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Glossary of Terms

Agricultural Emissions
The agriculture sector is responsible for approximately 7% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). It does rank behind electricity generation, transportation, and industry, especially in terms of carbon dioxide emitted. However, ag is a major source of all U.S. nitrous oxide (78%) and methane (29%) emissions (although the latter are decreasing).

Ag creates GHGs primarily through the following processes: gases from livestock manure (especially at CAFOs, confined animal feeding operations), rice cultivation, soil management that depends on heavy fertilizer applications, and burning of field residues. Land use practices that excessively disturb the soil contribute as well.

For more information, see the 2007 EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2005, Agriculture section (.pdf).
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- James Hansen, NASA climate researcher
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