These assessments can also lead to reduced production costs, and allow farmers to highlight their environmental efforts, potentially boosting their market appeal to consumers. All assessments were carried out using the Agrecalc Cloud farm carbon calculator.
Findings from the exercise are highlighted by two detailed case studies from a dairy farm and a beef and sheep farm that participated in the study.
CASE STUDY 1
Emissions generated by milk production on a Flintshire grassland farm are below the UK average for farms of the same enterprise, running a similar system to that of Moor Farm.
The Davies family produce milk from 113 pedigree Holstein Friesians at Moor Farm, Holywell, one of the farms involved in the Farming Connect carbon footprint study.
Their herd, which calves in an eight-week block in April and May, currently averages 7,500 litres/cow/year at 4.6% butterfat and 3.67% protein.
The analysis of the farm’s carbon footprint showed that emissions from the dairy enterprise in 2023 equated to 1.09 kg CO2-eq/kg FPC milk, compared to the 1.19 kg CO2-eq/kg FPC milk average for similar UK farms who used the Agrecalc Cloud carbon footprint calculator.
Whole farm emissions, excluding carbon stock changes, equated to 974,700 kg
CO2-eq - 12% were carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, 64% methane (CH4) emissions and 23% nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions.
The study looked at where those emissions originated. At 58%, feed digestion was responsible for the majority followed by purchased feed at 16% and manure management at 15%.
Other emissions came from fertiliser (6%), fuel (4%) and electricity (0.9%) while factors that came under the ‘others’ category - crop residue, lime, transport and waste – accounted for 0.9%.
Changes in carbon stocks from trees equated to -1,938 kg CO2-eq at Moor Farm, demonstrating on-farm sequestration.
The Davies’ post-assessment report advised on actions they could take to reduce carbon footprint, those which could also improve livestock performance and profitability.
The family’s focus on genomic testing to inform their breeding decisions was seen as a positive as was maximising milk production from pasture by reducing reliance on concentrates.
Going forward, advances in research and technology could offer further opportunities, the report suggests.
Some of the biggest gains though could come from reducing emissions from enteric fermentation – feed digestion – by optimising nutrition and adjusting rations.
Allowing hedges to grow wider and taller (where possible) by moving away from an annual flailing programme would enhance sequestration.
Rhys Davies, who farms with his parents, Dei and Heulwen, says the assessment had been a very useful exercise.
We now have the information and can assess where we are doing well on emissions, and where we can improve, although it is reassuring that we compare well to the carbon dioxide equivalent figure for the average milk producer,
He says.
Going forward, in future carbon tools we would like to use our annual Agrinet grass growth data in tDM/ha to determine the grassland’s role in carbon sequestration.
His milk buyer, Arla, already has a scheme in place to allow suppliers to capture additional milk price income for soil carbon testing.
It encourages farmers to test with the intention of developing the system further which will offer more opportunities to increase income,
Says Rhys.
CASE STUDY 2
An upland livestock farm in Montgomeryshire is putting measures in place to increase productivity in its ewe and suckler cow enterprises to further reduce emissions.
At 24.89 kg CO2e/kg deadweight of beef, emissions from Glyn and Chris Davies’ beef herd at Awel y Grug, Cefn Coch, falls well below the national average of 30.22 kg CO2e/kg deadweight of beef for similar farms who also use the Agrecalc Cloud carbon footprint calculator.
But with average emissions for a kilo of lamb produced by their crossbred flock at 32.11 kg CO2e/kg deadweight, compared to the national average of 25.94 kg CO2e/kg deadweight, they are implementing changes to improve that.
Whole farm emissions, excluding carbon stock changes, equated to 690,308 kg
CO2-eq.
The sheep enterprise, which consists of 650 crossbred ewes, was responsible for 68% of the farm’s total emissions, whilst the 30-cow Limousin-cross beef enterprise accounted for 32%.
Feed digestion was the biggest emissions hotspot – it accounted for 70% of total emissions in the beef herd and 77% in the sheep flock.
Changes in carbon stocks, which demonstrate on-farm sequestration, equated to -8,083 kg CO2-eq.
Chris says the results from this baseline audit correspond with several aspects of
the farming system that he is targeting for improving in his role as a Farming Connect Our Farms network farm.
These include reducing input costs by growing red clover leys; this has speeded up lamb finishing times and reduced purchased feed costs.
The Davies’ are also improving flock efficiency, trialling a new system of worming which distinguishes lambs that need treatment from those that don’t and provides a tailored dose according to an individual lamb’s requirement.
Since the data was collected for the carbon footprint report, an evaluation of the suckler cow enterprise has been carried out at Awel y Grug and the Davies’ say they are now planning to give up beef production while increasing ewe numbers and running a closed flock.
Chris says ewe numbers are likely to increase to 900 with 200 ewe lamb replacements each year.
By running a closed flock, he hopes to keep diseases at bay, further increasing flock productivity.
The carbon footprint audit exercise will be repeated towards the end of Awel y Grug’s period in the Our Farms network to look at the impact of those changes.