Methodology and Sources for RIPE’s Expanded Proposed Livestock Qualifying Practices: Cattle, Dairy and Swine Feed Management, Nutrient Management

RIPE’s researchers consistently work to gather data on the environmental value of existing protocols for climate-smart agricultural practices to expand the list of practices that demonstrate over $100/acre so that farmers of all types and sizes can implement and participate in the proposed program. Recently, we added two new livestock practices to our list of proposed qualifying measures: Nutrient Management (NRCS Code 590) and Feed Management (NRCS Code 592). These practices are both valued at over $100/acre or animal unit, as supported by USDA research and academic literature. Like most conservation practices, Nutrient Management is valued per acre. Practices like Feed Management provide feedlot operators the opportunity to contribute to environmental benefits at the animal unit level.

We found that farmers who incorporate or inject manure according to Nutrient Management guidelines provide nearly $1,000 per acre in environmental benefits each year. That includes over $700 in improved air quality. This practice also improves water quality and reduces soil carbon loss.

Farmers who manage the nutrients in their livestock feed can also provide tremendous environmental benefit. Feed Management provides an average environmental value of over $500 per animal unit. The majority of this value comes from improved air quality and human health benefits. Other benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution.

RIPE’s proposal would compensate these practices at $100/acre in the pilot and phase 1, and in the expanded phase of the program, the compensation level would likely increase to better reflect the tremendously high value delivered by these practices.

Review our methodology and sources in the charts below and access our current list of proposed qualifying practices here.

Nutrient Management

Ecosystem Service	Value ($/acre)	Source
Air Quality Benefits (Human Health)	$749/acre	A number of studies indicated that closed-slot manure injection typically reduced ammonia emission by over 90% (e.g., Thompson et. al. 1987, Weslien et al. 1998, Pote et al. 2011, Dell et al. 2012, Carozzi et al. 2013, and Kulesza et al. 2014). A study by USDA researchers (Sherman et al. 2021) found that manure incorporation reduces ammonia emissions by 14 kg NH3/acre. The public cost of ammonia emissions in the United States is $48,565/ton NH3 (Heo et al. 2016).
Water Quality Benefits	$2/acre	Incorporation and injection are found to reduce N loading by an average of 10% (Chesapeake Bay Program 2016 ). Manure land application on average loses 486 kg of nitrate/ha/yr, or 197 kg/ac/yr, to water sources (UC Davis). Keeler et al. (2016) found the social cost of nitrogen pollution in water to be on average $0.065/kg nitrate. $.075/kg x 19.7 kg/ac/yr = $2/ac/yr
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	$0	A study by USDA researchers ( Sherman et al. 2021) found no difference in Global Warming Potential among manure application practices.
Total	$751/acre

Feed Management, Swine

Ecosystem Service	Value ($/AU)	Source
Air Quality Benefits (Human Health)	$0.4/AU	Moraes et al (2015) find that managing crude protein levels in swine diets reduced GHG emissions by 0.02 tonnes CO2e/AU/year. At $20/tonne, this equals $0.4/AU/year.
Air Quality Benefits (Human Health)	$433/AU	A Purdue University study found that managed dietary crude protein in swine reduced ammonia emissions by 8103g/AU/yr, or 0.009 tons/AU/yr (Liu et al., 2017). The public cost of ammonia emissions in the United States is $48,565/ton NH3 (Heo et al. 2016).
Total	$433.4/AU

Feed Management, Cattle

Ecosystem Service	Value ($/AU)	Source
GHG ($20/tonne)	$0.4/AU	A meta-analysis of greenhouse gas and ammonia emission mitigation from beef cattle feedlot production found that crude protein management reduced N2O emissions by 3.5% The median N2O EF from beef cattle manure on the feedlot was 1.96 kg AU/year. In CO2 equivalents, this equals a reduction of 20.44 kg/AU, or 0.02 tonnes CO2e/AU. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30119602
Air Quality Benefits (Human Health)	$904	Reducing CP from 13% to 11.5% reduced yearly ammonia emissions in beef cattle by 28% (USDA, Todd et al. 2006). A meta-analysis of greenhouse gas and ammonia emission mitigation from beef cattle feedlot production found that crude protein management reduced ammonia emissions by 46.5% A 2011 report shows that beef cattle emit 0.05 tons of ammonia per AU per year. A 28-46% reduction thus equals 0.014-.023 tons of ammonia per year (Hristov, et al., 2011). The public cost of ammonia emissions in the United States is $48,565/ton NH3 (Heo et al. 2016).
Total	$904.4

Feed Management, Dairy

Ecosystem Service	Value ($/AU)	Source
GHG ($20/tonne)	$8	Liu et al., 2012 found that Dairy cows fed a lower CP diet emitted: .17 fewer tonnes CH4 in CO2e, .14 fewer tonnes CO2, and 0.10 fewer tonnes N2O in CO2e. .17 + .14 + .10 = .41 fewer tonnes CO2e. This equates to $8/AU at $20/tonne.
Air Quality Benefits (Human Health)	$276	Dairy cows in the United States fed a reduced CP diet emitted 39% less ammonia, equating to 2.57 fewer tons per Au per year (Liu et al., 2012). The public cost of ammonia emissions in the United States is $48,565/ton NH3 (Heo et al. 2016).
Total	$284