The Pipestone System - Helping farmers today create the farms of tomorrow

To what extent are U.S. pork producers contributing to the accumulation of atmospheric greenhouse gasses? What if individual producers could calculate emissions from their own farms and lower their environmental impact while trimming energy costs? The National Pork Board funded a recent study that tackles the first question and is developing a producer-friendly tool to answer the second.

A 2007 EPA report gave the industry credit for barely more than three-tenths of a percent (0.32%) of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The new Pork Board study, conducted by the University of Arkansas Applied Sustainability Center, also analyzed how processing, transportation, and consumption—specifically, the technology used to cook pork—influence environmental impact.

Review study results here. (PDF)

Once the Pork Board is ready to unveil the new online greenhouse gas computing tool individual producers will be able to calculate their own greenhouse gas contribution—and work to lower it. Producers who use the tool will likely discover lowering emissions is a pathway to reducing energy costs on their farms.

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