increase font size
New Zealand’s ag sector has committed to 100% of farms having an annual total greenhouse gas emissions number by the end of 2022.
A software providing greenhouse gas emissions measurement and scenario planning programme for the whole farm has been released.
Released by Farmax, the new software allows farmers to look at a variety of farm input scenarios, showing not only how production and profitability are affected, but also how a farm’s environmental footprint is affected.
New Zealand’s agricultural sector has committed to 100% of farms having an annual total greenhouse gas emissions number by the end of 2022.
This sector promise will require every pastoral farmer to put a measurement system in place within 21 months’ time – a challenging timeline.
Farmax chief executive Gavin McEwen says the software will help farmers tackle this challenge.
“We’ve worked with AgResearch and DairyNZ scientists to incorporate a number of environmental measures into our latest release, including greenhouse gas emission reporting, to help farmers meet the 2022 sector target.
“This new functionality allows farmers to explore ways to improve the predicted outcome in the context of their own business while also considering the impact of production and profitability.”
McEwen says there are a number of greenhouse gas emission calculators available, but no others allow farmers and farm advisors to consider the financial impact of farm system changes.
“We believe this element is essential for farmers to confidently make the system changes the sector requires to meet New Zealand’s emissions reduction targets.
“It’s hard for farmers to be ‘green’ when they are in the ‘red.’ In other words, it is difficult to focus on reducing your environmental impacts on farm when production and profit are subpar,” explains McEwen.
McEwen said his team and the rural consultants they work closely with across the country feel challenged by the educational effort required to help farmers understand the greenhouse gas emissions outputs from their farm businesses and the potential compliance measures that may come into force.
A survey completed last year for the Ministry for Primary Industries showed that only around 2% of farmers with livestock have an indication of the total greenhouse gas emissions coming from their farm and only 1% have an indication of the per-animal emissions.
“Farmax’s goal is to help farmers understand what is required and give them a tool to take control, so that farm system changes where required can be made,” he says.
Developed and owned by AgResearch, Farmax is the only science-based decision support tool that gives a holistic picture of a farm business, including physical and financial feasibility and indicative environmental outputs.
A new nationwide survey shows New Zealanders expect farmers and food producers to play a leading role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but also gave them higher marks than most industries for their current efforts.
OPINION: We are endlessly told that livestock are responsible for half of New Zealand's total emissions.
OPINION: Climate change is shaping up to be one of the major issues at next year's general election.
OPINION: The Financial Times, a major international newspaper, featured New Zealand on its front page at the beginning of June. It wasn't for the right reasons.
OPINION: Across rural conversations, we're heading the same tune: crisis.
Alliance has announced a series of capital raise roadshow event, starting on 29 September in Tuatapere, Southland.
State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced a new equity partnership in an effort to support pathways to farm ownership for livestock farm operators.
Following a recent overweight incursion that saw a Mid-Canterbury contractor cop a $12,150 fine, the rural contracting industry is calling time on what they consider to be outdated and unworkable regulations regarding weight and dimensions that they say are impeding their businesses.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says his officials plan to meet their US counterparts every month from now on to better understand how the 15% tariff issue there will play out, and try and get some certainty there for our exporters about the future.
Brett Wotton, an Eastern Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower and harvest contractor, has won the 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award for his work to support lifting fruit quality across the industry.
OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…
OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…
