Other Environment activities
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Environment Strategy
Land and Water Forum
Essential Freshwater consultation
Progress to date
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sheep and beef farming have decreased by 30 percent in absolute terms since 1990, while production levels have remained stable.
We are also offsetting a significant proportion of our remaining emissions through the native and exotic trees on our farms.
Taking action on climate change
Our sector is committed to the He Waka Eke Noa primary sector climate action partnership.
Read more about our B+LNZ’s commitment to He Waka Eke Noa.
B+LNZ supports farmers with practical tools and resources to respond to a changing climate and meet climate change commitments. The main way we provide support is through our farm planning process.
Find out more about B+LNZ’s farm plans, including the ‘Responding to a changing climate’ chapter.
Find out how we help farmers measure and manage their emissions through the GHG Calculator.
Key advocacy area: biogenic methane emissions reductions
We do not agree with the methane reduction targets set out in the Zero Carbon Act. We are calling on the Government to review the targets using the GWP* metric and to start reporting on the warming impact of various gases, in line with the latest international science.
Find out more about what we’ve done in this area.
Key advocacy area: wholesale conversion of farmland for carbon farming
We have repeatedly called for limits in the ETS to address the wholesale conversion of productive sheep and beef farmland into forestry for carbon farming – find out more on this page.
Climate change resources
Factsheets on climate change
- The Greenhouse effect, including long and short-lived gases (PDF, 219KB). Learn more about New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, and what it all means for sheep and beef farmers.
- Biogenic methane from ruminant animals and nitrous oxide from agricultural soils (PDF, 1.2MB). This factsheet outlines the production of methane in ruminants and nitrous oxide from soils.
- Greenhouse gas management and mitigation for sheep and beef farmers (PDF, 538KB). Managing methane – what options do you have? This factsheet will help you understand the options you have to measure and manage on-farm emissions, so that you can meet regulatory requirements.
- Carbon sequestration in woody vegetation (PDF, 538KB). This factsheet explains why woody vegetation carbon sequestration is important for farmers, and how to calculate carbon stocks and sequestration on-farm.
- Adapting to a changing climate (PDF, 321KB). The projected impacts of climate change on New Zealand farming systems and advice on building a resilient system.
Climate change resource links
MPI carbon sequestration look-up tables
You can get a rough idea of carbon sequestration for post-1989 forest land by using the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) look-up tables.
B+LNZ GHG Calculator
Provides a free, farmer facing tool to report the on-farm sequestration and emissions of the business, and reflects the individual farm’s livestock and production system. The tool is designed to help the red meat sector’s reporting requirements to satisfy He Waka Eke Noa regulations.
OverseerFM
A more complex calculator that estimates on-farm emissions and their sources. It can be used to test the impact of farm management changes on emissions (and nutrient flows) before those changes are made. It also accounts for sequestration by trees.
Farmax 8
Provides an estimate of on-farm emissions. It can be used to test the impact of farm management changes on emissions as well as animal production and profitability. It also accounts for sequestration.
Practical information, backed by science, to help farmers and growers get to grips with climate change.
MfE climate change resources
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has a resource available that outlines likely future changes to the climate of each region and what that means for each region.
Extreme Dry Management Toolkit
For more information on drought management, check out Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Extreme Dry Management Toolkit.
Flood management
Resources for preparing for a flood, recovering from a flood and health & safety post-flood.
Snowstorm support
Information on preparing for and responding to snow weather bombs, including factsheets and links to websites and organisations that can provide you with support.
He Waka Eke Noa: the Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership
The He Waka Eke Noa programme will implement a framework by 2025 to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and build the agriculture sector’s resilience to climate change. Find more information about the key milestones and workstreams on the He Waka Eke Noa website.
