Farm Carbon Calculator

Emission and Mitigation Report

Introduction

This report includes the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and mitigation estimates for idk, generated by the Farm Carbon Calculator. These estimates are useful to inform farmers of the value of their carbon sequestering practices and how they can make their farm “carbon neutral.”

Using conversions published by the EPA and IPCC, the Farm Carbon Calculator estimates GHG emissions and mitigations from your farm management data. Specifically, the Farm Carbon Calculator outputs estimates of metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e), both emitted and sequestered on idk over the time frame indicated in the farm questionnaire – 0.5 year(s).

Farm GHG mitigation

In total, we estimate idk mitigated 59 metric tons CO₂e over 0.5 year(s)! We estimate this mitigation is valued at $4130, using current CO₂e prices of the EU Emission Trading System. Table 1 shows the breakdown of GHG mitigations on idk based on your farm management practices.

Table 1. Estimated GHG mitigations by source

Mitigation Source	Metric tons of CO2e per 0.5(s)	Value on carbon market (estimated at $70 per metric ton CO2e)
Dairy	58	4060
Beef	1	70
Sheep	0	0
Agronomic improvements	0	0
Nutrient management	0	0
Tillage reduction	0	0
Water management	0	0
Set aside and LUC	0	0
Agro-forestry	0	0
Grazing	0	0
Manure application	0	0
Total	59	4130

Farm GHG emissions

As the agricultural industry strives to be carbon neutral, it is important to calculate farm emissions as well. Table 2 documents the estimated emissions of idk based on your farm management practices.

Table 2. Estimated GHG emissions by source

	Metric ton of CO2e per 0.5 year(s))
Electricity	0.4
Gas	0.7
Fuel	2.5
Water	0.2
Natural gas	0
Other	1.3
Animals	293
Total	298.1

Striving for Carbon Neutral

From our GHG estimates, your farm is Carbon Positive, meaning the emissions outweigh the mitigations (Equation 1). Increasing farm management practices that mitigate GHG at your farm will bring it closer to Carbon Neutral footprint.

Equation 1: Emissions - Mitigations = Total GHG

357.1 - 59 = 298.1

These GHG mitigations also hold monetary value in the carbon market! Let’s take a closer look at what farm management practices can be added to idk and how much value they can bring.

Improving Crop Management

Your current crop management practices mitigated 0 metric tons of CO₂e over 0.5 year(s). The IPCC recommends the following crop management practices to improve GHG mitigation:

• Agronomic improvements e.g. cover crops, crop rotations, perennial crops ;
• Nutrient management e.g. adjusting application rates, slow or controlled-release fertilizer forms or nitrification inhibitors
• Tillage and residue management e.g. reduced or no tillage ;
• Water management e.g. more effective irrigation measures ;
• Set aside and LUC (land-use change) i.e. reversion of cropland to another land cover, typically one similar to the native vegetation ;
• Agro forestry i.e. production of livestock or food crops on land that also grows trees for timber, fire- wood, or other tree products ;
• Grazing (e.g. intensity and timing of grazing), fertilization, no fire ;
• Manure application ;

If these practices were implemented on all available lands and crops, idk would have potentially mitigated 240 metric tons of CO₂e over 0.5 year(s)! This mitigation is valued at $16800, using current CO₂e prices of the EU Emission Trading System. Figure 1 displays the mitigation potential of the recommended crop management practices for idk.

Mitigation potential of the recommended crop management practices.

Improving Livestock Management

Your current livestock management practices mitigated 59 metric tons of CO₂e over 0.5 year(s). The IPCC recommends the following livestock management practices to improve GHG mitigation:

• Improved feeding practices e.g. replacing roughage with concentrate, improving forages/inclusion of legumes ;
• Specific agents and dietary additives e.g. bST, growth hormones, propionate precursors ;
• Longer term structural/management change and animal breeding, e.g. lifetime management of beef cattle, improved productivity through animal breeding ;

If these practices were implemented, idk would have potentially mitigated up to 63.5 metric tons of CO₂e over 0.5 year(s)! This mitigation is valued at $4445, using current CO₂e prices of the EU Emission Trading System. The following figures display the mitigation potential of the recommended livestock management practices for idk.

Reduction of CO2e emissions associated with different hypothetical scenarios of practices implemented on all or a portion of the dairy herd.

Reduction of CO₂e emissions associated with different hypothetical scenarios of practices implemented on all or a portion of the beef herd.

Striving for Carbon Neutral

If both crop and livestock management recommendations are implemented, idk would mitigate 303.5 metric tons of CO2e over 0.5 year(s). These additional mitigations would be valued at $ 21245! Moreover, these increased mitigations would improve the carbon footprint of idk. Moreover, these increased mitigations would improve the carbon footprint of your farm! Total GHG would decrease by 82% from current GHG emissions. The last figure shows the how the recommended farm management practices would improve the carbon footprint at idk.

Impact of the farm management practices on carbon footprint.