2024 May Board Book

2024 - 2028 CDRF Strategic Plan

FOCUS AREA: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Industry Challenge: While the California dairy industry has already accomplished great strides in environmental stewardship, it faces wide-reaching regulatory challenges, impacting all sectors and stakeholders. The regulatory requirements for California dairy farms surrounding water quality, water quantity, and air quality, specifically, will continue to impact long-term industry viability. The U.S. dairy industry has set 2050 environmental goals as part of its Net Zero Initiative which include achieving greenhouse gas (GHG) neutrality, optimizing water use while maximizing recycling and improving water quality. Similarly, dairy customers have established sustainability goals which include environmental impact improvement and seeking supply chain improvements. The practices and technologies needed to reach the industry-wide and individual customer goals largely exist, but will require further development, investment in operational changes and advanced technical assistance. The California dairy industry is leading the way in adopting advanced practices and creating more sustainable dairy production. Focus: CDRF will facilitate and fund essential research, development, and education projects to assist dairy farmers in continued sound environmental management practice improvement. Priority will be placed on projects that directly support dairy producers in complying with current and future environmental regulations and hitting industry environmental aims while maintaining economic viability: • Improved nutrient and irrigation management practices • Reduced GHG and reactive organic gas emissions • Adoption of new technology and innovations • Precision agriculture tool utilization • Scientific information support Approach: CDRF will work collaboratively with other key organizations focused on environmental management, taking a leadership and facilitation role to ensure that available funds are directed towards activities (both short and long-term) that will have the greatest impact for California dairy producers. This will include the utilization of its Environmental Steering and Technical Advisory Committee (ESTAC) to recommend subject areas and projects to CDRF for funding consideration.

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