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The report assesses conservation agriculture (CA) in Niger, focusing on techniques like Assisted Natural Regeneration (RNA), Zaï, and mulching. It highlights the positive impacts of RNA on crop yields and soil fertility, particularly in the Maradi region, while identifying constraints such as limited crop residue availability and land-use conflicts.

The paper identifies that nitrous oxide from agricultural soils constitutes about half of U.S. agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, with a combined soil and fertilizer production footprint of 346 million tonnes of CO2e in 2022. It proposes a technical toolkit for reducing losses—including soil testing, precision application, and cover crops—and suggests reducing nitrogen-intensive end uses like corn for ethanol. To scale these efforts, the author recommends a philanthropy-backed coalition (CLEAR) and a federal National Nitrogen Initiative that updates NRCS Practice 590 to tie payments to verified outcomes based on nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance.

A WWF study finds that post-harvest losses for corn and soy in the US are significantly higher than industry expectations, with corn losses averaging 4.7% and soy 4.5%. These losses result in billions of dollars in economic waste and millions of tons of GHG emissions. The report identifies equipment sophistication and operator experience as primary drivers of loss and argues that reducing these losses can alleviate pressure to convert natural habitats into cropland.

The report argues that large-scale US dairies can reach net zero emissions within five years by integrating specific technologies and practices, potentially increasing annual net returns to $1.9 million per dairy. Key strategies include precision agriculture, feed additives to reduce enteric methane, and anaerobic digesters that convert manure and organic substrates into renewable energy and fertilizers. The analysis emphasizes that while technologies exist, achieving these goals requires significant policy shifts, such as expanded water quality trading markets and improved EPA processing of renewable fuel pathways.

The document outlines twelve practical steps for farmers to implement water stewardship, focusing on monitoring water use, adopting conservation agriculture, managing invasive plants, and protecting natural water infrastructure like wetlands and river buffers to mitigate the impacts of climate change.