Carbon Offsetting??Please show me the theory in practice.

Pilatus

Member
Location
cotswolds
One hears a lot about the theory of Carbon Offsetting in many industries including Agriculture.As Co2 is something I can’t see or touch how where can I get practical proof that carbon offsetting works in practice.
In theory if my tractor supposedly omits “x”amount of Co2 a year ,am I meant to think that the crops, permanent grass and woodland on my theoretical farm are meant absorb a certain amount of Co2, that may be more or less Co2 than the amount my tractor omits?
The trouble is I can’t see anything happening so how do I know the theory of Carbon Offsets work and it is not just a load of an unworkable Theory.
I am sincerely sceptical of Carbon Offsetting actually doing what scientists would have us believe.
 
Our grassland, hedges and woodland have suddenly become very desirable. But as you say, how do you measure?
And as I said on another thread, I have no intention of green washing someone else’s dirty laundry, so that they can carry on as before.
The other thing raising its head, is dairies and meat processors who h@ve producers on contract, using their excess credit rating to offset the company production processes.
 

DaveGrohl

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cumbria
One hears a lot about the theory of Carbon Offsetting in many industries including Agriculture.As Co2 is something I can’t see or touch how where can I get practical proof that carbon offsetting works in practice.
In theory if my tractor supposedly omits “x”amount of Co2 a year ,am I meant to think that the crops, permanent grass and woodland on my theoretical farm are meant absorb a certain amount of Co2, that may be more or less Co2 than the amount my tractor omits?
The trouble is I can’t see anything happening so how do I know the theory of Carbon Offsets work and it is not just a load of an unworkable Theory.
I am sincerely sceptical of Carbon Offsetting actually doing what scientists would have us believe.
Short answer is it has got nothing to do with scientists. It's ALL about business. Oh and politics.
 

Goweresque

Member
Location
North Wilts
Discussion on here the other day about a model contract
30 year term
At the end of the term if there is not the correct amount of carbon to be measured the farmer has to pay the balance
There is not a barge pole long enough IMO

The obvious solution is for the landowner to say to the Polluting MegaCorp™ 'You pay me £200/acre to rent it, and then you can farm it in a way that sequesters lots of lovely carbon'..........
 

Goweresque

Member
Location
North Wilts
Or you set up a farming company, Unicorns and Rainbows Carbon Farming Ltd, give it a 30 year FBT on your land, then it signs a contract with Polluting MegaCorp™. Pay out all the carbon payments as dividends over the years, if at the end of the contract there's not enough carbon, hey its a limited company, let it go to the wall.........
 

holwellcourtfarm

Member
Livestock Farmer
⁸Or you set up a farming company, Unicorns and Rainbows Carbon Farming Ltd, give it a 30 year FBT on your land, then it signs a contract with Polluting MegaCorp™. Pay out all the carbon payments as dividends over the years, if at the end of the contract there's not enough carbon, hey its a limited company, let it go to the wall.........
Nice, play the game their way. (y)

A fairly long read but I recommend you read this right through before getting involved in offsetting:

 

Oldmacdonald

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Scotland
Our grassland, hedges and woodland have suddenly become very desirable. But as you say, how do you measure?
And as I said on another thread, I have no intention of green washing someone else’s dirty laundry, so that they can carry on as before.

So is it not a bit hypocritical for us to say our hedgerows are offsetting our tractors emissions?
 

serf

Member
Location
warwickshire
One hears a lot about the theory of Carbon Offsetting in many industries including Agriculture.As Co2 is something I can’t see or touch how where can I get practical proof that carbon offsetting works in practice.
In theory if my tractor supposedly omits “x”amount of Co2 a year ,am I meant to think that the crops, permanent grass and woodland on my theoretical farm are meant absorb a certain amount of Co2, that may be more or less Co2 than the amount my tractor omits?
The trouble is I can’t see anything happening so how do I know the theory of Carbon Offsets work and it is not just a load of an unworkable Theory.
I am sincerely sceptical of Carbon Offsetting actually doing what scientists would have us believe.
Screenshot_20211113-173825_DuckDuckGo.jpg
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 65 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.1%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.2%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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