Greenhouse gas emissions and dairy farms Zita Ritchie Dairy Extension Officer DPI Victoria Warrnambool 0
Overview 1. What are greenhouse gases (GHGs)? 2. Source of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions 3. Greenhouse gas accounting tools- DGAS 4. How to reduce emissions? 5. Wrap up so what?
Bodalla annual rainfall
Annual rainfall 5 year rolling average
Autumn rainfall 5 year rolling average
What are greenhouse gases? Greenhouse gases are present in the earth s atmosphere which absorb and re-emit radiation What are considered to be greenhouse gases a)co2 carbon dioxide b)ch4 - methane c)n2o nitrous oxide d)a) and b) e)all of the above
Physical changes the atmosphere Outer Stratosphere is cooling Troposphere is warming (under greenhouse blanket)
How are our climate drivers responding in a warmer world? ENSO Pacific Ocean IOD STR SAM ENSO moisture source IOD Indian Ocean moisture source SAM the fronts. STR the highs..
Blocking highs greater influence in your region in autumn Have you seen how ridgy influences high pressure systems? Risbey et al 2009
3 Ps of Climate Change Climate Change Impacts Physical Policy/Political Peripheral Temperature CO 2, Rainfall Agricultural Enterprises Carbon Tax CFI Carbon footprint labeling Consumer demands Carbon trading
Political context Sectoral Greenhouse Gas Emissions Australia AGO 2007
Where do most agricultural emissions come from? Nitrous oxide Rice Cultivation 0% Manure Management 4% Field Burning of Agricultural Residues 1% Prescribed Burning of Savannas 13% Agricultural Soils 17% Enteric Fermentation 65% Enteric Methane 11% of National emissions Nitrous Oxide from soils 2.5% of National emissions Methane DCC 2010
Emissions The need for a single currency CO2e 1 unit of CO2 = 1 unit of CO2e 1 unit of methane 25 units of CO2e 1 unit of nitrous oxide 298 units of CO2e Powerful global warming potential methane = 25 x CO2 nitrous oxide = 298 x CO2
So what are the current political responses? 1. Price on carbon to achieve reduction from biggest emitters Agricultural emissions exempt at this point in time 2. Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) voluntary offset market for agriculture (Opportunities may arise for agriculture?)
3 Ps of Climate Change Climate Change Impacts Physical Policy/Political Peripheral Temperature CO 2, Rainfall Agricultural Enterprises Carbon Tax CFI Carbon footprint labeling Consumer demands Carbon trading
Larger drivers of change Lead by consumers or to be stipulated by large supply chains? Carbon footprint labelling (supermarkets eg Tesco UK, Japan Govt, etc) Will carbon become differentiator or business as usual? DPI Agribusiness
Life cycle analysis of skim milk powder shipped to Japan What is a life cycle analysis?: a way to measure emissions along whole supply chain (to get a carbon footprint of a product) % breakdown of GHG emissions along the chain - Farm to port LCA 1 t skim milk powder exported to Japan
Typical dairy farm emissions Nitrous oxide sources N2O - Indirect 11% N2O - Dung, Urine & Spread 10% 74% methane from cows N2O - N Fertiliser 4% CH4 - Effluent ponds 1% CH4 - Enteric 74% Driven by how intensive / extensive management system is N2O - Effluent ponds 0% 3-7 t CO 2 e / cow R. Eckard, 2009
Methane emissions from cows Produced by methanogens in rumen Most breathed or belched Represent a significant loss of energy Animal Class Methane (kg/year) Equivalent grazing days of energy lost per animal Potential km driven in 6-cylinder car Mature ewe 10 to 13 41 to 53 90 to 116 Beef steer 50 to 90 32 to 57 450 to 800 Dairy cow 90 to 146 24 to 38 800 to 1350
What emissions does your farm produce? You can t manage what you don t know
Tools available Greenhouse in agriculture dairy, beef, sheep, grains Dairy Greenhouse Abatement Strategy (DGAS) FarmGAS (sheep and beef)
Farm Inputs page
So why calculate emissions? Identify and reduce production inefficiencies / biggest emission sources Marketing tool Preparation for GHG labeling Prepare for emissions policies?
So what? How can we reduce these? Different depending on where the farm is at / capacity to respond Win-win options consistent with best practice Improve production efficiency Reduce methane and nitrous oxide Integrate GHG best prac into existing adoption pathways, not as a separate entity!
