National Dairy FARM Program Releases Environmental Stewardship Reference Manual to Celebrate Earth Day

DanDairy & Livestock, Environment, Industry News Release

national dairyThe National Dairy FARM Program has released its Environmental Stewardship Continuous Improvement Reference Manual in cooperation with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. Released in celebration of Earth Day, the guide provides a comprehensive suite of on-farm management practices to reduce a farm’s environmental footprint and improve its profitability.

Specifically, the manual features a detailed explanation of the FARM Environmental Stewardship (ES) module, as well as strategies to reduce on-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in various areas of farm management, including feed, manure, energy, forage, and animal health.

“FARM Environmental Stewardship helps us tell our story in a measurable, science-based way while providing business value that is both financially and environmentally beneficial,” said Mike McCloskey, Chairman of the NMPF Environmental Committee, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Environmental Stewardship Committee and co-founder of fairlife, LLC.  “The FARM Environmental Stewardship Continuous Improvement Reference Manual provides a resource that aggregates existing science and technology that can help us drive continuous improvement, all while tracking our progress in a way we can share with dairy customers.”

FARM ES is a voluntary, farmer-driven tool that helps producers expand their sustainability efforts by using a limited amount of data about their farm. The module is based on a life-cycle assessment (LCA) of fluid milk conducted by the Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas, incorporating existing data from more than 500 dairy farms across the United States. Launched in February, FARM ES is the third of the FARM Program’s three silos, including Animal Care and Antibiotic Stewardship.

The FARM ES reference manual was developed by FARM and includes previous work completed by the Innovation Center. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) led an independent review of the manual using a panel of subject matter experts.

“In an increasingly resource scarce world, we need to produce more food on the current amount of land, with less inputs and environmental impacts,” said Sandra Vijn, director for markets and food at WWF. “FARM ES will support U.S. dairy farmers in continuously identifying better management practices for environmental stewardship. That is why WWF works with NMPF, the industry and dairy experts to ensure the program produces the best resources and solutions for farmers in terms of environmental sustainability.”

This manual further demonstrates the dairy industry’s culture of continuous improvement, the focus of the FARM Program. Since 1944, the carbon footprint of a gallon of milk has decreased by 63 percent – a leading example of farmers’ dedication to being good stewards of natural resources.

In addition to the manual, the FARM Program has developed an extensive library of resources regarding the program and environmental stewardship. It can be found on the Environmental Stewardship page of the FARM website. Questions about the program can be directed toward Ryan Bennett.

Share this Post

Hilton Slams Solar on Farmland, Pledges Support for California Ag

July 12, 2025

David Tangipa: Defending California Farmers from Costly Policies

July 4, 2025

Morada Nut’s Jameson on Walnut Market Challenges

July 4, 2025

Water, Land, and Policy: Farmer Andrew Leimgruber Speaks Out

July 2, 2025

California Walnut Comeback: Norene’s Outlook

July 1, 2025

Jeff Bitter Warns: Wine Grape Growers Face Tough Road Ahead

June 29, 2025

Morada Produce Reports Cherry Shortage

June 29, 2025

Cunha on Immigration, Labor, Regulatory Reform

June 26, 2025

Joel Allen on Westside Farming, Family Legacy, and Football Fame

June 26, 2025

California’s Meat Industry Faces Historic Supply Crunch

June 19, 2025

“My Job Depends On Ag” Celebrates 10 Years of Grassroots Impact

June 18, 2025

Ryan Jacobsen: Defending California Agriculture

June 16, 2025

Generations of Growth: Daniel Jackson on Family Tree Farms’ Roots, Innovation, Future

June 7, 2025

California Freight Crisis Hits Farmers and Truckers Hard: A Conversation with Nick Foglio

June 5, 2025

Steve Hilton Pledges to Restore California Agriculture and Fight Regulatory Extremism

May 27, 2025

Fifth-Generation Dairy Farmer Sounds Alarm on California Ag Issues

May 26, 2025

Chad Bianco: “Somebody’s Got to Fix California”

July 11, 2025

San Joaquin Valley Water Blueprint Pushes for Bold Water Reforms

July 11, 2025

Border Closure Halts Livestock Trade Amid Screw Worm Threat

July 11, 2025

AgNet News Hour: Citrus Expo Preview, USDA Snap Crackdown, and Chad Bianco’s Bold Vision for California Ag

July 11, 2025