The incubator farm will leverage Yara's expertise in crop nutrition to enhance forage quality for dairy operations using a program of low-carbon fertilizers, micronutrient solutions and biostimulants to optimize feed quality. Through frequent soil and tissue sampling by Yara, the farm will provide a full dataset on feed quality and yield to determine program effectiveness with an ultimate goal of producing higher-quality feed with a lower-environmental impact.
"Both Yara and the dairy industry are committed to growing a nature-positive food future,” said Emmaline Long, agronomy solutions manager at Yara. "Through this partnership, we aim to demonstrate the potential of producing higher quality feed to increase milk production, all while using fewer crop inputs and supporting the long-term viability of dairy farming.”
The farm will follow a typical dairy rotation of corn silage and alfalfa with the first corn crop planting completed in early June. The corn was planted in alternating strips and alfalfa will be planted in other alternating strips this summer, with triticale to follow as a cover crop. Yara and the farmer will conduct this program in partnership with a 4R-certified local retailer in the Genesee Valley region of New York. Full results of the program will be available after harvest in the fall.
Yara’s initiative aligns with the broader goals of the dairy industry to reach net-zero by 2050 and its commitment to environmental sustainability. This incubator farm will target key areas for reducing emissions, such as feed production, enteric emissions and manure management, contributing to the industry's net-zero initiative.
“By integrating regenerative agriculture practices and advanced crop nutrition, we are addressing one of the largest sources of emissions in dairy farming—feed production,” added Long. “This incubator farm provides a real-world scenario to apply our solutions and gather comprehensive data, ensuring we continue to innovate and support sustainable agriculture, particularly in the dairy industry.”
The newest incubator farm in New York joins a network of Yara’s research farms across North America, including locations in Alabama, California, Idaho, Arkansas and Saskatchewan. These farms serve as hubs for trialing, collaboration and knowledge sharing to drive advancements in soil fertility, crop nutrition and sustainable agriculture practices.
About Yara:
Yara grows knowledge to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet. Supporting our vision of a world without hunger and a planet respected, we pursue a strategy of sustainable value growth, promoting climate-friendly crop nutrition and zero-emission energy solutions. Yara’s ambition is focused on growing a nature-positive food future that creates value for our customers, shareholders and society at large and delivers a more sustainable food value chain.
To achieve our ambition, we have taken the lead in developing digital farming tools for precision farming and work closely with partners throughout the food value chain to improve the efficiency and sustainability of food production. Through our focus on clean ammonia production, we aim to enable the hydrogen economy, driving a green transition of shipping, fertilizer production and other energy-intensive industries.
Founded in 1905 to solve the emerging famine in Europe, Yara has established a unique position as the industry’s only global crop nutrition company. We operate an integrated business model with around 17,000 employees and operations in over 60 countries, with a proven track record of strong returns. For more information, visit: https://www.yara.us or https://www.yaracanada.ca.
