Climate Smart Agriculture | Livestock Systems

• You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada.
• Successful completion of the fully-funded Climate Smart Fundamentals microcredential is a pre-requisite of this training.

Greenhouse gases (GHGs), including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), absorb radiation from the sun and trap heat in the atmosphere, effectively acting like a greenhouse or a layer of insulation for Earth. In Canada 10% of GHG emissions are from crop and livestock production, excluding emissions from the use of fossil fuels or from fertilizer production. In Prince Edward Island, this number increases to 23% of GHG emissions.  Of these emissions, livestock production represents a considerable source of GHG emissions; from enteric methane, to methane from liquid manure storages, to the GHG emissions from livestock feed production (grains and forages).  However, animal agriculture can have a positive impact on the environment and the climate, depending on management practices. 

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

​​​By the end of this training, learners will develop farm-specific strategies for a livestock farming operation that reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon sequestration. This training allows learners to build upon strategies developed in the Climate Smart Fundamentals microcredential, with strategies specific to a livestock operation. 

You will:

• ​Observe current and emerging practices; 
• ​Explore farm-specific strategies to prioritize and implement beneficial management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration, including:
  • ​Livestock nutrition and feeding strategies to increase efficiency, profits and reduce emissions (including novel supplementation strategies); 
  • ​Advanced grazing management to reduce methane emissions and increase carbon sequestration; 
  • Pasture assessments, including soil health; 
  • Management of liquid manures (both in storage, and in field application); 
  • ​Livestock-cropland integration for cover crop management and soil fertility. 

• ​Select strategies that align with your operation’s goals, anticipate the impact of implementing chosen strategies and measure the success. 

 Learners will be required to:

• ​Refine Climate Smart livestock agricultural goals for their operation; 
• ​Justify the choice of livestock farm-specific strategies to reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon sequestration, using research and existing best practices. 
• ​Develop an implementation plan for chosen strategies.