There are actions that might achieve small reductions while maintaining or increasing profitability, but results will vary from farm to farm.
Know your numbers first
Knowing what your greenhouse gas emissions are is the first critical step towards planning for reductions. From December 2022, all New Zealand farmers and growers will need to have this information. Find out more about knowing your number.
Actions for sheep and beef farmers
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Rebalancing stocking rate and individual animal performance
Modelling shows it might be possible to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by up to 10% on some farms, by fine-tuning production systems so the same output is obtained from fewer animals.
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Reducing emissions intensity via efficiency improvements
Increasing outputs relative to inputs won't necessarily reduce absolute emissions, but it will improve emissions per unit of product. It's been of great benefit to New Zealand already - and that's likely to continue.
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Low-emission feeds
Some supplementary feeds reduce methane emissions per unit of feed intake, while others help reduce nitrous oxide emissions by decreasing the amount of nitrogen excreted onto pastures.
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Reduce nitrogen fertiliser and use urease inhibitors
Reducing the use of nitrogen-based fertiliser is a measurable way of reducing the amount of nitrogen available in the soil to be transformed into nitrous oxide.
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Planting trees
Trees that are actively growing remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it as carbon, so farm forestry can make an important contribution to mitigating climate change. However, it's a complex topic.
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Potential actions
Some practices and technologies have been promoted as options to reduce emissions, but there's currently insufficient robust scientific evidence to be confident of their efficacy.
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Future actions
Significant research is underway in New Zealand, exploring new technologies for reducing on-farm emissions. The science is complex, but some promising options are on the horizon.
Case studies
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Rick Burke and Jan Loney, Bay of Plenty
Rick and Jan have been working hard to improve their sheep and beef farm's impact on freshwater and biodiversity, and are now turning their attention to the climate.
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Anders & Emily Crofoot, Wairarapa
When New Yorkers Anders & Emily Crofoot took over Castlepoint Station on the eastern Wairarapa coast in 1998, they had to make some big adjustments, quickly.
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Hugh Ritchie, Hawke's Bay
An emphasis on efficiency improvements and soil health are helping keep greenhouse gas emissions down on Hugh Ritchie's complex arable, livestock and horticulture operation in Hawke's Bay.
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Richard and Annabelle Subtil, Canterbury
The Subtils farm with passion and precision at Omarama Station in the foothills of the Southern Alps. They put their livestock and their environment first – two things valued highly by the companies they supply to. Knowing their greenhouse gas numbers is becoming an important part of that.
More information
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Know your numbers
By 2025, all farmers and growers will need to know what their farm's greenhouse gas emissions are and have a plan in place to manage them.
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Reduce methane emissions
Methane belched out by ruminant animals is responsible for 71% of our total agricultural emissions. Reducing methane is essential if New Zealand is to meet its national and international targets.
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Reduce nitrous oxide emissions
The Government has set a target of reducing nitrous oxide emissions to net zero by 2050, meaning on-farm action is critical.
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Planting trees
Trees that are actively growing remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it as carbon, so farm forestry can make an important contribution to mitigating climate change. However, it's a complex topic.
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Maintain or increase soil carbon
Many farmers are looking for ways to maintain or increase their soil carbon stocks to help improve farm productivity and, potentially, reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.