Enhancing COMET-FarmTM and COMET-PlannerTM

for User Utility, Effectiveness, and Market Purposes

Adam ChambersNatural Resources Conservation Service

Environmental Markets LeaderPortland, OR

Mark Easter, Amy Swan, Keith Paustian, and Kevin BrownNatural Resource Ecology Laboratory

Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, CO

Outline

• COMET Tools Update – Science, Science, Transparency and Markets

• COMET Tool Enhancements completed in 2015• Planned Tool Enhancements for 2016• Fine-tuning the COMET Tools for GHG Markets -> Discussion and Feedback

COMET Tools Status Update

• Carbon Footprint, COMET Tools development, Supply Chains, Offsets• Science - Partnership with CSU ~ dedication to continual improvement• Science - California Specialty Crops• Engagement with the Climate Hubs

• Science - National Inventory efforts• Transparency - Outreach, Training & Help Desk• Transparency – Open source• Markets – C-AGG partnership

Adding California Specialty Crops to COMET-FarmTM

Kerri SteenwerthDavis

Adam Chambers – PortlandCalifornia State Office Staff

Marci BaranskiOCE - CCPO, Washington, DC

Will Horwath, Martin BurgerDavis

College of Ag SciFort Collins

Amrith GunasekaraSacramento

Keith Paustian, Mark Easter, Amy Swan et al.Fort Collins

A Collaboration Involving:

Baseline Scenario(Business as Usual)

TillageReduction

ImprovedFertilizer

Management

Add Cover Crops } Compare GHG

Benefits on the Same

Balance Sheet

COMET-FarmTM

COMET-PlannerTM

Business as UsualConservation

PracticePracticeBenefit=

Tools for Conservation Scenario Analysis

ConservationPractices

• Entity level• User-specific• Dynamic &

Empirical Models (“Tier 3”)

• Synergisms of Multiple Practices

• Reduced Uncertainty

• More Data Entry

• Multi-State Level• Emperical Models• Higher Uncertainty• 3-Click Tool

COMET Tool Enhancements in 2015

• COMET-FarmTM

• Alignment with USDA Entity-Level Methods Document• Example Demonstration Projects added for all Modules• PDF File Tutorials, Streaming Webinars Available on youtube• Processing tomatoes, bioenergy crops & cover crops added• Streamlined data entry for rice production• Agroforestry models updated to latest FIA models, projections extend to 50 years• Graphical Reports now available

• COMET-PlannerTM

• Additional Detail added on practices for N Management, Organic Matter Additions

Planned Enhancements for 2016

• COMET-FarmTM

• Adding California specialty crops to COMET-Farm• Rapid data entry features• COMET-Farm/Planner API Web Service – allow model runs from other web tools• Fully Integrate livestock grazing into pasture, rangeland and cropland systems• Agroforestry links to U.S. GHG Inventory• Outreach efforts to expand• Release COMET-FarmTM and COMET-PlannerTM into the Open Source Environment

• COMET-PlannerTM

• Link COMET-PlannerTM to COMET-FarmTM via meta-analysis• Improve spatial resolution• Make improvements based on lessons learned from specialty crop work

California Specialty Crops in COMET-FarmTM

Crops List:

Broccoli CauliflowerLettuceProcessing Tomatoes

Strawberries

Almonds Walnuts Pistachios Grapes Citrus Peaches/Nectaries

Prunes/Plums

We will improve the improve the COMET-FarmTM GUI and management options based on these cropping systems.

Rapid Data Entry in COMET-FarmTM

Select from list of dominant crop rotations and dominant practices for the region– or –

Users may build their own crop rotations

COMET-FarmTM/PlannerTM API Web Service: Allow model runs from other web tools

COMET-FarmTM & USDA GHG Methods:• Croplands• Livestock• Agroforestry/Forestry

“Outside” Users:• Registries• Aggregators• Agencies• Others?

Agroforestry in the COMET tools & U.S. GHG Inventory• COMET-FarmTM agroforestry carbon

stock models consistent with other woody carbon models in the U.S. GHG Inventory• Testing a potential national

inventory method for agroforestry using these models in Iowa.• Extend what we learn in Iowa to

Land Resource Regions in the Corn Belt and Great Plains.

Integrate Livestock Grazing into COMET-FarmTM

• Users will be able to identify whether systems are cash crops, cover crops or pasture/rangeland systems• Grazing offtake will be added to the “Crop

and Planting Date” panel in Current and Future Management sections• Grazing can be done on any system at any

time: pasture, rangeland, cover crops before burn down, corn stubble after harvest, winter wheat in spring, etc.

Expanded Outreach Efforts

In 2015 we focused on California

In 2016 we will expand outreach to the entire lower 48 states.

Release COMET-FarmTM in Open Source Environment

• Maximum Transparency about how Methods Doc’t was implemented.• Improve collaboration opportunities:• Registries• Other Government Agencies• Non-Governmental Agencies• Extend our work to others

• Will Include Calculation Modules, Cropland/Livestock/Forestry GUIs, Reporting, Databases

COMET-PlannerTM Improvements• Link COMET-PlannerTM to COMET-FarmTM via meta-analysis approach• Fully align COMET-FarmTM and COMET-PlannerTM

• Implement the USDA Methods Document methods COMET-PlannerTM

• Improve spatial resolution (currently multi-state, make data state-level or MLRA-level)

• Potential improvements using “lessons learned” from specialty crop work• Make available via API web service to other users, other tools• Release into the Open Source Environment

How can we continue to improve the COMET Tools?• Where can we improve the tools to reduce project costs?• Graphical User Interface Improvements?• Reports?• Crops and Management Practices?• Mapping, large-scale, multi-partner projects?

• How can we continue to expand the user base?

• The Colorado State University / C-AGG Collaboration Begins Now• Workshops at the 2016 March and July C-Agg meetings to focus on GUI, Reporting

Thank You

Improve reporting for GHG Offset Markets

Designate Year Management Practice

Changed