What measures to reduce emissions from the dairy sector could be in the Climate Action Plan 2023 when it is published on Wednesday?

What will they cost and how much greenhouse gases will they remove?

As Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue and his team finalise the plan, a series of dairy sector measures put forward by the Food Vision dairy group and detailed below could be in the mix.

In summary, the proposals involve a voluntary cow reduction or full exit scheme, improved nitrogen efficiency and dairy genetics and the use of methane-cutting feed additives.

It’s also understood that alternative or adjusted measures could be included in Wednesday’s plan.

However, speaking on Monday, Minister McConalogue dismissed the prospect of including a 10% cattle cull, which would see some 700,000 removed from the herd.

Food Vision dairy group proposals

Farmers milk fewer cows or exit altogether

Proposal: While voluntary, it would incentivise farmers to reduce cow numbers or exit from the dairy sector completely, for a set period of time.

The farmers would receive a payment in lieu of cutting back milking numbers or completely destocking their herd. If completely destocking, they would not be allowed go suckler farming, but could instead go into beef drystock or tillage.

Cost: If the farmer fully destocks and exits dairying, income foregone based off net margins would be €590 per lactation or €1,770/cow removed, assuming three remaining lactations.

If the dairy farmer was to cut numbers but not commit to a full cull, income foregone based on gross margins would be €970 per lactation or €2,910/cow, assuming three remaining lactations.

Environmental benefit: Could cut 0.45 mega tonnes (Mt) CO2 per 100,000 dairy cows removed from the herd.

A scheme to incentivise farmers to reduce milking numbers or exit dairying altogether was proposed. \ Donal O' Leary

Farmers cut overall nitrogen use

Proposal: Dairy farmers encouraged to cut chemical nitrogen use by 27% to 30% by 2030, with an interim target of 22% to 25% by 2025.

The reduction would start from an approximate usage by the dairy sector of 204,000t of nitrogen in 2018 and get to between 143,000t and 149,000t by the end of 2030.

Cost: The Teagasc Nitrogen Reduction Analysis (2020) reported that a 30% reduction in chemical nitrogen would reduce dairy farm profitability per hectare by some 15%, assuming cow numbers are held constant, and the reduced grass production was made up by purchased feed.

However, this study now needs to be updated to take account of the latest nitrogen efficiency research.

Environmental benefit: Could cut up to 0.37Mt nitrous oxide by 2030 or 0.19Mt by the end of 2025.

Dairy farmers cutting nitrogen use or using more protected urea would bring down emissions, the Food Vision dairy group found. \ Philip Doyle

Farmers use more protected urea

Proposal: Grass-based dairy farmers would be encouraged to replace 100% of their CAN use with protected urea by the end of 2025.

The target is greater than the equivalent measure in the Food Vision beef and sheep group report, which proposes that the beef sector could aim for a 90% replacement rate.

Cost: No additional cost estimated, as protected urea is cheaper than CAN on a cost-per-kg-of-nitrogen basis.

Farmers may consider it more expensive than urea on a per-tonne basis, but it provides the same ‘effective N’ as urea at a 12% lower application rate.

Environmental benefit: Could cut 0.33Mt of nitrous oxide by 2025.

Methane-cutting feed technology

Proposal: Feed dairy cows an additive to make them produce less methane.

The science involved in this innovation continues to develop, with a number of products, including boluses, in the works.

It’s proposed that research in emerging feed additives and feeding methods should be accelerated to ensure early dairy farmer adoption.

Cost: The cost of the additives per dairy cow is estimated at between €75 and €100 per year.

Environmental benefit: Could cut 0.43Mt to 1.0Mt methane in the short to medium term.

Methane-cutting feed additives are in development. \ Philip Doyle

Improvements in dairy genetics

Proposal: Breed dairy cattle to produce less methane over their lifetime through a carbon sub-index and building on efficiency traits.

This proposal operates off the idea that two dairy cows standing beside each other in a field, on the same diet, do not necessarily produce the same level of methane.

Cost: It’s estimated by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation that a genotyping strategy, aimed at delivering more carbon-efficient dairy cattle, would cost €19m/year, with cumulative costs of €152m for the dairy sector to 2030.

Environmental benefit: There would be short-, medium- and long-term removal benefits, which could see some 0.3Mt to 0.4Mt of methane cut from the dairy herd.

Improved breeding for carbon-efficient dairy cattle, aimed at delivering a cow which delivers more milk but with less methane emitted, was proposed. \ Oliver Edwards

Co-ops incentivise farmers for sustainable production

Proposal: All co-ops in the dairy sector would adopt a common charter on sustainable milk production.

While respecting the autonomy of co-op boards and their management, the charter of ‘principles’ would be aimed at driving sustainable grass-based dairy production, based off a family farm model.

A number of milk processors have already introduced sustainability payments including Carbery, which rewards farmers for sustainability and water quality commitments.

Cost: The charter itself would not necessarily come with a cost, but the economic impact of the direction it drives Irish dairy farming wasn’t analysed.

Environmental benefit: Dependent on the content and extent of the charter.