Your Farm

Make a start on reducing the GHG emissions from your farm here.

1: Measure and record

"You can't manage what you don't measure!"

Before you start looking at possible changes in management, you need to know what the emissions are and where they are coming from on your farm. Each farming system is different and so the best way to know where the "hot spots" are in your system is to use a carbon calculator.

FCT has developed the Farm Carbon Calculator, and we recommend this tool for combining an accurate farm carbon balance figure with straightforward data inputting and user friendliness. It generates clear reports to show where the emissions and sequestration figures have come from.

As with all such exercises, the more accurate the data you put in, the more accurate the figure you get out. We would expect you to take around 1½ hours filling in the calculator, once you have assembled all the input data that you will need.

Once you've got your carbon balance figure, decide if your focus is towards actions in the short or long term. If you are planning strategic farm investment consider how you will incorporate emission reduction technology/processes into that investment. There will normally always be short term options to consider.

2: Improve the existing systems

Before making any changes, look at how your farm is currently performing and how you could improve it. Where improvements can be made, think about how they might be measured. Are there any existing discussion or technical groups nearby that you could join where other producers share information? If not, you could consider setting a low carbon one up with our help.

Improving the efficiency of what you're already doing will be the most straightforward action. It will also deliver immediate financial benefits to your business and a reduction in GHG emissions.