Net-zero action on farms - how are you doing it?

[Nature Friendly Farming]

Jonathan Pinnick guest blogs on our website, sharing some ways that farmers can reach net-zero while locking carbon away at the same time.

Some emissions reduction measures, depending on the nature of the farm, include:

• reducing livestock numbers
• improving slurry/manure storage and spreading methods
• optimising nitrogen fertiliser application
• minimising the use of concentrated feed mixes
• adopting a minimum or no-till approach
• growing cover crops
• minimising or eliminating the use of pesticide products in favour of an integrated pest management approach

Jonathan writes:
"Whilst some or all of these measures may result in yield reductions, the associated cost savings would in many cases offset these, enabling farmers to maintain their profit margins whilst reducing their carbon footprint. This is a framework our England Chair, Chris Clark, has captured through his work on MSO (maximum sustainable output), where farmers work to achieve their MSO and get maximum returns for nature and business as a result. By adopting nature-friendly farming practices such as hedgerow planting, agroforestry, peatland or species-rich grassland restoration, or wetland creation, farmers have the potential to transform their businesses from being ‘net carbon emitters’ to ‘net carbon sequesters’."

Have you tried any of these approaches? What about using carbon calculating to measure the results?

Read more of Jonathan's blog - https://www.nffn.org.uk/northern-ireland-farming-solutions-for-climate-action/

 

[curlietailz]

In your ideal scenario as outlined above....How will the income be generated from the reduced livestock, no-till, reduced pesticide use etc to pay the rising costs and overheads ??
Without sufficient income to pay all the rising costs associated with a farm business and turn a modest profit there is no farm business.

I am of course referring to overheads... which are mostly the same regardless of yield or reduced variable cost...and ever increasing.... rent, finance charges, wages, fuel, insurance, electricity, water, assurance costs, subscriptions to NFU CLA TFA etc,

 

[egbert]

In your ideal scenario as outlined above....How will the income be generated from the reduced livestock, no-till, reduced pesticide use etc to pay the rising costs and overheads ??
Without sufficient income to pay all the rising costs associated with a farm business and turn a modest profit there is no farm business.

I am of course referring to overheads... which are mostly the same regardless of yield or reduced variable cost...and ever increasing.... rent, finance charges, wages, fuel, insurance, electricity, water, assurance costs, subscriptions to NFU CLA TFA etc,

I won't even go that far.
To kick off with mention of reducing livestock numbers - and I'm guessing we're talking ovine and bovine - cos ironically they seem to be everyone's targets- ....well, you can go hang.
My cows burp some methane, which they make out of grass and rain, and which is part of a short pre-existing natural cycle.
In real terms, there isn't any more methane in the atmosphere now- from cow burps- than there was 10 years ago or 100 years ago.
I utterly refute any suggestion that it's responsible for global warming/climate change.

Further, when you mention carbon neutral/locking carbon away....how would you (OP) do that in any meaningful way, that's secure for the hundreds of millions of years like oil/gas was sat safe in the ground before we slurped it up?
Grow some trees with a carbon life cycle of 50-100 years?
Who does that fool?

You can talk about stopping burning red diesel, or wrapping bales in plastic, or weaning ourselves off nitram.....but until you do, you're p1551ng in the wind.

We've got real problems as a species, and we-as farmers- have our part to play.
Come back and talk to me when you're serious

 

[SilliamWhale]

It's all balls but how can I make some money out of it?

 

[Highland Mule]

Reach net zero? I guess I could light a few bonfires and burn some stuff, but why would I want to get away from net negative?

 

[jonnieboy]

So what are other industries doing to reduce their carbon footprint
Are B A going to start walking trips to cut emissions
We seem to be expected to cut our stock numbers or crop less
We are not charities this is how we make a living
Has anyone done a carbon audit on HS2 and the benefits it will provide?

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

UK cattle and sheep are already net zero. Numbers across the country have been falling more than the 0.3% necessary to achieve that for decades....

 

[spin cycle]

my farm is already carbon neutral cos my hedges + trees sequestration more than offsets it....anyone who questions me otherwise will be told ....umm whats the 'technical term' i'm searching for ....oh yeah....FECK ORF

and yes i've done the sums

@Defra Farming

 

[Steevo]

The easiest way to be “Net Zero” is to stop farming.

The thing is that it’s not farming that is positive or negative…..farming is a function (one of many) of sustaining a human population. It is the population of the humans actions overall that is not “Net Zero” which is causing the issue.

