenhouse Gas Emissions Enhanced

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White this week announced the release of an enhanced and expanded online tool developed in collaboration with Colorado State University that helps producers estimate carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions associated with a variety of on-farm management practices.

The tool, COMET-VR 2.0, is available at www.comet2.colostate.edu/. COMET-VR 2.0 is easy-to-use and connected to state-of-the-art models that help farmers and ranchers evaluate on-farm greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration options. The online tool estimates carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emission reductions associated with the implementation of conservation practices for cropland, pasture, rangeland, orchards and agroforestry. In addition, the user-friendly evaluation tool includes estimates for biomass and soil carbon stock changes and carbon dioxide emissions from on-farm energy use.

COMET-VR 2.0 is applicable to all agricultural lands in the conterminous 48 states. Information necessary to evaluate land use and energy changes include state, county, parcel size, surface soil texture, approximate historic land use changes, tillage and fertilization practices, future land management and carbon storage practices and current fossil fuel electricity consumption.