The Department of Agriculture has set out its draft plan for the agricultural sector to tackle emissions as part of the national Climate Action Plan.
It is seeking the views of farmers and the public in a consultation process that closes on Friday 10 January.
Agriculture is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry and accounts for 34% of national emissions. It has been set a target of reducing emissions by 10-15% by 2030.
To achieve this target, emissions must be reduced from 20.2Mt carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) to between 17.5 Mt CO2eq and 19 Mt CO2eq.
Agriculture must also remove an additional 26.8 Mt CO2eq of carbon dioxide through carbon sequestration.
The Department has identified 34 actions to ensure this happens.
Improved animal breeding
Sixty-five per cent of agriculture’s emissions relate to methane. Of this, 90% is produced by animals, particularly cows, during enteric fermentation which occurs in the rumen as food is digested.
To tackle enteric fermentation, the Department wants the rate of genetic gain to be accelerated. \ Donal O'Leary
The Department has proposed enhancing dairy and beef breeding programmes to reduce methane emissions.
Dairy herd
The Department wants to increase the rate of genetic gain in the dairy herd from €10/cow/year to €15/cow/year.
Higher-EBI cows will have better fertility, which will reduce replacement rates and calving intervals.
There is also a target to increase the number of herds in milk recording from 50% to 75% and the number of herds in genomic programmes from 1% to 75%.
Under the dairy beef index (DBI) there is a target to increase genetic gain from €0/calf/year to €5/calf/year.
Beef herd
The Department wants to increase the genetic gain under the €uro-Star replacement index from €5/cow/year to €10/cow/year, with a focus on maternal traits.
This would reduce emissions through lower replacement rates, reduced feed requirements and shorter calving intervals.
For suckler beef herds, the target is to have 75% of herds in genomic programmes. Currently, only 40% of suckler farmers are part of the Beef Data and Genomic Programme (BDGP).
There are also targets to improve the average slaughter age through optimised liveweight gain, although no specific age target has been detailed.
Changes to breeding indexes
There are changes planned for the EBI, DBI and €uro-Star indexes.
The Department has proposed incorporating new measurements for climate/environment into the evaluation of an animal’s genetic merit.
However, it is not yet clear what the measurement would be.
Changes to fertiliser
and slurry
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the other major gas which contributes to agriculture’s emissions (35%).
It comes from bacteria breaking down nitrogen in the soil and this process is increased by the application of fertiliser and slurry.
Slurry spreading
The Department has set an ambitious target to move away from splash-plates and adopt low-emission slurry spreading techniques, such as the trailing shoe.
Low-emission technologies minimise ammonia losses and increase the efficiency of slurry, reducing the need for chemical nitrogen.
Within the next two years, the Department wants 60% of slurry spread by low-emission methods and 75% by 2025. There is also a longer-term ambition of 90%.
Within the next five years the Department wants three-quarters of all slurry to be spread via low-emission methods.
For tillage farmers, the Department has proposed that all slurry and farmyard manure spread be ploughed in within 12 hours by 2022.
Slurry storage
Slurry also emits greenhouse gases while in storage. To minimise this, all newly constructed external stores will be required to be covered by 2022.
Those constructed within the last five years will have to be covered by 2025.
Clover in reseeds
To reduce the volume of synthetic nitrogen (N) required, the Department has proposed making the incorporation of clover in all grass reseeds compulsory by 2022.
Clover has the ability to draw nitrogen from the air and make it available to grass.
The plan contains a proposal to make the incorporation of clover in all grass reseeds compulsory by 2022. \ Donal O'Leary
Grass/clover swards have also been shown to sequester more carbon compared to grass-only swards.
Protected nitrogen
Major changes are planned for fertiliser.
Currently, CAN and urea are the two most common sources of chemical N in Ireland. The Department wants to see them replaced by protected urea.
A ban on the use of urea on grassland has been proposed by 2025, while there is the intention to replace 50% of CAN sales with protected urea by 2022.
Protected urea will be pushed in a bid to get farmers to move away from CAN and conventional urea.
According to Teagasc, the move away from conventional fertiliser is the single largest emission reduction measure Irish agriculture can take.
Changes to
animal ration
formulation
The Department wants to work with feed manufacturers to reduce the levels of crude protein in animal rations, particularly pig rations.
To reduce waste N from pig units, feed manufacturers will be required to reduce crude protein levels in feeds. \ Philip Doyle
This has a two-fold effect, to reduce the nitrogen excreted by animals and minimise ammonia emissions.
Pigs will be the main target as reducing crude protein in cattle diets will have minimal effects given the importance of grass.
In cattle, finishing rations’ crude protein levels are already low at about 12%, while weanling rations are higher at 14% to 16% due to the variable nature of silage.
Increasing carbon sequestration
Along with reducing emissions from agriculture, the plan sets out how the sector can increase the sequestration of carbon.
Forestry
The Department wants to revamp the national forestry programme to deliver 8,000ha of newly planted forestry annually. This translates to 18.6m trees a year.
To increase carbon sequestration a planting rate of 8,000ha per annum has been proposed. \ Philip Doyle
The current rate of afforestation is significantly below this target, at around 4,000ha per year.
The level of carbon sequestered by forestry will also depend on replanting rates and the type of forestry planted.
Soils
Agricultural soils have been identified as another area where carbon sequestration can be increased.
The Department has set a target of 450,000ha with optimised pH for soil fertility.
This action will be linked to the changes in slurry and fertiliser use, while liming will be a key action to improve soil pH.
There is also a target to set aside 40,000ha of peat-based soils for reduced management intensity.
Some 50% of arable spring production would also be required to grow cover crops.
The Department of Agriculture is inviting responses to its consultation from farmers and other industry stakeholders. The full document is available from the Department’s website.
Those interested in providing feedback on the plan must submit a response by Friday 10 January or write to agclimatise@
agriculture.gov.ie.
Read more
New decade needs new thinking
Have your say on Ireland’s climate plan for agriculture
The Department of Agriculture has set out its draft plan for the agricultural sector to tackle emissions as part of the national Climate Action Plan.
It is seeking the views of farmers and the public in a consultation process that closes on Friday 10 January.
Agriculture is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry and accounts for 34% of national emissions. It has been set a target of reducing emissions by 10-15% by 2030.
To achieve this target, emissions must be reduced from 20.2Mt carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) to between 17.5 Mt CO2eq and 19 Mt CO2eq.
Agriculture must also remove an additional 26.8 Mt CO2eq of carbon dioxide through carbon sequestration.
The Department has identified 34 actions to ensure this happens.
Improved animal breeding
Sixty-five per cent of agriculture’s emissions relate to methane. Of this, 90% is produced by animals, particularly cows, during enteric fermentation which occurs in the rumen as food is digested.
To tackle enteric fermentation, the Department wants the rate of genetic gain to be accelerated. \ Donal O'Leary
The Department has proposed enhancing dairy and beef breeding programmes to reduce methane emissions.
Dairy herd
The Department wants to increase the rate of genetic gain in the dairy herd from €10/cow/year to €15/cow/year.
Higher-EBI cows will have better fertility, which will reduce replacement rates and calving intervals.
There is also a target to increase the number of herds in milk recording from 50% to 75% and the number of herds in genomic programmes from 1% to 75%.
Under the dairy beef index (DBI) there is a target to increase genetic gain from €0/calf/year to €5/calf/year.
Beef herd
The Department wants to increase the genetic gain under the €uro-Star replacement index from €5/cow/year to €10/cow/year, with a focus on maternal traits.
This would reduce emissions through lower replacement rates, reduced feed requirements and shorter calving intervals.
For suckler beef herds, the target is to have 75% of herds in genomic programmes. Currently, only 40% of suckler farmers are part of the Beef Data and Genomic Programme (BDGP).
There are also targets to improve the average slaughter age through optimised liveweight gain, although no specific age target has been detailed.
