Farming activities in the U.S. accounted for 10.5% of America’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2022.
From 2021 to 2022, agricultural greenhouse gas emissions decreased from 681.6 to 663.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and decreased .03% compared to the previous year.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimated that in 2022, agriculture emitted 390.1 million metric tons as nitrous oxide emissions directly as nitrous oxide, 227 million metric tons of methane, 47.9 MMT directly as on-farm carbon dioxide, and indirectly emitted 29.7 MMT through electricity the agricultural sector uses.
Ag practices that emit nitrous oxide include nitrogen fertilizer application and manure management.
Major sources of agricultural methane emissions include enteric fermentation, manure management, and rice cultivation.
The EPA also reports that the industrial sector is the largest contributor to total greenhouse gas emissions at 26%, followed by transportation and commercial.
