The Biological Emissions Reference Group (Berg), consisting of agricultural sector organisations and Government agencies, said while farmers are willing to do their bit few have knowledge of emission levels from their farm or how to stem them.
A Berg survey found 64% of farmers believe agriculture should reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help combat climate change.
But 98% do not know the greenhouse gas emission rate from their farm and when asked to estimate their emissions, 97% underestimate.
More than half are aware of mitigation measures other than trees they can introduce to reduce emissions.
Adoption of known farm management measures could reduce emissions from the livestock sector by 10% but further increases will require a combination of land use change and on-farm management.
The authors found pricing emissions would encourage farmers to use available mitigation options such as once-a-day milking and planting trees on marginal land.
“The modelling found that irrespective of the emission price, if dairy farmers are able to reduce stocking rate and increase productivity per animal that this is the most adopted option.”
Changes introduced by some regional councils to improve freshwater quality could reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4%.
It has been estimated 800,000ha of trees could also be planted to meet freshwater quality goals with the associated carbon sequestering reducing the equivalent of an additional 14% of agricultural emissions.
The report found various barriers to farmers adopting knowledge on how to reduce emissions, which will require Government and sector help to overcome.
The administration costs of pricing emissions at a farm level is high but could be lowered significantly if farmers could estimate on-farm biological emissions without engaging a certified nutrient management adviser or if a system that reduces brokerage fees for farmers procuring emission trading units is found.
Berg members are Beef + Lamb NZ, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, DairyNZ, Deer Industry NZ, Horticulture NZ, the Fertiliser Association, Ministry for the Environment and Ministry for Primary Industries.
