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Graeme Anderson - Climate Extension Specialist Carbon & Farming …..
Graeme Anderson - Climate Extension Specialist
Carbon & Farming …..
•2003 - Emission Trading options discussed by
Fed Govt but not progressed
•2007 - Howard Govt took ETS proposal to election
•2009 - Rudd Govt CPRS proposal
•2011 - Gillard & minority govt “Clean Energy
Future” or “Carbon Tax” legislation debate
underway now and beyond????
Carbon Price (brewing for a while……)
What are they trying to do to us?
?#?%?#?
State of play for emission trading:
Over time an ETS aims to create a wedge between GDP, energy use and CO2
emissions…….
This graph shows response to oil price rises in 1970’s
and how the economy responded………
Can we grow our economy,
flatten energy use,
& reduce emissions?
But why all the fuss about Carbon (CO2)?
????
Outer Stratosphere is cooling
The John Tyndal story…
….CO2 & greenhouse gases trap “heat”
Troposphere is warming
(under greenhouse blanket)
Hard Physics - the atmosphere – Changes to our energy balance
(incoming versus outgoing)
The instrumental record – land/sea temperature
Each decade since 1950’s has been warmer than the previous decade
www.bom.gov.au
Temperature trends
for Victorian locations
Wangaratta Echuca
Omeo
Mildura
Laverton Wilsons Prom
Ararat
Hamilton
9 9
1. Energy story (efficiency, production, farm & supply chain)
2. Farm forests (vegetation, C-sink, farm planning, landcare)
3. Soil carbon (soil health, C-sink, organic matter, biota, whc)
4. Nitrogen efficiency (production, leakage, water quality etc)
5. Methane (animal productivity, feed, genetics etc)
(Each of these is has business benefits…)
“The 5 action areas” for farm carbon & emissions:
Farms & Energy – a growing issue:
• Farm energy approx 8% of variable costs on dairy farms
• On farm energy efficiency to tackle rising cost pressure
(retailers blame a number reasons for price rises…….)
• Energy & dairy audits & action plans
• On farm options for new energy generation
• Bio-energy/Biofuels - various future technologies
• Agriculture/forestry waste for bioenergy options
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•Applied nitrogen in farming systems – can be 50% leakage
•70 – 95% of nitrogen consumed by animals is excreted
•Largest emissions when soils are wet
•Equivalent of 4 barrels of oil to produce 1 tonne of urea
Nitrogen in the farm system
Nitrous oxide management
Nitrogen fertiliser management (Spend approx $50K/farm/year)
• source, rate and timing (new coated products)
Crop / pasture management
• Reduce fallow, water use efficiency, nutrient limitation
Soil management
• Tillage, drainage and soil compaction
Animal management
• Stocking rates
• Nitrogen inhibitors (can reduce emissions by 70%)
Enteric methane - livestock
Represent a significant loss of energy
Large inefficiency in animal production
• 6 to 10% of Gross Energy Intake lost as CH4
Animal Class
Methane (kg/year)
MJ CH4 lost
/hd/day
Effective
annual grazing
days lost
Potential km driven in 6-cylinder car
Mature ewe
10 to 13 1.5 to 2.0 43 to 55 90 to 116
Beef steer 50 to 90 7.6 to 13.6 33 to 60 450 to 800
Dairy cow 90 to 146 13.6 to 22.1 25 to 40 800 to 1350
Eckard et al. 2009
Methane management
Animal numbers
– Fewer, but more productive cows
– Earlier finishing in beef; extended lactation in dairy
Breeding
– Selecting for Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCE) also selects for reduced methane
– Approx 15% variation in FCE and CH4 production
Diet
– High quality feed
– Dietary oils (5-25% less methane - DGAS)
– Tannins (10-15% - DGAS)
– Different strategies for different seasons !
Soils & Carbon
•Significant stores of carbon in soils
•Traditionally can be easily lost – harder to gain
•Increase organic matter has multiple benefits, soil
biota, water holding capacity, nutrients etc
•Various pools of carbon (short to long life)
•Biochar?
•Sequestration – short term or long term?
•Consider implications soil nutrient flows
•Will be influenced by future climate & land use
Courtesy: Stock and Land 2005
Farm
Trees
Farmers are already doing many of these
things...................for practical reasons!
…….we need more research, tools and
technologies so we can do it better, and
get on with the business of profitable food
& fibre production………
Supply Chain –
implications
beyond the farm
gate??…..….
Key points:
•Federal govt Carbon Farming Initiative is VOLUNTARY
•Stay tuned for smart cookies (coated N, low-E feed, etc)
•Look closely if signing contracts for carbon storage
•Watch for implications on supply chain
•Farmers are already busy in “5 action areas” for multiple
benefits and efficiency/savings beyond carbon
•Farm production efficiency gains to be made as we get
better R&D & technologies for on-farm use
•Stay tuned & focus on the things we have control over
•Meeting global food/fibre demand
•Energy & water efficiency
•New energy generation options
•Improved soil health
•Farm trees and landcare
•Improved fertiliser efficiency
•Better livestock performance
•Healthy people & businesses
Thank You
www.dpi.vic.gov.au/climaterisk
Site has climate dog animations, seasonal climate newsletters, carbon toolkits, case studies of
farmers taking action etc…….
