aacc – Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Community

March 5, 2019July 7, 2020

Navigating Agriculture through the Water-Energy-Food Symposium

The Navigating Agriculture through the Water-Energy-Food Symposium was held in Austin, TX on November 19, 2015. The symposium was organized by David Smith (dwsmith@tamu.edu).

The videos listed below are in the same order as they appear in the embedded playlist to the right. The direct link to each video is provided if you wish to go directly to a presentation.

Opening Remarks

There is a lot that cannot be predicted, but we need to plan nonetheless. Government’s role is to be in the background and ensure that social justice needs are met. https://youtu.be/iT27yd37bIo

Texas State Rep. Tracy O. King, District 80, Chairman—House Agriculture and Livestock Committee, Member—Natural Resources Committee

Water-energy-food nexus—applications for agriculture communities

The Nexus Platform Tool allows users to examine the water gap in Texas. Planners are looking at different scenarios in order to anticipate bottlenecks and needs and prepare to meet those challenges or take advantage of opportunities. https://youtu.be/0N38ooLKJsA

Dr. Rabi Mohtar, Texas Engineering Experiment Station Endowed Professor, Texas A&M University; Founding Director of Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute

Water supply & demand – trends and challenges for the Southwest

This presentation examined the Ogallala Aquifer (which is 40% of all water use in Texas) and the anticipated strategies to meet needs of different users such as agriculture and municipalities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CphzrKOX6UE

Dr. Robert Mace, Deputy Executive Director, Texas Water Development Board

Value of water to agricultural communities

In addition to the Ogallala Aquifer, there are two deeper ones including Edwards-Trinity and Dockum (Santa-Rosa). All are part of the High Plains Water District, an organization that has undergone extensive planning and outreach efforts. They have developed a tool to look at each permitted well in the district and its characteristics. The presenter also discussed the groundwater rights of land owners and the “water-neutral” business model adopted by some and the potential for this to attract new business in water-limited areas. https://youtu.be/DHtR-d_AUoA

Jason Coleman, P.E. General Manager, High Plains Water District

The shale boom—Impacts for agriculture production and producers

The nature of the oil business is often that there are “booms” in local areas when reserves are discovered or when prices make a particular resource worth developing. This presentation discusses some of the activity in the U.S. and especially Texas and how the industry has evolved technologically. The need for long-term planning to leverage these resources into long-standing infrastructure and development for community is also highlighted. https://youtu.be/HZibOjAfGb4

Dr. Thomas Tunstall, Research Director, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Institute for Economic Development

The future of renewable energy and agriculture

This presentation discusses the overall energy needs of the U.S.and creative ways that energy needs can be evened out at grid-scale decision levels that involve very local (domestic water heater or electric car) ways to “store” excess energy and use it when needed. These types of decisions could reduce the needs for new power plant construction or need to bring a plant online for short periods of time for peak demand. As agriculture on on the “edges” of the grid, it could be part of the areas where change is likely to happen first. https://youtu.be/6QrXKOLmEZ8

Dr. Wendell Porter, P.E., Lecturer, Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department, University of Florida

Global market impacts and implications for local farms and ranches

What is the world view of agriculture and markets? Policy, exports, population growth (demand), currency values, and the potential impacts on U.S. agriculture and on Texas are presented. https://youtu.be/QQnYpIdpRls

Dr. James W. Richardson, Regents Professor & AgriLife Research Senior Faculty Fellow, Co-Director Agriculture & Food Policy Center, Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University

Innovation and technology applications for agriculture production

What is the role of technology in food production? This presentation looks at sensors, autonomous vehicles, data communication and analysis, and innovative practices that protect natural resources. https://youtu.be/4r40cMU9IGQ

Dr. Reza Ehsani, Associate Professor of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Citrus Research & Education Center

Turning climate change into opportunities for agricultural producers

Climate change and the accompanying changes in weather are fairly important to agricultural producers. This presentation discusses the improvements in predicting changes in weather and climate and how it can be used in planning for different scenarios in agricultural production. https://youtu.be/5oVaZdzcS18

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, Regents Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, Texas State Climatologist

The rapidly evolving legal and regulatory framework for agriculture producers

This presentation breaks down the land resources available and discusses water policy that can or will affect agriculture. Topics include “Waters of the U.S.” (surface water), ground water and surface water resources, and the tension between private land ownership and the need to regulate usage of water (especially ground water). There are also differences (and sometimes contradictions) between local and state or federal rules. https://youtu.be/N7tRiC702Mw

Jim Bradbury, Attorney, James D. Bradbury, PLLC, Austin & Fort Worth, Texas

Educating tomorrow’s nexus thinkers

How do we reach young people on their own terms (especially as digital ‘natives’) to pass on the important knowledge and context they will need to advance science, policy and education? This generation is increasingly urban, worldly, socially conscious, and disconnected from direct food production. How do we especially highlight the connections of food, water, and energy? https://youtu.be/_Pumw9uRDTI

