Last week’s climate bill saw the bar for Irish agriculture set very high for emissions reductions.
Research into many mitigation technologies is only just underway. The bill’s wording sets out that where proof of carbon sequestration can be shown, this can be used to offset emissions. However, the lack of widespread availability of technologies to measure carbon sequestration and storage on Irish farms is an obstacle to this.
There are fears that Irish agriculture may be forced to take steps backwards before these technologies come on stream. Are we to undo the progress made in Irish agriculture and ignore the plan set out by the Department of Agriculture in Ag Climatise?
Here we take a look at the key research that is under way, its strengths and weaknesses, and how far it is from completion.
Teagasc Signposts
Programme
The Teagasc Signposts Programme is being rolled out across 100 farms. These farms will see carbon measured from the soil, to a depth of 100cm, and in the air.
This will provide a good reference for Irish soils. The widespread rollout of carbon sampling is a difficult task.
The €10m in funding already allocated for soil sampling could be well spent carrying out soil carbon measurements on farmers’ regular soil samples or allow for carbon samples to be taken to 30cm. It would provide a step in the right direction.
Carbon sequestration: hedgerows & habitats
A national survey of hedgerows began last year and Teagasc investigations into carbon sequestration by hedgerows are under way.
Hedgerows are being measured and analysed for density, height, carbon and many other factors. The hedge itself, the roots and the soil underneath and surrounding the hedgerow are being tested for carbon.
This will provide a reference for carbon content in different types of hedges across the country, but it will most likely be three years before there is a robust set of data.
This reference will be essential in matching different hedge types with details captured from Lidar (light detection) technology. This technology is expensive but could prove to be a cost-beneficial investment for Government.
Nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions reduction
There is a big push for protected urea use and an overall reduction in fertiliser use by 2030 in Ag Climatise.
A move to urea products reduces nitrous
oxide emissions as a result of a reduction in
the use of CAN, while a further move to
protected urea use would reduce ammonia
emissions.
Research is ongoing in Teagasc into the use of protected urea and this season saw greater demand for protected urea from farmers, but supplies were tight due to nitrogen shortages worldwide and prices were high.
Logistics and the ability to turn a profit are essential if farms are to be sustainable.
Clover and
multi-species swards
Clover in swards results in nitrogen fixation. That research is abundant. There is also plenty of advice on nitrogen rates and clover inclusion in swards, but uptake on farms is relatively slow.
Many farmers complain of its persistency in swards, the fact that it leaves some swards very open and the difficulty in controlling weeds where clover is present.
This is where more research and advice is needed. As with clover, persistency and weeds are a worry with multi-species swards, which can dramatically reduce nitrogen use. Farm-based research into multi-species swards is essential and, with Johnstown Castle and Moorepark moving in this direction, it will provide farmers with the information needed if deciding to make the switch.
Feed additives will not be available to reduce methane in the near future.
Breeding and increasing the genetic merit of the herd through EBI is an essential method to reduce methane production, as well as increasing the length of the grazing season.
Clover can also increase rate of passage through the rumen, reducing methane, while tannins from herbs in multi-species swards can also reduce levels.
Feed additives get a lot of conversation but they are not a silver bullet. Meth-ABATE is a research project at Teagasc aiming to develop technologies to reduce methane from pasture-based systems.
Progress is being made with feed additives. Just last week researchers in the US and Australia showed a reduction of up to 80% in enteric methane production from beef bullocks when a red seaweed was added to the diet. This will not be used widely for some time and cost effectiveness on farm needs to be evaluated.
The seaweed in question, Asparagopsis taxiformis, is not grown here.
It is mainly found in the tropics, so this may also prove problematic.
The metric used to measure methane needs closer attention. The 100-year global warming potential (GWP) is a metric used to estimate gases’ impact on atmospheric temperature.
Research from Oxford University has led to the development of the GWP Star (GWP*) metric which includes the current year’s methane emissions and the trend for the most recent 20-year period. A declining trend in methane emissions can cause global cooling. This metric is not used in emissions calculations at present.
The focus is generally on the national herd and reducing emissions from that herd. Maybe the discussion should be on how to offset emissions using the tillage area.
This sector’s low contribution to total agricultural emissions and ability to sequester carbon continues to be somewhat ignored.
The new straw incorporation scheme is a great initiative, but research from past and future trials will be needed to allow for the offsetting of emissions.
Cover crops provide another solution. The planting of cover crops provides an opportunity to offset emissions from tillage and other sectors, yet research is lacking and often farmer-led. Their contribution to carbon sequestration needs to be detailed and recognised.
Minimum-tillage is constantly portrayed in policy documents as a solution to reduce carbon emissions, but farmers cannot be expected to make the switch without research to back it up. Trials into different tillage systems have been under way for some time at Teagasc Oak Park. This research has shown the need for a good break crop. Break crops such as protein crops can also lead to a reduction in overall nitrogen use. Further research is needed into the consequences of the cultivation of short- and long-term grass leys. Should all cultivations be minimal in the early years of a return to tillage? Placing a value on Irish grain used to secure the reputation of the food this country produces is essential and increasing tillage area to reduce emissions is a sensible step for both.
