On-farm greenhouse gas audit - Mark McKew
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Transcript of On-farm greenhouse gas audit - Mark McKew
On-Farm Greenhouse Gas Audit
Mark McKew
Outline
• Farming operation• How the project came about• Why I wanted to get involved• Results• What have a learnt from this process• Future?
• 654 ha• Sheep (2,700) and Beef (77) Production• 24ha crop, 10ha revegetation• Mt Cole Creek, Western Victoria
Coralynn
How the project came about
• Project Platypus (Local Landcare Network) sought funds from the Federal Govt to Audit 15 farms.
• The project was managed by the Landcare Network who engaged Environmental Accounting Services to design and undertake audits.
• Project Platypus staff were involved by working with landholders to collect information.
• It was decided to use the previous financial year as a basis for calculating emissions
Why I wanted to get involved• Concerns about Global Warming, requires a
Global solution• Want to play my part in the solution (everyone
needs to get involved)• No idea about what my farming enterprise
emissions were• My goal is to become carbon neutral
Accounting Boundary
Nitrous Oxide
Emissions to Air
Physical Inputs
Physical Outputs (Not Counted
Physical Inputs
Farm Emission/Uptake Sources
Enteric FermentationFuel and Energy Use
Emissions from Fertiliser UseEmissions from Animal Waste
Emissions from crop residues
Methane
Carbon Dioxide
WoolGrain
Physical Outputs
Fertiliser
Fuel
Stock Numbers
Total Farm Area
Area of Improved PastureArea Cropped
Emissions/Uptake
Liveweight
• Increase/decrease in soil carbon was not considered as part of this audit
Results
Figure 2: Sources of on farm emissions
Total EmissionsSource/Sink t CO2-eElectricity and Fuel 13Grain Production 0.4Sheep Production 355Beef Production 160Revegetation -30Net Farm Emissions 498Net Farm Agriculture Emissions 485
Source/Sink t CO2-eElectricity and Fuel 39Grain Production 19Sheep Production 91Forestry -52Net Farm Emissions 97Net Farm Agriculture Emissions 58
My Farm
Alternate farm , similar size with emphasis on cropping
Learnings• Carbon accounting for
my enterprise was not complicated
• Assumed beef were higher emitters of methane than sheep, but on a DSE basis they are only marginally higher
• Crops as opposed to livestock produces a lot less greenhouse gases
• Need to undertake a substantial amount of revegetation to become carbon neutral (or through soil carbon increases)
Future direction
• Reduced cattle numbers• Increase in revegetation• Commenced testing soil carbon at a number of
sites over the farm• Learn more about how to reduce emissions from
livestock through genetics and feeding• We need to undertake a substantial amount of
research and development in this area