Editorial: Time for a reset
OPINION: The Government's recent announcement that methane targets will be reviewed is bringing relief to farmers.
Methane emissions from cattle in Australia are 24% lower than previously estimated, equivalent to 12.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, says new Australian research.
The research was undertaken by scientists and officials from across Australia, and was based on data collected over eight years of research as part of the Meat & Livestock Australia's (MLA) methane abatement research programs.
The new methodology also brings the NGGI in line with the estimates of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the leading international body on the assessment of climate change, established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organisation in 1988.
CSIRO Agriculture's research scientist, Dr Ed Charmley, says the work was conducted because of concerns about the large differential between NGGI and IPCC methane emission figures for Australian cattle. There was also doubt surrounding the accuracy of previous calculation methodologies used for cattle, particularly northern Australian cattle.
"Different methods used to calculate emissions from livestock in temperate and tropical regions were based on studies done in the 1960s and 1990s, mainly with dairy cattle," says Charmley.
"Both of these past methods were found to be likely over-estimating the emissions from cattle.
"The revised method, which is based on improved ways of estimating ruminant methane emissions from forage-fed beef and dairy cattle, be they in temperate or tropical regions, has been tested against international defaults provided by the IPCC and found to give consistent methane yields."
MLA general manager, On Farm Innovation, Matthew McDonagh, says the results of the research provide an accurate dataset which clearly show's Australian cattle contribute substantially less to methane emissions than previously believed.
"This is positive news for the Australian livestock sector as it seeks to continually improve its production efficiencies and demonstrate its environmental credentials." says McDonagh.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.
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