Agriculture Emissions on the Rise
Even as other sectors make substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the agricultural sector lags behind. Texas, Iowa and Kansas lead many states that generate enormous amounts of methane and other problematic emissions, directly and indirectly. Reducing waste, electrifying agriculture and improving the security of American food production are critical investments in energy efficiency – and there’s a lot of work to do.
Agriculture Emissions in the US
Agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gases in the US. States like Iowa and Kansas rely on farming and animal husbandry for employment and the rest of the country and, indeed, the world rely on its output. Agricultural production gives these relatively low-population states outsized carbon footprints.
Learn how to improve energy efficiency down on the farm.
Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture account for 10% of total US emissions, led in large part by these five states:
Texas – 10% (of total agriculture emissions)
Iowa – 7%
Kansas – 6%
California – 5%
Minnesota – 4%
A Growing Problem
It’s not just that agriculture has a large carbon footprint. The greater concern is that, as an industry, there has been little to no improvement in successfully lowering emissions. By some measures, the industry may actually be doing worse.
Emissions from other sectors, including grid scale energy production, have maintained or increased productivity will lowering emissions totals. GHG emitted from livestock and corn production have increased almost every year since 1990. Two sector, agriculture and transportation, have increased GHG emissions since 1990 while the energy and industrial sectors have reduced emissions by 35%.
State-ing a Case for Action
Half of US states have no specific GHG reduction goals or action plans, indicating that there is little political appetite for establishing a clear roadmap to meet national climate commitments. There’s an urgent need to establish clear and ambitious benchmarks for lowering carbon emissions at the state level, with agriculture perhaps one of the most important opportunities to address.
Emissions Are Nearly Static
Three sectors – agriculture, commercial and residential – have made almost no improvement in lowering emissions since 1990. The flat-line approach is indicative of little incentive to improve. The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, includes $19.5 billion for agriculture conservation, as well as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The EQIP is designed to help farmers invest in more energy-efficient and environmentally-sound practices, including growing cover crops for fallow fields.
Related: The Inflation Reduction Act Extends Product Tax Credit
Investing in Sustainable Agricultural Practices with Keen
Keen Technical Solutions is helping small-to-mid-sized farming businesses make energy efficiency upgrades at every stage of production. From automated HVAC and electrical systems to on-site solar generation, we’re committed to supporting the agricultural sector’s shift toward sustainability. Learn how Keen can help lower costs and improve efficiency; speak with a Keen consultant today.