1. Enhancing COMET-FarmTM and COMET-PlannerTM for User Utility, Effectiveness, and Market Purposes
Adam Chambers
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Environmental Markets Leader
Portland, OR
Mark Easter, Amy Swan, Keith Paustian, and Kevin Brown
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO

2. 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

3. 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

4. Adding California Specialty Crops to COMET-FarmTM
A Collaboration Involving:
Adam Chambers – Portland
California State Office Staff
Keith Paustian, Mark Easter, Amy Swan et al.
Fort Collins
College of Ag Sci
Fort Collins
Amrith Gunasekara
Sacramento
Kerri Steenwerth
Davis
Marci Baranski
OCE - CCPO, Washington, DC
Will Horwath, Martin Burger
Davis

5. Fertilizer Management
Tools for Conservation Scenario Analysis
COMET-FarmTM
Conservation
Practices }
Entity level
User-specific
Dynamic & Empirical Models (“Tier 3”)
Synergisms of Multiple Practices
Reduced Uncertainty
More Data Entry
Tillage
Reduction
Compare GHG
Benefits on the Same
Balance Sheet
Improved
Fertilizer Management
Baseline Scenario
(Business as Usual)
Add
Cover Crops
COMET-PlannerTM
Multi-State Level
Emperical Models
Higher Uncertainty
3-Click Tool =
Conservation
Practice
Practice
Benefit
Business as Usual

6. 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

7. 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

8. California Specialty Crops in COMET-FarmTM
Crops List:
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Lettuce
Processing 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.

9. 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

10. COMET-FarmTM/PlannerTM API Web Service: Allow model runs from other web tools
“Outside” Users:
Registries
Aggregators
Agencies
Others?
COMET-FarmTM &
USDA GHG Methods:
Croplands
Livestock
Agroforestry/Forestry

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Expanded Outreach Efforts
In 2015 we focused
on California
In 2016 we will expand outreach
to the entire lower 48 states.

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Thank You

19. Improve reporting for GHG Offset Markets
Designate Year
Management Practice
Changed