Dr. Christopher T. Boleman, Assistant Director and State Leader for 4-H Youth Development, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, College Station, Texas

Acknowledgments

The symposium was part of the Animal Agriculture in a Changing Climate project that was funded by USDA NIFA under award # 2011-67003-30206 For more on the project and to discover resources for educators and professionals in addition to these videos, visit http://lpelc.org/animal-ag-climate-change/

March 5, 2019March 20, 2019

Western Region Symposium on Animal Agriculture in a Changing Climate March 31, 2015

These presentations were from the Western Region Symposium on Animal Agriculture in a Changing Climate at the Waste to Worth Conference, Seattle WA. 3/31/2015.

Climate Change Impacts On Western Livestock

Lara Whitely-Binder is an outreach specialist with the University of WA’s Climate Impact’s Group. Her presentation describes the Western U.S regional climate outlook and projected impacts to agriculture. She examines the impacts (some positive, some negative) on water supply, changes in yield, rangeland fire risk and forage quality, and milk and beef production.

Livestock Grazing In a Changing Climate: Implications for Adaptive Management

Justin Derner, PhD is a Rangeland scientist with the USDA-ARS in Cheyenne, WY, and the director of the Northern Plains Climate Hub in Ft. Collins, CO. This presentation discusses livestock grazing in a changing climate and the implications for adaptive management on rangelands. Adaptive management is a process by which a manager is constantly evaluating the system and making adjustments to reduce risks and uncertainty. View Dr. Derner’s proceedings paper for the conference.

USDA Northwest Region Climate Hub Update

Bea Van Horne, PhD is with the USDA Forest Service and the director of the USDA for the Pacific Northwest Regional Climate Hub. She gave an update of the Pacific Northwest Climate Hub. Climate change is expected to have significant impacts on agriculture. The climate hubs aim to deliver region-specific information and serve as a clearinghouse for providing science-based information to agricultural managers.

Beef Cattle Selection and Management For Adaptation To Drought

Megan Rolfe, PhD is an assistant professor in animal science department at Oklahoma State University and a beef extension specialist for the state of Oklahoma. The presentation discusses her program’s research findings on beef cattle selection and management for adaptation to drought. She discusses areas such as water intake, quality and quantity of available water, and animal performance and carcass characteristics under water restriction.

Adopting Policies and Priorities to Encourage Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices

Susan Capalbo is Professor and Department Head of Applied Economics at Oregon State University. She gave an presentation discussing ways to encourage the ag community to adopt practices and policy makers to create policies that are beneficial in terms of climate and food production.

Acknowledgements

This page was developed as part of a project “Animal Agriculture and Climate Change” an extension facilitation project to increase capacity for ag professionals. It was funded by USDA-NIFA under award # 2011-67003-30206. If you have questions about any of the topics or have problems with links, contact Crystal Powers cpowers2@unl.edu or Jill Heemstra jheemstra@unl.edu.

For questions about the AACC project, contact Rick Stowell rstowell2@unl.edu or Crystal Powers.

March 5, 2019March 28, 2019

Changes, Challenges and Opportunities for Animal Agriculture

Waste to Worth Conference; April 1, 2015

Challenges and Opportunities for Animal Agriculture In a Dynamic Water-Energy-Food-Land Nexus – Some International Perspectives

Dr. Beverly Henry, Queensland University of Technology View recorded presentation….

Dr. Beverley Henry – Associate Professor, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology

Dr. Henry is a Principal Research Fellow in the Institute for Future Environments at Queensland University of Technology, and an agricultural consultant. She has almost 30 years’ experience working in academic, government and agricultural industry organisations on research areas that include managing for climate variability, sustainable land management, resource use efficiency, food security and climate change and greenhouse gas mitigation. She participates in advisory and technical groups for several national and international organisations including the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, International Standards Organisation and the International Wool Textile Organisation.

Droughts and Climate Extremes: Lessons for the Future

View recorded presentation….

Dr. Mike Hayes, Director, National Drought Mitigation Center Dr. Mike Hayes – Director, National Drought Mitigation Center, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Dr. Michael Hayes is currently the Director for the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) located within the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He became the NDMC’s Director in August 2007 and has worked at the NDMC since it was founded in 1995. The NDMC now has 17 faculty and staff working on local, tribal, state, national, and international drought-, climate-, and water-related issues. Dr. Hayes’ main interests focus on drought risk management strategies. Dr. Hayes received his academic degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Measuring the Environmental Hoofprint of Dairy and Beef Production Systems

View proceedings paper and recorded presentation….

Dr. Al Rotz, USDA ARS Dr. C. Alan Rotz – Agricultural Engineer, USDA Agricultural Research Service, University Park, Pennsylvania

Life cycle assessment requires good data on the inputs and outputs of the system, and process level simulation of farm or ranch production can help provide this information. Life cycle assessment is best used to monitor the impact of system changes such as those imposed by climate change.

