WSU, Cornell demonstrate high-tech gas monitoring system at dairy farm

ROYAL CITY — Dairy farming is taking a step into a lower-carbon future, researchers from Washington State University and Cornell University said at Royal Dairy near Royal City May 31. “There was a big push on the carbon footprint from dairy farms in the last 10 years,” said Dr. Francisco Leal-Yepes of Cornell University at the Climate-Smart Dairy Farming Research and Development Field Day at Royal Dairy. “Dairy farmers are actually doing a great job to reduce their footprint, not only in terms of reducing methane emissions but also resource use.” The event showcased a system that Washington State University researchers have developed to measure emissions from cattle. It’s an adaptation of WSU’s (Ag Weather Network) Smart Farms network of private weather stations that allow growers to monitor weather conditions statewide in real time.