ENVIRONMENT GHG EMISSIONS
Know your GHG numbers Words by: Elaine Fisher
B
y New Year’s Day, 2022, a quarter of New Zealand farms must have a written plan in place to measure and manage their greenhouse gas emissions, and that will be compulsory for all farms by January 1, 2025. This is among the requirements of He Waka Eke Noa (Our Future is in Our Hands), a partnership between the government and the primary sector to reduce primary sector emissions. It involves working to equip farmers to measure, manage and reduce on-farm agriculture greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and adapt to climate change, to enable sustainable food and fibre production for future generations. AgFirst agricultural economist Philip Journeaux says Fonterra and Synlait have begun calculating the figures for their suppliers, which has raised awareness among farmers of the need to know their emission numbers. In addition, Phil and the AgFirst team have been working out numbers for sheep and beef farmers, including Rick and John 58
Burke of Pukekauri Farm near Katikati. The numbers are based on data supplied by farmers, including their livestock types, stocking rate, animal production, fertiliser inputs, rainfall and soil type. Overseer software is used to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of each farm.
‘There will be many sheep, beef and dairy farmers across New Zealand who have a great story to tell about their regenerative practices producing high-quality nutritious food from grass-fed animals.’ In the case of Pukekauri Farms, data from 1998-99, 2014-15 and 2020-21 was used to show emissions had decreased by 60%, and based on inflation-adjusted figures, its
profitability has improved by between 20 to 25% overall since 1999. “This has been achieved over a period of about 20 years and includes the effective use of drymatter by livestock that have been chosen for their genetic growth potential. It also includes the planting of exotic forest and areas retired and planted in natives,” says Phil. Many farmers are still dealing with the new requirements around fresh water and while they also need to know their numbers for GHG emissions, Phil cautions against making any dramatic changes to farm management or stock type until further He Waka Eke Noa provisions are announced. In the meantime, Beef + Lamb NZ Mid-Northern Farmer Council member Rick Burke is urging farmers to “do their numbers”. “There will be many sheep, beef and dairy farmers across New Zealand who have a great story to tell about their regenerative practices producing highquality nutritious food from grass-fed animals.” That information will add to the growing
Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | January 2021
