Farmers now have another way to document how they’re managing on-farm emissions and responding to a changing climate, with the release of B+LNZ’s new Online GHG Action Plan.
B+LNZ GM Farming Excellence Dan Brier says it’s part of providing a range of practical tools and resources for farmers to choose from.
“This is another tool in the toolbox for farmers who’re getting on the climate response journey. The action plan is an online version of the paper-based template in the ‘Responding to a changing climate’ chapter of B+LNZ’s farm plan.
“Completing the plan online means you’ll have a PDF of your plan that you can save or print.
“The plan helps you identify the risks of climate change and can help you prioritise actions and identify opportunities to reduce risk. It enables you to record current and planned actions and it’s a living document.”
The first step is to measure on-farm GHG emissions and sequestration by completing B+LNZ’s GHG Calculator, which is free and easy to use. You can then complete your action plan, which steps you through actions to manage emissions and respond to climate change impacts.
Support to complete both these tools is available, including through in-person and online B+LNZ workshops and in the B+LNZ Farm Plan – Environment Module (‘Responding to a changing climate’ chapter).
The tool is also another means by which sheep and beef farmers can demonstrate they are documenting plans, as part of overall sector efforts to meet the He Waka Eke Noa Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership milestones.
The first He Waka Eke Noa milestone is at the end of this year, when a quarter of all farmers need to know their total on-farm emissions and have a written plan to manage emissions. Farmers have made significant progress towards this – we’re confident 25 percent of sheep and beef farmers know their numbers and we’re making good progress on the plans. It’s important we meet the milestones, as the partnership approach is better for farmers than the initial proposal of bringing agriculture into the ETS.
Further information on the new tool is available at www.beeflambnz.com/ghg-calculator-info
The ‘Responding to a changing climate’ chapter of the B+LNZ farm plan is available on the Knowledge Hub.