Author: julian

In Aotearoa, New Zealand, half of the gross emissions come from agriculture, which includes the majority of nitrous oxide and biogenic methane emissions. 

Agriculture is a significant emitter, but reducing emissions will build the sector’s resilience.

To meet our 2050 target, it is crucial to decrease these emissions, specifically biogenic methane emissions, by 24-47% by 2050.

One central approach to reducing emissions is through changes in significant polluters such as the Tiwai smelter. This could involve transitioning from coal power to a different form of gas.

The second approach is to release water vapour from the exhaust of hydrogen-powered cars rather than a carbon molecule.

The 3^rd approach is to reduce carbon (methane, NO₂ and CO₂) from agriculture.

“As a scientist, I know we must do all these to reduce carbon emissions for a sustainable future”.

Farmers, scientists, and entrepreneurs in New Zealand are skilled at finding innovative solutions. Vaccinees are being worked on and testing trials are being conducted.

For example, they have discovered a way to reduce methane emissions by feeding cows a certain type of seaweed (as much as 90% reduction) or biochar (15% methane reduction), which also helps to bind nitrogen and reduce NO₂ emission from cow dung and prevent nitrate leaching once the biochar gets to 10% of the soil volume.

“New Zealand signed up to the Paris Protocol – so we are heading in this direction whether we agree or disagree”.

Livestock accounts for about 75% of agricultural emissions, primarily from biogenic methane. Nitrous oxide from nitrogen fertiliser use accounts for about 3.9% of agricultural emissions.

Additionally, we have set separate targets for reducing biogenic methane emissions.

Specifically, we aim to decrease biogenic methane emissions by 10 per cent by 2030 compared to 2017 levels and by 24 to 47 per cent by 2050.

The agricultural industry significantly impacts the environment, accounting for a growing portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

Therefore, the sector must take action to limit the effects of climate change.

There are various ways to decrease nitrous oxide emissions, such as:

• improving fertiliser application and
• opting for low-nitrogen crops. 

Reducing production intensity, even by a small amount, can positively impact the environment while maintaining profitability. In addition, farmers can offset their greenhouse gas emissions by planting trees.

Studies have shown that optimising food production by altering farming methods is vital to decreasing emissions from agriculture. By utilising a range of established technologies and practices currently in use, we could achieve up to 20% of the necessary emissions reduction for the sector by 2050.

Steps to reduce emissions

1. Know your farm’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Most dairy farmers will receive their greenhouse gas information from their dairy company. In addition, Fonterra farmers will have received a report that includes an emissions profile to help identify emission sources. 

2. Identify opportunities to reduce emissions and capture carbon.

Many opportunities involve making simple changes to current farm management practices; others require a farm system analysis.

How can we improve the efficiency of pasture and crop production?

Reducing nitrogen loss and emissions are firmly connected. The focus is on lowering N-surplus, decreasing imported/harvested feed and reducing methane.

Some tips for reducing N-surplus:

• use less N-fertiliser and supplementary feed
• make the most of homegrown pasture and crops
• improve the timing and placement of N-fertiliser
• ensure proper soil fertility, and
• optimise pasture quality and production.

An effective way to reduce methane emissions is by regulating the feed given. Studies indicate that there is a connection between methane production and feed consumption. 

This implies that the more feed given per hectare, the higher the methane emissions will be.

Research shows there is a direct link between feed intake and methane produced. For every additional kg of total feed eaten per hectare, total methane emissions increase proportionally.

“Feeding Biochar to Cows is an Innovative Solution for Improving Soil Fertility and Farm Productivity”.

One of the issues of cattle farming is the urine patch, and high fertility, i.e. the loss of nutrients in the ground.

“If you feed animals with carbon supplement such as biochar, you can reduce methane by 15 per cent and nitrous oxide by 50 per cent and reduce nitrate leaching”.

To conclude; by the start of 2025 ALL NZ farms must have a written plan to measure and manage their emissions aligning with the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Act.

Dr Gordon Rajendram is a New Zealand Independent Soil Scientist specialising in Soil Fertility, Agronomy & Farm Environmental Consultancy.

Gordon Rajendram
9 Kakanui Avenue, Hillcrest, Hamilton 3216
P: 021 466 077
E: rajendram@xtra.co.nz
Web site: https://gordonrajendramsoilscientist.co.nz

‘ Bringing science to the farm.’

Phillip Quay
phillip@mediapa.co.nz
P: 0274 587 724
www.mediapa.co.nz
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Soil testing and soil sampling is critical to improving the quality and mineral balance of your soil.

The vital point of soil testing is to determine if there are sufficient levels of the essential elements for plants and livestock to grow at their best.

All physical things in the universe are made from 92 naturally occurring chemical elements. Living things such as plants and animals are mostly made of certain elements, depending on the life form. These are known as the essential elements of life, meaning that if all the other elements are present, but if one of these elements is missing, then the organism will fail.

There are 13 elements were needed for plant and animal growth, not just nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). A further three elements (cobalt, selenium and iodine) are essential animal health and nutrition. If your soil is deficient in one or more nutrients, your livestock and plants are not going to be able to receive enough of those nutrients to grow properly.

If farmers are injection or bulleting animals for any deficient nutrients such as Cobalt, Selenium , Iodine or any nutrient it is a soil borne disorder. Injecting, bulleting or supplementing nutrients to animals overcomes the problem short term rather than fixing the cause, which is a soil borne disorder. Its equivalent to taking medication rather than fixing the root cause.

