Farmers across Scotland have been cutting their bills and saving tens of thousands of pounds simply by reducing their carbon footprints.
The impressive outcome was revealed during a Farming for a Better Climate event yesterday, where experts reflected upon the success of the first round of climate change focus farms in the past three years.
The event, organised by the Scottish Government’s Farming Advisory Service and delivered by SAC Consulting, took place at Mark Thomson’s 750-acre Tillyrie Farm, in Perth and Kinross, which now becomes a focus of the next project round.
Talking to farmer delegates, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham hammered home the importance of climate change on the Scottish Government’s agenda.
“This year looks certain to be the world’s warmest year since before the last ice age,” she said.
“Agriculture accounts for almost 25% of all of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions and both the gradual and extreme effects of climate change are becoming ever more apparent.
“Fields are wetter than they used to be, there’s threats from new diseases such as bluetongue, increased threats from old diseases and more frequent extremes of weather to contend with. There’s no question patterns are changing – and farmers are effectively on the front line of experiencing that.”
But the silver bullet, according to Ms Cunningham, to reduce the emission of harmful gases across the farming industry was efficiency.
Indeed, Ms Cunningham’s sentiments were echoed by SAC Consulting rural business consultant Gillian Reid – an expert in carbon footprinting – who said tackling greenhouse gas emissions on farms presented a rare scenario where everyone would benefit.
She said the previous climate change focus farms had proved that by taking simple steps to reduce fertiliser input and improve soils, for example making good use of slurry or incorporating clover into grassland, or by cutting the amount of time it takes to get animals to slaughter weight, farmers could cut emissions and bills at the same time.
Ms Cunningham said as part of its bid to help the agricultural industry to reduce emissions, the Scottish Government is funding 1,200 free carbon audits over the next five years, through the Farm Advisory Service, which are available on a first come, first served basis.
