America’s farm, ranch and forest managers are stewards of the land, and have long recognized the significance of managing soil health, plant productivity and animal nutrition. Conservation practices and other management changes can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase carbon storage while improving soil health, crop or livestock productivity, and resilience to drought and other extreme weather. This report lays out methods for estimating changes in GHG emissions and carbon storage at a local scale. The methods in the report will be used to develop user-friendly tools for farmers, ranchers, forest landowners and other USDA stakeholders to help them evaluate the GHG benefits of a wide variety of management practices.
Chapter 2 - Considerations When Estimating Agriculture and Forestry GHG Emissions and Removals
Chapter 3 - Quantify Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Cropland and Grazing Land Systems
Chapter 4 - Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Managed Wetland Systems
Chapter 5 - Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Animal Production Systems
Chapter 6 - Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Managed Forest Systems
Chapter 7 - Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks from Land-Use Change
Chapter 8 - Uncertainty Assessment for Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks
Federal Register Notice, Feb 2011
Federal Register Notice, Aug 2013
This December, 2011 Technical Report provides an extensive summary and synthesis of data related to estimation of GHG emissions and carbon storage.
This February, 2012 Technical Report provides a synopsis and summary of over one hundred GHG estimation tools, models and methods that are available related to management activities across the agriculture and forestry sectors.