USA: Research finds dairy farmers receptive to methane-reducing seaweed feed

New England's dairy industry continues to evolve in response to significant market challenges that include a decreased demand for milk and higher production and land costs. However, there is also ongoing evidence that organic dairy farming can provide environmental benefits—such as reducing methane emissions—which could further differentiate their products as well as help qualify farms for new government initiatives to reduce methane through innovative management practices.Researchers from the University of New Hampshire have collaborated with researchers in Maine to find evidence that nearly half of organic dairy farmers would be willing to pay a little extra for methane-reducing seaweed feed but would only consider it if it was cost effective, aligned with existing feeding practices and would qualify them for government policies and subsidies."Dairy farmers aim to run their farms as lucrative enterprises," said Andre Brito, associate professor of dairy cattle nutrition and ...