Today I have been Net Zero in chocolate. I did eat 7 packets of crisps, a cheeseburger and some onion rings but that’s clearly a different issue….

 

[Flatlander]

I’ve been away from the uk for twenty years and to be blunt I can’t say I would want to farm there again. Don’t get me wrong Britain is a great country but the hoops you all have to jump thru is unreal. it saddens me to think that hard working farmer that feed the country and are custodians of the countryside get shafted in every possible way. greatest respect for all that comply and still run a successful business while dealing with do Gooder bull5h1t.
net Zero,reducing livestock and changing farming practices just so the fat cat city slickers can jet off to somewhere with their secretary for a week in the sun and know that the British farmer is doing his best to off set the thousands of litres of fuel that got burnt so he can get laid. Talk about resilience,British farmer your a tough bunch

 

[Henarar]

Some emissions reduction measures, depending on the nature of the farm, include:

• reducing livestock numbers

What livestock on what nature of farm are we talking about here @Nature Friendly Farming ?
perhaps you should get Jonathan Pinnick to guest on TFF and explain

 

[maen]

The easiest way to be “Net Zero” is to stop farming.

The thing is that it’s not farming that is positive or negative…..farming is a function (one of many) of sustaining a human population. It is the population of the humans actions overall that is not “Net Zero” which is causing the issue.

Today I have been Net Zero in chocolate. I did eat 7 packets of crisps, a cheeseburger and some onion rings but that’s clearly a different issue….

More profound than that. There are simply too many people on our planet that wish to live good lives. They enjoy eating, taking holidays and adventure travel and staying warm. Any politician that wishes to curtail them of their pleasures will reap their reward at the next election.
if we were given a one to ten of the actions we should all take to reduce global warming I think people would abstain. Just like staycation will end next year, unless you like dreary damp summers!

 

[wanton dwarf]

The easiest way to be “Net Zero” is to stop farming.

The thing is that it’s not farming that is positive or negative…..farming is a function (one of many) of sustaining a human population. It is the population of the humans actions overall that is not “Net Zero” which is causing the issue.

Today I have been Net Zero in chocolate. I did eat 7 packets of crisps, a cheeseburger and some onion rings but that’s clearly a different issue….

The easiest way to net Zero is for all the Cities to disappear.

Problem solved, next !

 

[glasshouse]

Jonathan Pinnick guest blogs on our website, sharing some ways that farmers can reach net-zero while locking carbon away at the same time.

Some emissions reduction measures, depending on the nature of the farm, include:

• reducing livestock numbers
• improving slurry/manure storage and spreading methods
• optimising nitrogen fertiliser application
• minimising the use of concentrated feed mixes
• adopting a minimum or no-till approach
• growing cover crops
• minimising or eliminating the use of pesticide products in favour of an integrated pest management approach

Jonathan writes:
"Whilst some or all of these measures may result in yield reductions, the associated cost savings would in many cases offset these, enabling farmers to maintain their profit margins whilst reducing their carbon footprint. This is a framework our England Chair, Chris Clark, has captured through his work on MSO (maximum sustainable output), where farmers work to achieve their MSO and get maximum returns for nature and business as a result. By adopting nature-friendly farming practices such as hedgerow planting, agroforestry, peatland or species-rich grassland restoration, or wetland creation, farmers have the potential to transform their businesses from being ‘net carbon emitters’ to ‘net carbon sequesters’."

Have you tried any of these approaches? What about using carbon calculating to measure the results?

Read more of Jonathan's blog - https://www.nffn.org.uk/northern-ireland-farming-solutions-for-climate-action/

Pish

 

[wanton dwarf]

Jonathan Pinnick guest blogs on our website, sharing some ways that farmers can reach net-zero while locking carbon away at the same time.

Some emissions reduction measures, depending on the nature of the farm, include:

• reducing livestock numbers
• improving slurry/manure storage and spreading methods
• optimising nitrogen fertiliser application
• minimising the use of concentrated feed mixes
• adopting a minimum or no-till approach
• growing cover crops
• minimising or eliminating the use of pesticide products in favour of an integrated pest management approach

Jonathan writes:
"Whilst some or all of these measures may result in yield reductions, the associated cost savings would in many cases offset these, enabling farmers to maintain their profit margins whilst reducing their carbon footprint. This is a framework our England Chair, Chris Clark, has captured through his work on MSO (maximum sustainable output), where farmers work to achieve their MSO and get maximum returns for nature and business as a result. By adopting nature-friendly farming practices such as hedgerow planting, agroforestry, peatland or species-rich grassland restoration, or wetland creation, farmers have the potential to transform their businesses from being ‘net carbon emitters’ to ‘net carbon sequesters’."

