WIXLIB

Carbon Emissions andhow to calculate themMandy Curnow, DPIRD andRichard Brake, Richard Brake Consulting

MethodsGlobal Warming Potential (GWP) ValuesNot all gases are the same:1 tonne of carbon dioxide CO21 tonne of methane CH41 tonne of nitrous oxide N20 1 tonne of CO2 e28 tonnes of CO2 e265 tonnes of CO2 e-How do we measure Carbon emissions?State and national emission inventories - direct emissions by emission source and sector (eg energy stationary energy, transport fuel)Business/Farm Carbon Accounts include all levels of emissions to the point of export from the farmgate:Scope 1 - emissions that occur on site e.g. enteric methane, CO2 from dieselScope 2 - electricity emissionsScope 3 – emissions associated with purchased inputsLife Cycle Analysis – usually from inception including all inputs through to sale of the product,including processing and transport.From 02016%29 1.pdf

State level Emissions SnapshotSectors reported in National Inventory (2019) and WA proportions1 Energy (92%)2 Industrial Processes (5%)3 Agriculture (11%)4 Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (-9%)5 Waste (2%)WA agriculture emissions9,0008,000CO2 e- Gg (x 1000 03.A Enteric Fermentation3.D Agricultural Soils3.G Liming20153.B Manure Management3.F Field Burning of Agricultural Residues3.H Urea Application

National Greenhouse Gas Inventory reportingWA livestock numbers, value and GHG 21997sheep population (x 1000) 2002cattle population (x 1000)Excludes transport and energy emissions as these are captured in energy sector reportingExcludes land use change on farm as these are captured in Land use sector reporting20072012total emissions from livestock (Gg)2017total livestock value x 1MSource: the National GHG Inventory for emissionsDPIRD, ABS for production. Analysis by DPIRDValue ( 1M) GHG emissions (Gg)livestock number (x 1000)30,000

National Greenhouse Gas Inventory reportingCrop emissions and average state yield 901995yield 2000total crop emissions2005Linear (yield)20102015Linear ( total crop emissions)Excludes transport and energy emissions as these are captured in energy sector reportingExcludes land use change on farm as these are captured in Land use sector reportingSource: the National GHG Inventory for emissionsDPIRD, ABS for production. Analysis by DPIRDState yield (t/Ha)est. crop emissions (Gg)2.0

Carbon Accounting at a farm or business levelWe need to measure so we can manage!In 2020 DPIRD ran a carbon account on Katanning Research Facility to:1. Understand our own emissions so we could reduce emissions from akey government asset2. Understand the process and the challenges of reaching CarbonNeutral on a mixed farm3. Provide a place where different techniques for reducing emissionscould be demonstrated and host important research and trials on novelmethods.

Carbon Account - Katanning Research FacilityEmission intensity by land area 1.5t CO2 e- per arable/grazed hectare per yearProportion of emissions from Livestock activities76% plus a portion of ‘other services’

Thank youContact: Mandy Curnow e: mandy.Curnow@dprird.wa.gov.au 08 98928444For copy of the report and other information: nImportant disclaimerThe Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and RegionalDevelopment and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason ofnegligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it. State of Western Australia 2021

Richard BrakeRichard Brake Consulting P/L

The Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Developmentestablished a project to assess the available tools that include livestock and grainproduction in a mixed farm system for a Western Australian agricultural environment aswell as deal with mitigation and sequestration functionality.Reference is to be paid to:- Level of detailed inputs vs simplicity of use- Appropriate inputs and language for Western Australian producers- Value of outputs and useability of outputsAlso required is the Identification of- Strengths and weakness of each tool- Consistency to other tools and calculators- Gaps or shortcomings in calculations or capture of relevant data

Carbon calculators Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre / University of Melbourne Cool Farm Tool AFI Agrecalc FarmPrint LOOC – C Other proprietary calculators

Evaluated Farm DataCropped area:2,328 haGrazed area:2,484 ha2020 rainfall:455 mmFive-year average rainfall:551 mmAnnual average temperature:16oCSoil type:Predominantly Forest GravelsCrops grown and included:Barley, Canola, OatsFlock size:14,770

Results, tonnes CO2e/yearPICCC GAFAFI FarmGasThe Cool Farm le Farm4725.772190.624955.928505.085095.10

Emissions, tonnes CO2e/year

Variation from average, tonnes CO2e/year

Summary Accuracy of results generated is highly dependent on the quality andaccuracy of data entered into the calculator The amount of information and level of detail required varied across thecalculators Each calculator covered emissions none adequately covered sequestrationespecially soil carbon although some briefly touched on tree plantings Interpretation of results and application, and refining of managementstrategies outside of ERF methodologies is not well understood

Thank youRichard Brake Consulting Pty Ltd0458 416 602@rich brakerichard@richardbrakeconsulting.com.au

Richard Brake Consulting Pty Ltd

Richard Brake Consulting Pty Ltd

Take home messages Carbon emissions provokes emotive responses Markets are likely to require some form of carbon mitigation As a farmer, be proactive Focus on controlling the issues inside the farmgate We know the climate is changing, we see it everydayRichard Brake Consulting Pty Ltd

