Farming for a Better Climate Group's mission to reduce emissions

Emissions on farm are often a complex mix of gases which arise from many sources. Given the fact each farm is unique, however, it can be difficult to ascertain how to reduce emissions.

The Farming for a Better Climate Soil Regenerative group, facilitated by SAC Consulting, recently carried out carbon audits for their businesses to find out exactly where their emissions come from and how they can be reduced.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas which is released through natural processes such as decomposition, but also through human activities such as burning fossil fuels. On farm, CO2 is emitted from several sources, primarily from energy use and from fertiliser.

Aberdeenshire farmer, Douglas Ruxton, from Moss-side of Esslie, had already noted the difference in his fuel used for drying grain between a dry and a wet harvest.

However, he said: “It’s very clear from my audit results that the amount of fuel I use directly affects my farm’s emissions. Although I want to reduce the fuel used, it also highlights how changeable agriculture’s emissions can be depending on the weather.”

Furthermore, the group found that reducing tillage on their farms had a beneficial effect on their businesses as it reduced the emissions from fuel use. Although this was a positive change, the group found that this was only a small benefit when compared to the potential to increase soil carbon.

Methane (CH4)

Methane stems from ruminants in agricultural systems. Emissions are both from fermentation of feed stuffs and from manures and slurries.

Overall, the group had a low proportion of their emissions in the form of methane due to the absence of livestock. However, Ben Baron, Leitfie Farm, in Perthshire, found that his cattle enterprise had very low emissions due to high calving rates and high growth rates for his young stock.

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

Nitrous oxide is an extremely damaging greenhouse gas – approximately 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

In agriculture, nitrous oxide emissions stem from fertiliser and organic manures, such as farmyard manure. It can also be emitted through grazing deposition from animals.

The group found that their fertiliser use impacted their farm’s emissions. For example, Hugh Black, at Backboath, in Angus, reduced his fertiliser use for his winter wheat crop when it followed a crop of beans in the rotation. Using less fertiliser subsequently had a positive effect on the emissions of his wheat enterprise.

Reducing emissions

The Farming for a Better Climate initiative identifies five key areas for farms to reduce emissions. These measures are specific to each farm and in many cases also provide a financial saving for a business that adapts these measures.

The key mitigation areas are:

• Develop renewable energy

• Optimise livestock performance

• Lock carbon in soil and woodland

• Reduce energy and fuel use

• Improve nutrient use

Alongside these mitigation areas, the Soil Regenerative Agriculture Group paid particular attention to soil carbon sequestration. Soil sequestration has a large potential to offset farm businesses emissions, however achieving this is particularly difficult.

Principally, soil carbon should be considered in two sections: sequestration and storage. Carbon sequestration is the process of taking carbon from the atmosphere and locking it in biomass, or within the soil.

However, storage of carbon is maintaining it within the soil and preventing it from being emitted. The group found that reducing tillage alone was not enough to increase soil carbon, however when tillage was reduced alongside the use of perennial crops, soil carbon sequestration was much more positive.

• Carrying out a carbon audit to identify where your emissions come from is the first step towards reducing the emissions on farm. For more information about how to reduce your emissions on farm visit www.farmingforabetterclimate.org