Carbon Navigator to be annual task in Beef Data and Genomics Programme
Agriculture accounts for approximately 30% of production of these Irish greenhouse gases, with most of the remainder being contributed by the transport and domestic sectors.
Agricultural emissions are difficult to reduce. Nevertheless, agriculture emissions are in steady decline, and are currently 9% lower than in 1990.
Irish grass-based beef production systems are already relatively carbon efficient, and farmers who adapt a number of practices and technologies can significantly improve efficiency, improve profitability, and lower GHG emissions — all at the same time.
The Carbon Navigator is an online farm management package produced by Bord Bia and Teagasc that quantifies the environmental gains that can be made on each individual’s farm.
Each participant in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) must complete a Beef Carbon Navigator by October 31, 2016.
The first completion of the Carbon Navigator must be undertaken in conjunction with an approved advisor.
The Department will cover the cost of the approved advisor for the completion of the Carbon Navigator.
The farmer’s cost is incorporated into the annual BDGP payment.
The navigator quantifies the environmental gains that can be made on each applicant’s farm, by setting targets in key areas such as grassland management.
It is a very useful and simple tool which allows individual farmers to look at changes which can be made on their farm in areas such as the length of the grazing season or their average calving rate, and then illustrates what that change would mean in terms of reduced GHG emissions from his/her herd, and the increased profitability associated with such a change.
Specifically in 2016, each farmer participating inthe BDGP is required to provide details that highlight how a farm’s GHG emissions can be reduced.
The areas covered are lengthening the grazing season, lowering the age at first calving, achieving a higher calving rate, improving growth rates, using nitrogen more efficiently, and slurry management.
The report compares your farm performance with similar farms, and highlights the potential impact on income and on GHG emissions, of reaching the targets set.
Following on from the initial completion in 2016, applicants must submit data annually to allow for an update of the carbon navigator.
This data will be submitted via survey forms issued by the ICBF to each applicant and will cover areas such as grazing season length, fertiliser use, and slurry spreading.
The Department, through a service provider (Teagasc), has trained qualified advisors on the process of completing a carbon navigator.
Details of trained advisors are available on the Department’s website.
Individual BDGP participants should select an advisor of their choice from the list, and make an appointment to complete their navigator.
The advisor will assist the farmer in the completion of the navigator in 2016 (before October 31), and will also provide farmers with an overview of the benefits associated with reaching the individual targets set out in the navigator.
The farmer is then expected to complete the carbon navigator in each of the following years, either online or through the submission of key data as set out above.
