My Footprint My Footprint Use footprint checklist Estimate GHG Estimate energy intensity Generate results Set baseline for tracking Quick Start with My Footprint My Footprint allows users to estimate a dairy farm s footprint in the areas of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy intensity use. This information is used to establish a baseline for tracking stewardship and sustainability performance from year to year and comparing farm results against national and regional averages. My Footprint calculations are based on national and regional data from the U.S. dairy industry s Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Fluid Milk. While My Footprint only provides an estimate based on the LCA findings, it sets a reliable benchmark from which to measure future environmental improvements in stewardship and sustainability practices. Checklist Is a Time-Saver Cooperatives and milk marketing organizations play a vital role in assisting dairy farmers to aggregate the data used in the My Footprint calculations. Users can significantly reduce their online input time by completing the checklists (see pages 2 to 5). Figure 2: Look for the i icon for help in completing My Footprint. Before using My Footprint, gather farm data on milk production, energy, feed, crop and manure using the My Footprint checklists. (See following pages.) All farm data inputs are 12-month averages. Manure amounts are automatically calculated according to Dry Matter Intake and ration composition. Use the completed checklist to enter the data into My Footprint tab, located at the top of the page. (Figure 1) Figure 1: My Footprint tabs Insert the appropriate farm data into the five tabbed sections. Each must be fully completed before Farm Smart will allow you to progress to the next section. When using My Footprint online, the i icon (Figure 2) provides handy pop up tips and resources for completing each tab. EXAMPLE: The Production tab contains three i indicators. One provides scientific data for developing water budgets. This is useful to determine annual wash and cooling water for lactating cows in units of 1,000 gallons per year. 2015 Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. All rights reserved. My Farm Footprint Smart: B1
Reduce input time into My Footprint by using this checklist to gather information on each dairy farm, including milk and crop production, energy use, and feed and manure management. All farm data inputs are 12-month averages. Production Milk production Total annual milk production Pounds of milk shipped, used on-farm or other lbs. Average milk protein content from 1% to 5% % Average milk fat content from 1.8% to 5.5% % Herd size Annual average herd size lactating and dry cows cows Annual average of dry cows in herd % of total cows % cows Annual average number of heifer calves less than 2 months raised ON farm cows Annual average number of heifer calves less than 2 months raised OFF farm cows Annual average number of heifers 2 months to first calf raised ON farm cows Annual average number of heifers 2 months to first calf raised OFF farm cows Beef production Total annual number of mature cows culled for beef cows My Footprint 2015 Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. All rights reserved. 2 Average weight per cow choose range between 700 lbs. to 2,000 lbs. lbs. Total annual number of calves sold for beef Average weight at time of sale choose range between 50 lbs. to 350 lbs. lbs. Water usage Wash water for lactating cows per year Farm total in 1,000 /yr. 1,000 /yr. Cooling water for lactating cows per year Farm total in 1,000 /yr. 1,000 /yr. Energy (for heating water, milking, cleaning, scraping, fans, grinding, and mixing; NOT for irrigation, hauling, crops, etc.) Energy source Electricity TOTAL annual on-farm use kwh Diesel TOTAL annual on-farm use Bio-Diesel TOTAL annual on-farm use Fuel-Oil TOTAL annual on-farm use Propane TOTAL annual on-farm use Natural Gas TOTAL annual on-farm use cows therm. Farm Smart: B Gasoline TOTAL annual on-farm use
Feed Do you pasture your animals? YES NO Pasture detail (number of weeks and hours per day) No. weeks/yr. Hrs./day Lactating cows ranges: 0 to 52 wks./yr. and 0 to 24 hrs./day Dry cows ranges: 0 to 52 wks./yr. and 0 to 24 hrs./day Young stock ranges: 0 to 52 wks./yr. and 0 to 24 hrs./day Average Dry Matter Intake (DMI) Average DMI per head per day for lactating animals (Excluding dry cows and young stock) Average ration for production period ranges: 25 to 70 lbs/day Lbs./day (Enter to the 10th of lb.) lbs./ day Farm Smart Percent make-up (in dry matter) for average lactating cow ration Corn grain ranges: 0 to 40% % Corn silage ranges: 0 to 60% % Wet DGS ranges: 0 to 40% % Dry DGS ranges: 0 to 30% % Soybean (raw or roasted) ranges: 0 to 15% % Soybean meal ranges: 0 to 30% % Alfalfa hay ranges: 0 to 80% % Alfalfa silage ranges: 0 to 70% % Grass hay ranges: 0 to 40% % Grass silage ranges: 0 to 40% % Pasture ranges: 0 to 100% % All other feed ranges: 0 to 90% % Cow drinking water Annual volume of cow drinking water Farm total, 1,000 /yr. 1,000 /yr. Crop Crop Type % that is self-produced Average irrigation rate acre-ft./acre-yr. C 3 The sum of these categories must Total 100% Average yield Soybean % acre-ft./acre-yr. bu./acre Corn grain % acre-ft./acre-yr. bu./acre Convert yields for the following to 100% dry-matter basis (Enter to the 10th of ton) Alfalfa hay % acre-ft./acre-yr. ton/acre Alfalfa silage % acre-ft./acre-yr. ton/acre Corn silage % acre-ft./acre-yr. ton/acre Grass hay % acre-ft./acre-yr. ton/acre Grass silage % acre-ft./acre-yr. ton/acre Average irrigation rate, Total acres Pasture acre-ft./acre-yr. (Enter to the 10th of ton) Pasture acre-ft./acre-yr. ton/acre 2015 Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. All rights reserved. My Footprint
Manure Check and complete up to three Manure Management Systems (MMS) in use on your farm. Estimate the percentage of excreted manure going to each system. The combined percentages of your top three selected MMS must total 100%. This will be used to calculate the manure footprint. All farm data inputs are 12-month averages. Manure Management Systems (check and complete up to 3) Daily spread % My Footprint 2015 Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. All rights reserved. 4 Solid storage % Dry lot % Liquid/slurry with natural crust % Liquid/slurry without natural crust % Uncovered anaerobic lagoon % Covered anaerobic lagoon % Pit storage below animals less than 1 month % Pit storage below animals greater than 1 month % Deep bedding less than 1 month % Deep bedding greater than 1 month % Composting static in vessel % Composting intensive with forced aeration % Composting natural aeration % Aerobic treatment with forced aeration % Aerobic treatment with natural aeration % Anaerobic digester % Are anaerobic digester(s) installed on the farm? YES NO If YES, please answer the following questions (see below and page 5). What is the volatile solids conversion efficiency? between 20% and 30% % continued on next page The sum of the % of your top 3 MMS must total 100% Lactating Cow Management 13
Manure If YES: Please continue to complete this page if an anaerobic digester is installed on the farm. Manure management system (MMS) for effluent (after digester) Check ONLY one from the list below: Daily spread Solid storage Dry lot Liquid/slurry with natural crust Liquid/slurry without natural crust Uncovered anaerobic lagoon Covered anaerobic lagoon Pit storage below animals less than 1 month Pit storage below animals greater than 1 month Deep bedding less than 1 month Deep bedding greater than 1 month Composting static in vessel Composting intensive with forced aeration Composting natural aeration Aerobic treatment with forced aeration Aerobic treatment with natural aeration Anaerobic digester Percent of electricity generation potential utilized between 0 and 40% % Percent of heating potential utilized between 0 and 40% % 2015 Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. All Lactating rights reserved. Cow Management My Footprint 14 5