Livestock and Carbon

This project supports the livestock industry to meet community and consumer’s expectations on environment and welfare.

DPIRD priority

DPIRD is meeting the community and consumer’s expectations on environment and welfare.

Outcome

1. That the WA extensive livestock industry had sound knowledge on carbon emissions from enterprises, options to reduce emissions and is taking mitigation action towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
2. That the WA broadacre sector has sound knowledge and a path to action on managing sheep enterprises in a drying climate.

Investment priorities

• Demonstration of practices and technologies on carbon emissions mitigation and abatement through KRF Carbon Neutral 2030 Demonstration Farm.
• A training and extension program supporting the move towards carbon neutral/low carbon production by producers.
• Build better information and technologies for WA production systems through a co-ordinated program of research and development in conjunction with other research partners and funding institutions.

KPIs

1. Detailed audit for sheep and beef in Western Australia and identification of priority areas for mitigation in WA production systems by May 2022.
2. Developed adoption package including training and support for producers by June 2022.
3. KRF set up and used as a demonstration farm for tested and emerging technologies for carbon by June 2023.

Opportunities for carbon mitigation in Mediterranean livestock enterprises

To build understanding and knowledge of carbon emissions and mitigation opportunities for livestock producers, DPIRD will conduct carbon accounting workshops for sheep and beef producers, consultants and advisors working in the sector.  It will work with research partners to build better tools for producers to do carbon accounts that are suited to our Mediterranean mixed farming systems.

Focus for 2021

An understanding of the sheep and beef industries' contribution to Western Australia's carbon account is important for managing risks, while also considering the affects an evolving sector might have on the state’s agricultural emissions. DPIRD will undertake a whole of industry carbon footprint for the sheep industry and the beef cattle industry, available in late 2021.

Working with the grain sector, we have a review of tools and calculators for use across a mixed farm enterprise and assess the value and suitability of commercially available tools for the WA Mediterranean environment. .

Key initiatives

Carbon accounting for sheep and beef producers

1. Resources for staff, advisors and consultants on WA livestock emissions

• Carbon Calculators – Western Australian example farms
• How to calculate the carbon emissions from your own farm business

Carbon accounting and carbon footprints

1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions for WA Agriculture
2. Carbon account and mitigation strategy for KRF
3. Carbon footprint for the WA sheep industry with scenario modeling for understanding change
4. Carbon Footprint for the WA beef industry with cenario modeling for understanding change
5. Understanding/mapping co-benefits of revegetation, soil management and animal management

Tools and adoption of carbon neutral plans

1. Developing tools for carbon accounting in mixed enterprises
2. Whole-farm planning resources for carbon mitigation
3. Developing a program to increase the adoption of existing mitigation technologies and methodologies (genetics, shrubs, novel feeds, ameliorates)

If you are a sheep or beef producer in WA and are interested in participating in our carbon accounting activities, please contact Mandy Curnow at mandy.curnow@dpird.wa.gov.au.