Reducing Emissions on Farm
Reducing on-farm emissions is a complex task, so we’ve broken it down into 6 steps.
Unsure where to start?
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STEP 1
Baseline your farm
Baseline your farm using a calculator designed for your commodity.
STEP 2
Identify the different sources of emissions on your farm
Use the information from your carbon baseline to identify the different sources of emissions on your farm and how much each source contributes to the total.
This will vary by region, commodity type and farming system.
For example: Dairy Australia found that ‘average’ dairy farm emissions look likethis:
Each of these sources of emissions will have different solutions for reduction, so working out the relative percentages of emissions is a good starting point to see where the opportunities lie.
STEP 3
Identify and evaluate options for emissions reduction, and set a target and timeframe for achievement
Use the links below to investigate and consider cost vs impact of options, including the
payback period and potential productivity impacts. These could include things like:
- improving energy efficiency
- installing solar
- changing feeding mixes
- changing pastures.
These opportunities will be specific to commodity and farming systems.
Once you’ve identified the emissions reductions opportunities on your farm, you can consider setting a target with timeframes for achievement. It’s worth speaking to your value chain partners at this stage – they might have their own targets and requirements for Scope 3 emissions that can help inform yours.
Other, more general resources are available through trustworthy organisations,including your state agriculture department;
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
Agriculture Victoria  |
the Victorian Agriculture Department provides general information which is applicable to all regions |
| ‘Making cent$ of carbon and emissions on-farm’ |
focuses on practical actions that farm businesses can take now to improve their emissions performance. |
| Livestock methane and nitrogen emissions |
information to help livestock farmers to better understanding carbon and emission |
In most cases, the commodity Research & Development Councils (RDCs) have set sector targets for emissions reduction and developed tools to help farmers to achieve them. See:
| Resource | Research & Development Corporation |
|---|---|
| Australian Pork Limited |
Low Carbon Emission Roadmap |
| Cotton Australia |
Cotton Australia | Environment and climate |
| Dairy Australia |
Emissions – Reduction Strategies |
| Dairy Australia |
Energy Saving Tips |
| Fisheries Research and Development Corporation |
Climate Change and Sustainability |
| Grains Research and Development Corporation |
GRDC Search Tool |
| Hort Innovation |
Australian-grown Horticulture Sustainability Framework |
| Meat and Livestock Australia |
Carbon Neutral 2030 Hub |
| Rice Growers Australia |
Greenhouse gas emissions |
STEP 4
Consider potential grants or incentives
Many states and territories offer rebates and incentives to undertake work on farms.
An up-to-date list of opportunities is kept by FarmTable.
STEP 5
If you’ve set an emissions reduction target, consider opportunities to inset emissions which cannot be reduced or abated to help meet that target.
The Carbon Markets can provide guidance on this option.
STEP 6
Baseline again over time to measure your on-farm impact
Some case studies of farms who have achieved net zero emissions on farm are listed here:
| Carbon Status — Leap Farm |
| Macka’s Becomes Carbon Neutral — Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef |
Watch a FCA Webinar
FCA has created a number of webinars that you might find helpful. Explore our webinars below.
Claire Boyle
let’s talk about methane
You’re invited to join our next webinar, ‘Let’s talk about methane’. Hear from Dr Sabina Assan, author of report Australia’s coal mines can deliver two-thirds of methane cuts, and Margaret Jewell, MLA CN30 manager, about the impact of methane on climate targets and the possibilities for methane reduction in agriculture.
Claire Boyle
What do emissions reduction targets mean for farmers?
Our next webinar, ‘What do emissions reduction targets mean for farmers?’, is your opportunity to find out the answers to these questions any others relating to the new emissions targets.
Join us to hear from Polly Hemming, the Australia Institute, and Liam Walsh, Climateworks Centre, who will explain the impacts and opportunities of these policies for farmers.
Claire Boyle
Farmer deep dive – low emissions agriculture
You’re invited to join our next webinar, ‘What do emissions reduction targets mean for farmers?’. Join us to hear from Miguel E Castillo, Ernst & Young, and Professor Andrew Macintosh, Australian National University, as we get into what the future may look like for agriculture in a low emissions world.
Claire Boyle
Opportunities for agriculture in a low emissions future
Our next webinar, ‘What do emissions reduction targets mean for farmers?’. Find out how good climate policy can help farming families diversify their incomes, and increase productivity and profit.
Do you know of a useful resource?
This toolkit isn’t exhaustive and FCA will be adding more resources over time – if you know of another great resource that should be added please send in your suggestions to [email protected] with subject “CSFT Suggestion”.
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