Dreams

Farm & Ranch

Dream: A greenhouse gas, agro-ecoregional framework guides this generation and following generations of farmers, ranchers and dairymen.

Dream: They adapt to and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Extension agents and others start agro-ecoregional research on new cultivars that includes cross-discipline expertise in agriculture and climate change.

Dream: More funding focuses on new pest and pathogen invasions. Incentives to build geothermal greenhouses as well as local hoop houses become part of government climate change payment, green jobs and tax incentive programs.

Dream: Reduce nitrous oxide emissions by increasing organic production and improved timing of fertilizer/manure additions; leaner application of fertilizer/manure applications, including better placement of fertilizers and manure; and use of nitrification inhibitors.

Dream: Reduce methane by improved livestock breeding and nutrition, including non-harmful feed additives to inhibit methane (dairy); and capture methane from manure (biogas electricity and heating).

Dream: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations with over 1,000 animals are placed in a special cap-and-trade program to lower GHG emissions, improve manure handling, change feed composition to reduce enteric GHG emissions, and reduce any degradation of groundwater that requires pumping or wastewater treatment.

Dream: Farmers and ranchers work to reduce energy inputs for fertilizers, water conveyance and pumping, machinery fuels, pesticides and herbicides, and nutrient management.

Dream: More soil organic matter on farms and range.

Government

Dream: State and federal funds help farmers transition from conventional/chemical to organic or no-till agriculture with special loans, grants and tax breaks for a specific number of years.

Dream: State and federal research improves weather prediction for farmers and ranchers including hail, dust storm and wind erosion as well as river flow volumes and water quality.

Value Chain

Dream: Packers, transporters, food manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers reduce their food carbon footprint.

Dream: Waste foods from sorters, packagers, institutions, groceries and consumers are sorted so that food can be recycled to livestock or local composting operations.

Consumers

Dream: Consumers eat less red meat each week, but eat higher quality, local meat.

Dream: Consumers reduce their commute miles to farmers markets, groceries, superstores, food chains, restaurants and other places with food sales.

Biofuels

Dream: Each agro-ecoregion assesses its community values and what it desires for bioethanol or biodiesel production.