Dairy farmers need accurate information to combat accusations about greenhouse gas emissions, says Brian Lindsay
It could be said that dairy farmers are engaged in a war. Not a war on milk price, input costs or animal rights, but on greenhouse gas emitters such as industry, transportation, landfill and four-wheel drive vehicles.
Many industries - including dairy farming - are accused of being major emitters of greenhouse gases. There is a tendency among other industries to deflect attention by finger-pointing, resulting in adverts such as the one that depicts cows as more polluting than aircraft.
Fighting back against such claims requires information. How many times more warming is methane than carbon dioxide? How do agriculture's emissions rate against those of transport or industry?
We are making progress on confirming many of these figures through the collaborative efforts of the dairy industry. The first steps were taken in 2007 with the development of the industry roadmap that set a target of a 20%-30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, based on 1990 figures. DairyCo is now co-ordinating industry groups to establish the best way of measuring emissions, reducing them and calculating the implications for farmers.
Dairy industry figures are now available and show that agriculture's emissions of the main greenhouse gases - methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide - have fallen over the past 15 years, already exceeding the Kyoto targets of a 12.5% reduction on 1990 levels by 2012.
According to a desktop review by DairyCo, nitrous oxide emissions in dairy have fallen 21% since 1990. Much of this has been achieved through reduced use of nitrogen fertiliser and improved manure handling and storage.
"Methane has also reduced by 15% since 1990," says Dr David Chadwick of North Wyke Research, who worked on the DairyCo review. "The bulk of methane emissions are from the rumen (85%) and the decrease has been achieved from fewer cows producing more milk and an increase in the efficiency of feeding."
But, while a start has been made in setting targets, a practical approach is needed. This was the subject of a symposium organised by DairyCo - getting the industry together to agree priorities.
Dairy farming has made great progress, but we need to keep moving forward. DairyCo's research has revealed that much of what farmers can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions also makes good economic sense to the dairy business.
We currently provide and are continually updating information on general business efficiency . Future research and development will focus on the areas where there is potential for the greatest impact such as cattle feed production, feeding, and manure management.
The dairy industry is acting responsibly both here in Great Britain and internationally, pooling knowledge and identifying where the gaps are, making sure future industry research is carefully targeted.
DairyCo is working to ensure we're a part of the conversation internationally, and we're co-ordinating efforts on a national scale to capture opportunities to share knowledge and keep the British dairy industry moving forward on climate change in a responsible and achievable manner based on the outcomes of robust science.n
Brian Lindsay is head of farm management at DairyCo
It could be said that dairy farmers are engaged in a war. Not a war on milk price, input costs or animal rights, but on greenhouse gas emitters such as industry, transportation, landfill and four-wheel drive vehicles.
Many industries - including dairy farming - are accused of being major emitters of greenhouse gases. There is a tendency among other industries to deflect attention by finger-pointing, resulting in adverts such as the one that depicts cows as more polluting than aircraft.
Fighting back against such claims requires information. How many times more warming is methane than carbon dioxide? How do agriculture's emissions rate against those of transport or industry?
We are making progress on confirming many of these figures through the collaborative efforts of the dairy industry. The first steps were taken in 2007 with the development of the industry roadmap that set a target of a 20%-30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, based on 1990 figures. DairyCo is now co-ordinating industry groups to establish the best way of measuring emissions, reducing them and calculating the implications for farmers.
Dairy industry figures are now available and show that agriculture's emissions of the main greenhouse gases - methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide - have fallen over the past 15 years, already exceeding the Kyoto targets of a 12.5% reduction on 1990 levels by 2012.
According to a desktop review by DairyCo, nitrous oxide emissions in dairy have fallen 21% since 1990. Much of this has been achieved through reduced use of nitrogen fertiliser and improved manure handling and storage.
"Methane has also reduced by 15% since 1990," says Dr David Chadwick of North Wyke Research, who worked on the DairyCo review. "The bulk of methane emissions are from the rumen (85%) and the decrease has been achieved from fewer cows producing more milk and an increase in the efficiency of feeding."
But, while a start has been made in setting targets, a practical approach is needed. This was the subject of a symposium organised by DairyCo - getting the industry together to agree priorities.
Dairy farming has made great progress, but we need to keep moving forward. DairyCo's research has revealed that much of what farmers can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions also makes good economic sense to the dairy business.
We currently provide and are continually updating information on general business efficiency . Future research and development will focus on the areas where there is potential for the greatest impact such as cattle feed production, feeding, and manure management.
The dairy industry is acting responsibly both here in Great Britain and internationally, pooling knowledge and identifying where the gaps are, making sure future industry research is carefully targeted.
DairyCo is working to ensure we're a part of the conversation internationally, and we're co-ordinating efforts on a national scale to capture opportunities to share knowledge and keep the British dairy industry moving forward on climate change in a responsible and achievable manner based on the outcomes of robust science.n
Brian Lindsay is head of farm management at DairyCo
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