Dr. Rotz is an Agricultural Engineer with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. His work has included the development, evaluation and application of a farm simulation model used to evaluate and compare the performance, economics, and environmental impacts of farming systems. His current work emphasizes the measurement and modeling of gaseous emissions from farms and the environmental and economic sustainability of farm production systems. Al grew up on a dairy farm in southern Pennsylvania. He holds degrees from Elizabethtown College and The Pennsylvania State University. He spent three years as an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University before joining the Agricultural Research Service in 1981. For 16 years, he led the East Lansing Cluster of the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center. Since 1997, he serves as the lead scientist of the integrated farming systems project at the Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit in University Park, Pennsylvania. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan. He is also a member of the American Dairy Science Association, the American Forage and Grassland Council, and the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council.

How climate change impacts manure management systems

View the recorded presentation…

Mr. Karl J Czymmek; Cornell University Karl Czymmek, J.D. – Senior Extension Associate, Cornell University PRO-DAIRY Program, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Changing weather patterns will require dairy producers to further intensify manure management in order to meet environmental expectations and regulations. Considerations, impacts and potential solutions will be discussed with an eye toward differences between humid and arid regions.

Mr. Czymmek:

Member of the PRO-DAIRY team since 1999.
Statewide extension responsibilities in the area of nutrient management for field crops with emphasis on CAFO and environmental regulatory issues.
Key collaborator with the Nutrient Management Spear Program at Cornell University.
Holds a BS degree from Cornell University majoring in Agronomy and a JD (Juris Doctor) degree from University of Buffalo School of Law.
Admitted to the NY Bar in 1994.
Has work experience on farms and in the private and public sectors.
Works with producers, public and private planners, researchers and state and federal agency staff to communicate issues relating to farming, regulations and science with the goal to help design and implement practical solutions that enhance farm production and sustainability.

Adapting Agriculture to Sustainably Feed the World

Dr. Marty Matlock, University of Arkansas View recorded presentation….

Dr. Marty Matlock – Executive Director, Office for Sustainability, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas

Future challenges and opportunities for animal agriculture to increase food production with fewer resources and less environmental impact.

Dr. Matlock is Executive Director of the UA Office for Sustainability and Professor of Ecological Engineering in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at the University of Arkansas. He received his Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1996, is a registered professional engineer, a Board Certified Environmental Engineer, and a Certified Ecosystem Designer. Dr. Matlock has co-authored three books, more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and has been awarded two US and five international patents. The focus of Dr. Matlock’s research is development of technologies and processes to increase the resilience and effectiveness of human-dominated ecosystems. His work is interdisciplinary by nature; he works in urban, agricultural, and rural systems with ecologists, engineers, architects, social and political scientists, agricultural scientists, economists, and business leaders to solve complex problems. His interdisciplinary work has been recognized by the leading organizations in architecture, landscape architecture, and sustainable design with over 25 national and international awards. He coordinates academic, research, outreach, and facilities efforts in sustainable systems across the UA campus, and has led numerous sustainability initiatives from local to international in scope. He serves on the US Secretary of Agriculture’s Committee for the 21^st Century, as Chairman of the Cherokee Nation Environmental Protection Commission, on the Arkansas-Oklahoma Governor’s Commission for the Illinois River, and as science advisor for sustainability for 12 food and agricultural product companies.

March 5, 2019April 19, 2021

Global Climate Change – What Does It Mean For Us?

Climatologists are seeing noticeable patterns in data that points toward future weather that will be more extreme and extreme more often. In this presentation, Gary McManus, the State Climatologist for Oklahoma, discusses the basics of climate science, the trends and more. The lecture focuses on Oklahoma and the Southern Plains; however most of the information is relevant nationally.

This presentation was recorded at the “Climate and Cattle Workshop” held in November, 2014 in Stillwater, OK.

Introduction and Trends in Climate

Climate Science: The Basics

What is the greenhouse effect and what are the physics of this phenomenon?

Observational Data

What are we measuring that indicates climate is changing? What are some of nature’s indicators?

Climate Projections

How confident are climatologists in predicting future patterns? Where are there uncertainties?

Download links – Educational Resources

If you need to download a copy of a segment, submit a request.

Acknowledgements

This material was developed through support from the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under award #2011-67003-30206.

The project wishes to gratefully acknowledge Mr. McManus for presenting at the workshop and allowing us to record the lecture. David Smith, Texas A&M dwsmith@tamu.edu and Dr. Saqib Mukhtar organized the workshop.

March 5, 2019April 19, 2021

Animal Agriculture and Climate Change Curriculum Materials

The materials available for each topic vary, but there are generally presentation slides, video, video lecture, or factsheets. Also see the comprehensive, free, online course. It requires about 10-12 hours and you receive a certificate upon completion.