New website to help farmers cut costs and gas emissions

Published on Monday 21 September 2009 18:59

FARMERS were yesterday urged to go on-line to check out how they could help reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from their farms while at the same time helping the financial viability of their businesses.

Currently it is estimated that agriculture accounts for one fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland. The belches and burps that cattle and sheep emit as they chew the cud are fingered as one of the biggest concerns but the misuse of manures and fertilisers is also a concern.

The new website, Farming for a Better Climate, which is funded by the Scottish Government and hosted by the Scottish Agricultural College, lists five areas where farmers should clean up their act. It urges using fuel and energy more efficiently, developing more renewable energy, optimising the use of fertilisers and manures, including the storage of waste, and the locking of carbon into the soil.

The website signposts potential grant funding for farmers to hit these targets with, the SRDP programme offering up to 50 per cent on costs of any project and 75 per cent on associated training.

Significantly, one of the big awards from last week's Rural Priorities funding was a 560,000 grant to Ruchlaw Produce Company, East Lothian, one of Scotland's largest pig producers. The cash will go towards an anaerobic digester on their pig manure, simultaneously reducing the smell and converting the gas from the manure pile into electricity.

Brothers Willie and Gavin Hamilton who operate at Phantassie and Garvald Mains farms have also been looking at how the advice on reducing their carbon footprint can also help their business, which is located in a nitrate vulnerable zone.

The Hamiltons now make many decisions based on energy efficiency, use detailed crop monitoring to ensure optimal irrigation, use a ground source heat pump and are considering a wind turbine.

Speaking at the launch, cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment Richard Lochhead, said he wanted farmers to lead the fight against climate change. By doing so they would not only help the environment but help their businesses.

He warned that if farmers ignored climate change it could spell disaster for their industry through changes in weather patterns. "Scotland has some of the most ambitious climate change legislation in the world and there has already been a great deal of innovation within the farming sector. I am confident that these practical cost-effective measures will be welcomed," he said

Sarah Boyack, shadow cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment, also welcomed its practical advice for farmers. Apart from the benefit in cutting their costs and their carbon footprint, she believed it would help them seize new business opportunities in the renewables sector, such as biogas plants and local wind turbine projects.

Lochhead also revealed the setting up of a stakeholder group which will look at climate change and agriculture. There will also be a number of seminars taking place later this year with the same agenda.

The man behind the website, Graham Kerr, SAC, said that one of the main aims was to increase the knowledge of climate change and the practical steps that can be taken to reduce their carbon footprint and adapt to Scotland's changing climate.