Last week’s climate bill saw the bar for Irish agriculture set very high for emissions reductions.
Research into many mitigation technologies is only just underway. The bill’s wording sets out that where proof of carbon sequestration can be shown, this can be used to offset emissions. However, the lack of widespread availability of technologies to measure carbon sequestration and storage on Irish farms is an obstacle to this.
There are fears that Irish agriculture may be forced to take steps backwards before these technologies come on stream. Are we to undo the progress made in Irish agriculture and ignore the plan set out by the Department of Agriculture in Ag Climatise?
Here we take a look at the key research that is under way, its strengths and weaknesses, and how far it is from completion.
Teagasc Signposts
Programme
The Teagasc Signposts Programme is being rolled out across 100 farms. These farms will see carbon measured from the soil, to a depth of 100cm, and in the air.
This will provide a good reference for Irish soils. The widespread rollout of carbon sampling is a difficult task.
The €10m in funding already allocated for soil sampling could be well spent carrying out soil carbon measurements on farmers’ regular soil samples or allow for carbon samples to be taken to 30cm. It would provide a step in the right direction.
Carbon sequestration: hedgerows & habitats
A national survey of hedgerows began last year and Teagasc investigations into carbon sequestration by hedgerows are under way.
Hedgerows are being measured and analysed for density, height, carbon and many other factors. The hedge itself, the roots and the soil underneath and surrounding the hedgerow are being tested for carbon.
This will provide a reference for carbon content in different types of hedges across the country, but it will most likely be three years before there is a robust set of data.
This reference will be essential in matching different hedge types with details captured from Lidar (light detection) technology. This technology is expensive but could prove to be a cost-beneficial investment for Government.
Nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions reduction
There is a big push for protected urea use and an overall reduction in fertiliser use by 2030 in Ag Climatise.
A move to urea products reduces nitrous
oxide emissions as a result of a reduction in
the use of CAN, while a further move to
protected urea use would reduce ammonia
emissions.
Research is ongoing in Teagasc into the use of protected urea and this season saw greater demand for protected urea from farmers, but supplies were tight due to nitrogen shortages worldwide and prices were high.
Logistics and the ability to turn a profit are essential if farms are to be sustainable.
Clover and
multi-species swards
Clover in swards results in nitrogen fixation. That research is abundant. There is also plenty of advice on nitrogen rates and clover inclusion in swards, but uptake on farms is relatively slow.
Many farmers complain of its persistency in swards, the fact that it leaves some swards very open and the difficulty in controlling weeds where clover is present.
This is where more research and advice is needed. As with clover, persistency and weeds are a worry with multi-species swards, which can dramatically reduce nitrogen use. Farm-based research into multi-species swards is essential and, with Johnstown Castle and Moorepark moving in this direction, it will provide farmers with the information needed if deciding to make the switch.
Feed additives will not be available to reduce methane in the near future.
Breeding and increasing the genetic merit of the herd through EBI is an essential method to reduce methane production, as well as increasing the length of the grazing season.
Clover can also increase rate of passage through the rumen, reducing methane, while tannins from herbs in multi-species swards can also reduce levels.
Feed additives get a lot of conversation but they are not a silver bullet. Meth-ABATE is a research project at Teagasc aiming to develop technologies to reduce methane from pasture-based systems.
Progress is being made with feed additives. Just last week researchers in the US and Australia showed a reduction of up to 80% in enteric methane production from beef bullocks when a red seaweed was added to the diet. This will not be used widely for some time and cost effectiveness on farm needs to be evaluated.
The seaweed in question, Asparagopsis taxiformis, is not grown here.
It is mainly found in the tropics, so this may also prove problematic.
The metric used to measure methane needs closer attention. The 100-year global warming potential (GWP) is a metric used to estimate gases’ impact on atmospheric temperature.
Research from Oxford University has led to the development of the GWP Star (GWP*) metric which includes the current year’s methane emissions and the trend for the most recent 20-year period. A declining trend in methane emissions can cause global cooling. This metric is not used in emissions calculations at present.
The focus is generally on the national herd and reducing emissions from that herd. Maybe the discussion should be on how to offset emissions using the tillage area.
This sector’s low contribution to total agricultural emissions and ability to sequester carbon continues to be somewhat ignored.
The new straw incorporation scheme is a great initiative, but research from past and future trials will be needed to allow for the offsetting of emissions.
Cover crops provide another solution. The planting of cover crops provides an opportunity to offset emissions from tillage and other sectors, yet research is lacking and often farmer-led. Their contribution to carbon sequestration needs to be detailed and recognised.
Minimum-tillage is constantly portrayed in policy documents as a solution to reduce carbon emissions, but farmers cannot be expected to make the switch without research to back it up. Trials into different tillage systems have been under way for some time at Teagasc Oak Park. This research has shown the need for a good break crop. Break crops such as protein crops can also lead to a reduction in overall nitrogen use. Further research is needed into the consequences of the cultivation of short- and long-term grass leys. Should all cultivations be minimal in the early years of a return to tillage? Placing a value on Irish grain used to secure the reputation of the food this country produces is essential and increasing tillage area to reduce emissions is a sensible step for both.
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