Enteric Methane Mitigation Timeline Mitigation % 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 BMPs Dietary Supplements Vaccination Breeding Low Likely Medium Impact High Immediate High Herd Management Timeline Confidence Biological control Silver bullet Rumen manipulation Longer Term Low Eckard et al. 2009
Methane Mitigation Options Short term Reducing unproductive animal numbers (10 15%) Extended lactation Reproduction, fertility & health Feed quality (5-15%) Pasture improvement C3 pastures, legumes Eckard, Grainger & de Klein 2010
Methane Mitigation Options Short term Dietary supplements Grain (5-20%) Dietary oils eg cotton seed oil (5-25%) 1% fat = 3.6% decrease CH 4 /kg DM Tannins eg black wattle (13-29%) Eckard, Grainger & de Klein 2010; Moate, Williams, Eckard et al. 2010
Methane Mitigation Options (cont) Medium Term Animal Breeding (10 20%) Feed conversion efficiency Reduced methanogenesis Longer-term Rumen manipulation/ biological control Vaccination Competitive or predatory microbes
Nitrous Oxide (N2O) N fertiliser Legumes Excreta Mineralisation N 2 O NH 4 NO 3 N 2 Denitrification Excess and inefficient use of nitrogen leads to release of N2O Ruminants excrete 75 to 95% of N intake >60% lost
Nitrous Oxide Mitigation Timeline Silver bullet 25 Biological control Mitigation % 20 15 10 5 0 BMPs Nitrification Inhibitors Diet Herd Management Animal Breeding Secondary plant compounds Plant Breeding Soil Microbial Manipulation Low Likely Medium Impact High Immediate High Timeline Confidence Longer Term Low De Klein & Eckard 2008
Abatement Options Short term Nitrogen Fertiliser Rate, source, timing, placement Urease inhibitors eg green urea Water management Drainage, irrigation Soil Management Compaction, tillage Animal Management Stocking density, diet, effluent
Abatement Strategies GHG emissions Enteric Methane Nitrous oxide Herd based strategies Herd based strategies There are so 10-20% many potentialdifferent 10-50% potential business reduction urinary nitrogen scenarios Extended for lactations each individual farm Reduced herd size Higher FCE Extended longevity in the herd Condensed tannins Nitrification inhibitors in urine Higher FCE Balance crude protein in the diet Research undertaken in Australia and New Zealand has identified an array of potential abatement strategies for dairy farm systems. Eckard et al. Feed based strategies 10-20% potential Feeding fats & oils Feeding condensed tannins Feeding ionophores Maximise diet digestibility Soil based strategies 10-20% potential Nitrification inhibitors Stand-off pads during winter Improved drainage Improved irrigation management Fertiliser managementrate/ timing/ formulation
Case study example DemoDAIRY 700mm rainfall 148 ha milking area 312 milkers, dries ran off farm 12 ha trees Currently Utilising Herd, Feed, Fertiliser BMP s 29% Baseline Contributors to Total Em issions 19% 6% TOTAL FARM EMISSIONS 12.4 t CO2-eq/ tonne ms Pre-farm On-farm CH4 46% On-farm CO2 On-farm N2O After abatement: dietary oils, tannins, nitrification inhibitors. 12.4 to 10.1 t CO2-eq/ t ms (Around 17% reduction )
Have many dairy farmers calculated their emissions or are doing anything?
Farmers Taking Action Trevor Thomas Dairy Farmer Longwarry (Gippsland) 150 Ha property 200 milking cows 1.5 ha of trees planted 130 ha dryland pasture KEY POINTS Production improvement options are linked to greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Consider emissions reduction options that lead to productivity gains or have cost benefits. By looking at these strategies I hope to contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gases, which will hopefully be a win for the environment and a win for me in terms of cost and production at the same time.
Key sources of emissions on Trevor s farm were: methane (CH4) 54% nitrous oxide (N2O) 22% Embedded emissions (or emissions from pre-farm processes) 16% Energy from fuel and electricity contributed only 8% of total emissions Abatement options Trevor would consider 1. Extended lactation 2. Dietary oils 3. Nitrification inhibitors we definitely have to change emissions reduction and production improvement options on farm are all linked together.
Farmers Taking Action Russel and Linda White Dairy Farmers Warrnambool 130 Ha property 200 head Solar installed in 2005 Key Points A solar hot water system can reduce your dairy power costs Find the solar hot water system that best suits your needs. Motivation: To reduce cost of electricity bill and to reduce environmental impact
5 key action areas (Each of these is has ready gains )
Take home messages: Emissions on farm can be measured right now Abatement options do exist Focus on improving production efficiency Reduce GHG At least/unit product Focus on the win-win options, not the what if s
Toolkits available www.dairyaustralia.com.au For a free electronic subscription email zita.ritchie@dpi.vic.gov.au
More information http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/climaterisk Zita Ritchie zita.ritchie@dpi.vic.gov.au