The website, www.farmingmatters.co.nz, has been created by the Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.
Director Dr Harry Clark, who is also a member of the Interim Climate Change Committee, said website’s launch is timely in light of the Government’s signal it will implement farm-level accounting and pricing of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.
Initially, the site focuses on methane but will soon expand to include information on nitrous oxide and strategies for adapting to climate change.
Methane belched out by ruminant livestock such as cows and sheep is a problem for New Zealand, Clark said.
“While methane breaks down in the atmosphere a lot faster than other greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, every tonne emitted is 28-34 times more effective at trapping heat than a tonne of carbon dioxide over the first 100 years after an emission occurs.
Researchers here and overseas are investigating a number of technologies that might help reduce livestock methane emissions.
They include breeding for low-emitting sheep and cattle and developing methane vaccines and inhibitors.
The new website will keep farmers up to date with the latest scientific advances but until those technologies become available Clark encourages farmers wanting to cut emissions to keep looking for small improvements across their operation though not all farms have the same potential to reduce emissions.
“Some farmers have already done what they can.
“Others are limited by their unique climate, topography, markets and infrastructure.
“But there are a number of steps they might like to consider and every small step is a step in the right direction.”
They can include getting more production from pasture to reduce reliance on imported feds, trying alternative forage crops, reducing animal numbers but increasing productivity per animal, achieving greater longevity in the breeding herd or flock and applying nitrogen fertiliser using precision technologies.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution and individual farmers are in the best position to work out how they might best be able to reduce their emissions without compromising profits – particularly as the framework for managing farm emissions takes effect.
“NZ’s emissions reduction targets and ongoing response to climate change will be the outcome of a range of complex interacting factors, not just science and technology.
“Our goal with Farming Matters is to ensure farmers have the information they need to weigh up their options and take steps towards reducing farm-level greenhouse gas emissions.”