Have you tried any of these approaches? What about using carbon calculating to measure the results?

Read more of Jonathan's blog - https://www.nffn.org.uk/northern-ireland-farming-solutions-for-climate-action/

The UK is a net importer of food.

If this so called policy is adopted then more food will be imported.

Imported food ALREADY uses banned presticides and practices which are illegal in the UK.

Hence this whole policy is degenerate and self defeating. More imports means higher emission levels, so why are you promoting something that does the total opposite of what you suggest is your aim ?

 

[curlietailz]

Jonathan Pinnick guest blogs on our website, sharing some ways that farmers can reach net-zero while locking carbon away at the same time.

Some emissions reduction measures, depending on the nature of the farm, include:

• reducing livestock numbers
• improving slurry/manure storage and spreading methods
• optimising nitrogen fertiliser application
• minimising the use of concentrated feed mixes
• adopting a minimum or no-till approach
• growing cover crops
• minimising or eliminating the use of pesticide products in favour of an integrated pest management approach

Jonathan writes:
"Whilst some or all of these measures may result in yield reductions, the associated cost savings would in many cases offset these, enabling farmers to maintain their profit margins whilst reducing their carbon footprint. This is a framework our England Chair, Chris Clark, has captured through his work on MSO (maximum sustainable output), where farmers work to achieve their MSO and get maximum returns for nature and business as a result. By adopting nature-friendly farming practices such as hedgerow planting, agroforestry, peatland or species-rich grassland restoration, or wetland creation, farmers have the potential to transform their businesses from being ‘net carbon emitters’ to ‘net carbon sequesters’."

Have you tried any of these approaches? What about using carbon calculating to measure the results?

Read more of Jonathan's blog - https://www.nffn.org.uk/northern-ireland-farming-solutions-for-climate-action/

here’s a thought

if the Govt paid farmers £600 per acre per year guaranteed to “leave their land for nature” I reckon most of the farmland would be rewilded

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Jonathan Pinnick guest blogs on our website, sharing some ways that farmers can reach net-zero while locking carbon away at the same time.

Some emissions reduction measures, depending on the nature of the farm, include:

• reducing livestock numbers
• improving slurry/manure storage and spreading methods
• optimising nitrogen fertiliser application
• minimising the use of concentrated feed mixes
• adopting a minimum or no-till approach
• growing cover crops
• minimising or eliminating the use of pesticide products in favour of an integrated pest management approach

Jonathan writes:
"Whilst some or all of these measures may result in yield reductions, the associated cost savings would in many cases offset these, enabling farmers to maintain their profit margins whilst reducing their carbon footprint. This is a framework our England Chair, Chris Clark, has captured through his work on MSO (maximum sustainable output), where farmers work to achieve their MSO and get maximum returns for nature and business as a result. By adopting nature-friendly farming practices such as hedgerow planting, agroforestry, peatland or species-rich grassland restoration, or wetland creation, farmers have the potential to transform their businesses from being ‘net carbon emitters’ to ‘net carbon sequesters’."

Have you tried any of these approaches? What about using carbon calculating to measure the results?

Read more of Jonathan's blog - https://www.nffn.org.uk/northern-ireland-farming-solutions-for-climate-action/

On the whole ruminant methane issue the 6th IPCC assessment report was essential reading. It didn't spell it out in 'Sun reader' simplicity, because they don't work that way, but it clearly said that assessing methane and other Short Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP's) in the same way as CO² is inappropriate because it creates a false impression of their impacts. It also stated that rising enteric methane emissions are coming from Asia, South America and Eastern Europe.

It does call for cuts in methane emissions but makes it clear this is only as a short term way to buy some space while CO² emissions are cut DEEPLY and that unless the deep CO² cuts occur rapidly the methane cuts will have been a waste of time.

In that context how can we really justify cutting UK ruminant livestock numbers faster than they are already naturally falling? If anything it's justification for ceasing all imports of beef and lamb from those countries whose emissions are rising, to encourage them to cut their numbers. Cutting ours and continuing to import from these other countries is illogical at best. As is anything which increases fossil fuel use in UK agriculture.

I'm right behind you in incorporating more trees into productive farm landscapes though (agroforestry and silvopasture).