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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #333904
Title: USDA Northeast climate hub greenhouse gas mitigation workshop technical report

Author
item Cavigelli, Michel
item Dell, Curtis
item HOFFMAN, ERIC - University Of Maryland
item KNIGHT, LYNN - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item KRAUSE, KATRINA - Us Forest Service (FS)
item MACFARLAND, KATE - Us Forest Service (FS)
item RAKOLA, BETSY - Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS, USDA)
item SAUNDERS, MEGAN - University Of Maryland
item SKINNER, HOWARD - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)

Submitted to: United States Department of Agriculture Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/28/2016
Publication Date: 6/7/2017
Citation: Cavigelli, M.A., Dell, C.J., Hoffman, E., Knight, L., Krause, K., Macfarland, K., Rakola, B., Saunders, M., Skinner, H. 2017. USDA Northeast climate hub greenhouse gas mitigation workshop technical report. United States Department of Agriculture Workshop Proceedings. https://www.climatehubs.oce.usda.gov/sites/default/files/final_document_usda_ghg_mitigation_workshop_5-17-17.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: USDA Secretary Vilsack announced the Greenhouse Gas Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry in April 2015. This initiative is an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and expand renewable energy production in the agricultural and forestry sectors. The USDA Northeast Climate Hub, in conjunction with the University of Maryland, conducted a regional Building Block workshop March 23-24, 2016 to understand the challenges to implementing the Greenhouse Gas Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry within the Northeast and to discuss opportunities to overcome those challenges and expand the effectiveness of USDA in reducing greenhouse gas loads in the Northeast. The full report includes summaries of panel presentations and the main points addressed during discussions; appendices include a list of attendees, the workshop agenda, and background information provided to attendees. This report will be of interest to USDA employees and policymakers at all levels.

Technical Abstract: In April 2015, USDA Secretary Vilsack announced the Greenhouse Gas Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and expand renewable energy production in the agricultural and forestry sectors. This initiative is composed of ten Building Blocks, which are voluntary and incentive-based. They aim to promote conservation practices while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration by 120 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year by 2025 on a national basis. The USDA Northeast Climate Hub, in conjunction with the University of Maryland, conducted a regional Building Block workshop (March 23 & 24, 2016) with the purpose: To understand the challenges to implementing the Greenhouse Gas Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry within the Northeast and discuss opportunities to overcome those challenges and expand the effectiveness of USDA in reducing GHG loads in the Northeast. Summaries of panel presentations and the main points addressed during discussions are included in the full report; a list of attendees, the workshop agenda, and background information provided to attendees are included in appendixes.