Geospatial analysis of potential water use, water stress, and eutrophication impacts from US dairy production

Abstract

Water resource impacts from US dairy production include water use (scarcity impacts) and water quality (eutrophication impacts). These impacts are location-specific, depending upon characteristics of the region and watershed where on-farm dairy and feed production occurs. The objectives of this analysis were to evaluate the impact of US on-farm dairy production on water scarcity across the US, and evaluate dairy production's impact on eutrophication processes within watersheds as well as on the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. The primary water-utilization challenge for dairy producers is irrigation for growing feed rather than on-farm use. Most dairy production in the US does not occur in water stressed areas with the exception of production in some western states. The potential impacts on local (P pollution) and regional (N pollution to the Gulf of Mexico) watershed eutrophication are more likely to occur from feed production than from on-farm dairy activities.