Testing of soil, pasture, clover only or animal bloods is relatively cheap. Coming in at less than 1% of your total fertiliser costs, it is a cost-effective investment in the health and wellbeing of your plants and livestock.

When it comes to your livestock, if the pasture they are eating does not contain correct amounts of the right nutrients they will not grow in a healthy manner, or worse, become sick.

Most dairy farms probably need only about 13kg/ha of P per year to maintain their phosphate levels, but more than 70kg/ha is sometimes applied, leading to massive expenditure. This money could be diverted to overcome any deficient nutrient.

Accurate soil testing also provides a significant management tool in creating an efficient soil fertility programme, as well as watching out for potential soil issues.

Dr. Gordon Rajendram
Soil Scientist
Soil Fertility, Agronomy & Farm Environmental Consultant

With the decline of farm land to pine trees and the reduction of beef cow. Where does this put the future for raising beef for export or domestic market. Most likely industry to fulfil this short fall is the dairy farmer and calf rearer.

But with inflation and the lack of beef farmers paying attention to the cost themselves it ends up the calf rearer taking the hit on there bottom line. Over the last two years with a lot of medium size calf rearers exiting the industry and 2021 and 2022 with large amounts of beef weaners exported to 🇨🇳 China. The lost to the country in revenues payable to farmers and export works would result in the money not flowing into the economy.  Question is there a freezing works company going to exit the industry.

How would this effect the returns to country and the people who benefit from the freezing works.

We need to Question many government agencies and there short slighted view of farming.

1980s under the labour government showed how quickly it turn upside down when banks and the government forgot farmers. Millions of people losses large amounts of money to paper shares. Is history repeating it self.

Source: Federated Farmers

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Harvest season is in full swing and Federated Farmers is urging motorists and the operators of agricultural machinery to show each other some care and understanding.

“Not everyone has appreciated the recent sweltering temperatures in some South Island districts but for arable farmers in the middle of harvesting, the golden weather is both a bonus and a race to get crops in before Mother Nature switches moods,” Feds Arable Industry chairperson and Waimate farmer Colin Hurst said.

New Zealand’s $2.2 billion arable industry is an important part of our export earnings, economy and employment – not to mention growers of wheat flour for your summer sourdough. During harvest, combine harvesters, large tractors towing implements and other over-size agricultural vehicles often need to use public roads to move between different parts of the farm and between farms.

“They’re bulky and of necessity – and by law – move at lower speeds than other motorists.

“Farmers are asking other drivers to show a bit of patience and common sense when coming across these large vehicles on the road,” Colin said.

“If a tractor or harvester does pull over to the edge of the road, take your opportunity to pass if you can do so safely. Most of them will be moving no faster than 30-40kph or so, so it’s not essential to have the same several hundred metres of clear road ahead needed when overtaking much faster moving vehicles.”

Refusing to pass can result in a long line-up of vehicles and that’s when some drivers’ patience frays and they do something risky, Colin said.

Federated Farmers is also urging the operators of farm vehicles to keep traffic flows in mind, and to remember their responsibilities in terms of protruding implements/headers and, where required, use of beacons and hazard panels.

Healthy soil and pasture production rely upon the correct soil testing process. Let’s take a look at two key factors that drive pasture production.

The first key factor is soil temperature at 10cm. At 5 or 6 degrees, the pasture stops growing.

The second key factor is soil moisture and the significant impact on pasture production with soil moisture < 25%.

A Field Collaborated Soil Test at this stage will help you find the maximum pasture production between low productivity and wasting money.

At this point, I would like to highlight that pasture species do not thrive in low-pH soils in addition to the two critical factors named above. Why is this?

In simple terms, it is due to the increased Aluminium in the soil solution, which retards root growth – the implication leading to less growth of herbage on top.

Currently, many soils are very acidic (<5.5pH). Farmers could alleviate this problem by applying lime to eliminate soil acidity.

However, with the proper testing and planning, every budget has room to include lime and fertiliser as part of pasture management programmes.

You may have heard in the news recently about the impact Leaching is having on our soils. 

Leaching is the loss of water-soluble plant nutrients from soils. Factors such as rain and irrigation are contributing factors. The result – amounts of nutrients are lost via sub-service flow related to the amount of rainfall and drainage. 

We see the knock-on effect with essential nutrients in plants. These exist as anions and cations – the leaching of anions and cations is conditional on various factors including, but not limited to, the amounts and form of nutrients applied in fertiliser, stocking rates, drainage, soil types and the previous extent of soil leaching.

Plant growth is dependent on a critical element – Phosphate. Applied phosphate must remain in the soil and not run off as particulate P or leach into subsoils. 

So how can we mitigate P losses?

• < 40% ASC greater potential to lose P from soil
• Apply a little bit often
• Essential to use the right product
• Apply slow-release P & S products
• Combo of water-soluble/slow-release P & S

I want to emphasise two critical factors.

• Anion Storage Capacity (ASC), or Phosphate Retention (P-retention), is a measure to remove P from the soil solution. It is a crucial test and should be included with every sampled area to determine levels.

I cannot stress enough the importance of this information when factoring in using phosphorus and sulphur fertilisers.

Secondly, it is essential to remember that fertiliser is only one aspect of a productive management system. If you don’t test properly, you are doing yourself a disservice to your business.

As an Independent Fertiliser Consultant, I am dedicated to helping all farmers get the most out of their soils so their farm, their most significant asset, works more efficiently and sustainably for increased profitability.

“To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” -Mahatma Gandhi.

Dr Gordon Rajendram is a New Zealand Independent Soil Scientist specialising in Soil Fertility, Agronomy & Farm Environmental Consultancy.