Extra detail on programs andoutputs

State level Emissions SnapshotSectors reported in National Inventory (2019) and WA proportions1 Energy (92%)2 Industrial Processes (5%)3 Agriculture (11%)4 Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (-9%)5 Waste (2%)WA agriculture emissions9,0008,000CO2 e- Gg (x 1000 03.A Enteric Fermentation3.D Agricultural Soils3.G Liming20153.B Manure Management3.F Field Burning of Agricultural Residues3.H Urea Application* Agriculture emissions excludes transport and energy emissions as these are captured in energy sector reporting

Definitions Enteric fermentationEnteric fermentation is a natural part of the digestive process in ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and buffalo.Microbes in the rumen decompose and ferment food, producing methane as a by-product. Calculated by # of animals x class x feedintake x factor for methane Manure managementManure acts as an emission source for both methane and nitrous oxide, and the quantity emitted is linked to environmentalconditions, type of management and composition of the manure. Organic matter and nitrogen content are the main things influencingemission of methane and nitrous oxide, respectively.Calculated by # of animals x feed intake x factor for methane. NO2 for pasture grazing is added in agricultural soils. Agricultural soilsDirect and indirect emissions of nitrous oxide from soils arise from microbial and chemical transformations that produce and consumenitrous oxide in the soil. The transformations involve inorganic nitrogen mainly ammonium, nitrite and nitrate. Nitrogen compoundscan be added to the soil through:a)the application of inorganic nitrogen fertilisersb)the application of animal wastes to pasturesc)the application of crop residuesd)mineralisation due to loss of soil carbon and cultivation of organic soilse)atmospheric nitrogen depositionf)leaching of N from soils and surface runoff, and subsequent denitrification in rivers and estuaries (Areas with evapotranspirationratios less than 0.8 or more than 1 are deemed areas where leaching and runoff occurs). Field burning of residuesThe burning of residual crop material releases CH4, N2O, CO, NOx and NMVOCs into the atmosphere. CO2 is not included in thecalculations as is assumed that an equivalent amount of CO2 was removed by the growing crop. LimingAdding carbonates to soils in the form of lime (eg. calcic limestone (CaCO3 ) or dolomite (CaMg(CO3 )2 )) results in CO2 emissions,as the carbonate reacts with acids in the soil to produce bicarbonate and eventually leading to the production of CO2 and water. Urea applicationAdding urea to soils for fertilisation leads to a loss of the CO2 that was fixed during the manufacturing process. Similar to the reactionfollowing the addition of lime, the bicarbonate that is formed evolves into CO2 and water

Livestock emissions WA6,0005,0004,0003,0002,0001,000019901995Cattle Methane2000Sheep Methane200520102015Manure SheepManure CattleCropping Emissions WA2500GHG emissions (Gg CO2 e-)enteric emissions Gg (1000tonnes) CO2-e7,000200015001000500019901995Direct Soil Emissions2000Indirect Soil Emissions20052010Field Burning of Agricultural Residues2015LimingUrea Application

WA Agriculture emissions(from National Inventory)9,0008,0007,000CO2 e- 920102011total Livestock2012201320142015201620172018total soils and crops(Agricultural soils: portioned 25% livestock 75% crops)Approx 13.6 million Ha of agricultural pastures and crops with 25% livestock and 75% crop land use.Includes all cattle – pastoral and agricultural ( 50:50)Crops include horticulture and grain

WA cropping production and GHG emissions(Ag soils and 000019901995total crop emissions2000total area cropped20052010total tonnage2015Linear (total tonnage)* Excludes transport and energy emissions as these are captured in energy sector reporting

Current Emissions Reduction Fund methods1.2.3.Animal effluent management method 4.Beef cattle herd management methodincreasing the ratio of weight to age of the herd;reducing the average age of the herd;reducing the proportion of unproductive animals in the herd;changing the ratio of livestock classes within the herd to increase total annual liveweight gain of the herdEstimating sequestration of carbon in soil using default values methodConversion to pastureSustainable intensificationStubble retentionMeasurement of soil carbon sequestration in agricultural systems method applying nutrients to the land in the form of a synthetic or non-synthetic fertiliser to address a material deficiency;applying lime to remediate acid soils;applying gypsum to remediate sodic or magnesic soils;undertaking new irrigation;re-establishing or rejuvenating a pasture by seeding;establishing, and permanently maintaining, a pasture where there was previously no pasture, such as on cropland orbare fallow;altering the stocking rate, duration or intensity of grazing;retaining stubble after a crop is harvested;converting from intensive tillage practices to reduced or no tillage practices;modifying landscape or landform features to remediate land;using mechanical means to add or redistribute soil through the soil profile;5.Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in beef cattle through feeding nitrate containing supplements method6.Fertiliser use efficiency in irrigated cotton method7.Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in milking cows through feeding dietary additives method

Katanning livestock enterprise emissions

Katanning cropping enterprise emissions

Potential strategies to reduce livestock emissionsMitigation or sequestration optionReducing carrying capacity and totallivestock numbers by buying inreplacement maiden ewesIntroducing anti-methanogenic feedadditive 3NOPIntroducing anti-methanogenic feedadditive AsparagopsisBreeding more efficient sheep — forfast growth, weaning rates and feedefficiency/low methaneIntroducing anti-methanogeniclegumes, e.g. biserrula% of theemissionprofileTechnicalmitigationpotential% potential% of flock where adoption acrossthe fraction ofapplicableflockEstimatedmitigationpotential for tential reduction of KRF total emissions 32-35% (excluding potential additives)