Tuesday, 29 April 2025 11:55

Dairy greenhouse gas emissions fall by 1.6%

Written by  Peter Burke
Between 2022 and 2023, total emissions from agriculture decreased 2.2%, including a 1.6% drop in dairy cattle emissions. Between 2022 and 2023, total emissions from agriculture decreased 2.2%, including a 1.6% drop in dairy cattle emissions.

Emissions by dairy cattle decreased by 1.6% according to the latest NZ Greenhouse Gas Inventory report.

It shows that between 2022 and 2023, total emissions from agriculture decreased 2.2% which included a 1.6% drop in dairy cattle emissions due to a fall in dairy cow numbers.

DairyNZ general manager Farm Solutions & Policy, Dr David Burger, says this is part of a trend that has seen methane emissions from dairy cattle decrease by 4.11% since 2017. He says DairyNZ statistics show a 3.4% decrease in cow numbers - from 4.84 million in the 2021/22 season to 4.67 million in the 2022/23 season.

“But at the same time, average milk production per cow increased over this same period by 1.8%, up to 393kgMS from 386kgMS,” he says.

Dr Burger says our dairy farmers continue to work hard to improve onfarm efficiency and their environmental footprint, with the report reflecting that. He says improved productivity in farming has enabled agricultural emissions to fall since 2014 and DairyNZ is supporting that through a dedicated programme of work focused sharply on productivity, resilience and sustainability.

“This includes our work to advocate for fair and achievable climate targets and our research into solutions for farmers to understand and manage their emissions,” he says.

Dr Burger says work being done includes a focus on forage species to understand their effect on baseline methane emissions and the response to other mitigation technologies in a pasture-based system. He says they are supporting different delivery mechanisms for getting methane solutions into our grazing systems, working to improve the accuracy of emissions accounting, including the inventory and helping farmers understand their on-farm greenhouse gas emissions.

“New Zealand dairy farmers are among the world’s most emissions efficient, and research is key to helping them maintain that position. DairyNZ is investing in research alongside a range of partners to develop and test different mitigation solutions, ensuring they are fit for use in our pasture-based systems,” he says.

Burger says DairyNZ supports the independent panel on methane recommendation that the 2050 target be adjusted to 14-15% to 24% instead of the 24-47% that is currently legislated.

“Our long-held position on climate targets is that they should reflect the latest science and warming impact of methane, while also considering the mitigation tools and technologies available to farmers,” he says.

More like this

Don't hold back!

OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding nothing back when ‘climate scientists’ had a crack at Kiwi farmers recently:

Emissions versus warming

OPINION: Soon New Zealand farmers will be asked to know their greenhouse gas (GHG) number. There are a vast number of GHG calculators available, all giving a different answer and none of them allowing for your pasture to be viewed as a CO2 ‘sequesterer’.

Changing Climate: A taste of the future

A high-resolution vineyard view of ecoclimatic indicators, and how they impact wine quality, can turn “climate insights into strategy”, says climate risk specialist Pete Taylor. “Whether you’re a grower, winemaker, or industry leader, understanding the future is key to staying ahead.”

No reason to demonise farming

OPINION: New Zealand has said it is going to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by ‘a lot’ and ‘in a short time’. One of those gases is methane. Our biggest producer of methane is livestock farming.

Featured

Farmstrong marks 10 years of rural support

Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.

National

Machinery & Products

Farming smarter with technology

The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

110,000 visitors!

OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.

Sticky situation

OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter