Climate change goals
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Reduce methane 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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Maintain or increase soil carbon
Help improve farm productivity and, potentially, reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
About Ag Matters
Ag Matters draws together the latest scientific knowledge, background information, resources and case studies to help New Zealand’s primary producers and rural professionals understand what they can do to help reduce on-farm emissions of greenhouse gases and achieve other environmental goals.
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Case studies
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Robin Oakley, Canterbury
Fifth generation farmer, Robin Oakley, has been growing vegetables in Canterbury since he was a kid and now supplies supermarkets around the country. His family is committed to sustainable farming and is starting to think about what that means for the climate.
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Dion Gordon, Canterbury
In 2019, Canterbury dairy farmer Dion Gordon experienced something of a nightmare. The Rangitata River burst its banks, flowed onto his farm and took a huge swathe of topsoil out to sea. Dion had no choice but to drop stock numbers - but what happened next was a surprise.
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Emma Crutchley and Kyle Hagen, Otago
Emma Crutchley's family have been farming on Puketoi Station in the Māniatoto since 1939. They've had to adapt to many issues outside of their control over this time. Keeping a positive mindset is helping them get their heads around the latest challenge - greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Explore the website
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Farm types
Discover greenhouse gas information specific to the different farm types in New Zealand.
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Goals
Learn about methane, nitrous oxide and soil carbon and how they can be managed on a farm.
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On-farm actions
Find out what can be done now to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and what might be possible in the future.
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About
Find out more about Ag Matters, climate change science and Government and industry action.