Changes to breeding indexes
There are changes planned for the EBI, DBI and €uro-Star indexes.
The Department has proposed incorporating new measurements for climate/environment into the evaluation of an animal’s genetic merit.
However, it is not yet clear what the measurement would be.
Changes to fertiliser
and slurry
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the other major gas which contributes to agriculture’s emissions (35%).
It comes from bacteria breaking down nitrogen in the soil and this process is increased by the application of fertiliser and slurry.
Slurry spreading
The Department has set an ambitious target to move away from splash-plates and adopt low-emission slurry spreading techniques, such as the trailing shoe.
Low-emission technologies minimise ammonia losses and increase the efficiency of slurry, reducing the need for chemical nitrogen.
Within the next two years, the Department wants 60% of slurry spread by low-emission methods and 75% by 2025. There is also a longer-term ambition of 90%.
Within the next five years the Department wants three-quarters of all slurry to be spread via low-emission methods.
For tillage farmers, the Department has proposed that all slurry and farmyard manure spread be ploughed in within 12 hours by 2022.
Slurry storage
Slurry also emits greenhouse gases while in storage. To minimise this, all newly constructed external stores will be required to be covered by 2022.
Those constructed within the last five years will have to be covered by 2025.
Clover in reseeds
To reduce the volume of synthetic nitrogen (N) required, the Department has proposed making the incorporation of clover in all grass reseeds compulsory by 2022.
Clover has the ability to draw nitrogen from the air and make it available to grass.
The plan contains a proposal to make the incorporation of clover in all grass reseeds compulsory by 2022. \ Donal O'Leary
Grass/clover swards have also been shown to sequester more carbon compared to grass-only swards.
Protected nitrogen
Major changes are planned for fertiliser.
Currently, CAN and urea are the two most common sources of chemical N in Ireland. The Department wants to see them replaced by protected urea.
A ban on the use of urea on grassland has been proposed by 2025, while there is the intention to replace 50% of CAN sales with protected urea by 2022.
Protected urea will be pushed in a bid to get farmers to move away from CAN and conventional urea.
According to Teagasc, the move away from conventional fertiliser is the single largest emission reduction measure Irish agriculture can take.
Changes to
animal ration
formulation
The Department wants to work with feed manufacturers to reduce the levels of crude protein in animal rations, particularly pig rations.
To reduce waste N from pig units, feed manufacturers will be required to reduce crude protein levels in feeds. \ Philip Doyle
This has a two-fold effect, to reduce the nitrogen excreted by animals and minimise ammonia emissions.
Pigs will be the main target as reducing crude protein in cattle diets will have minimal effects given the importance of grass.
In cattle, finishing rations’ crude protein levels are already low at about 12%, while weanling rations are higher at 14% to 16% due to the variable nature of silage.
Increasing carbon sequestration
Along with reducing emissions from agriculture, the plan sets out how the sector can increase the sequestration of carbon.
Forestry
The Department wants to revamp the national forestry programme to deliver 8,000ha of newly planted forestry annually. This translates to 18.6m trees a year.
To increase carbon sequestration a planting rate of 8,000ha per annum has been proposed. \ Philip Doyle
The current rate of afforestation is significantly below this target, at around 4,000ha per year.
The level of carbon sequestered by forestry will also depend on replanting rates and the type of forestry planted.
Soils
Agricultural soils have been identified as another area where carbon sequestration can be increased.
The Department has set a target of 450,000ha with optimised pH for soil fertility.
This action will be linked to the changes in slurry and fertiliser use, while liming will be a key action to improve soil pH.
There is also a target to set aside 40,000ha of peat-based soils for reduced management intensity.
Some 50% of arable spring production would also be required to grow cover crops.
The Department of Agriculture is inviting responses to its consultation from farmers and other industry stakeholders. The full document is available from the Department’s website.
Those interested in providing feedback on the plan must submit a response by Friday 10 January or write to agclimatise@
agriculture.gov.ie.
Read more
New decade needs new thinking
Have your say on Ireland’s climate plan for agriculture
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