Dairy Australia’s Robyn McLean has always been passionate about agriculture and runs her own farming operation in South Gippsland.
Robyn grew up on a 5,000-hectare cropping and sheep farm in the Mallee, but for the past 15 years she has been based in Gippsland and working in the dairy industry.
Currently, Robyn is one of Dairy Australia’s Carbon Farming Extension Advisors assisting farmers to better understand their carbon footprint and find ways to further reduce emissions on-farm. She is currently part of a team rolling out Dairy Australia’s new ‘Understanding Farm Carbon’ workshops across the country.
Greenhouse gas emissions is a hot topic in agriculture at the moment. The Australian dairy industry’s commitment to reducing its emissions intensity by 30 per cent by 2030 is something I speak with farmers about a lot. There can sometimes be confusion or concern among farmers about the topic, but the key is understanding on farm emissions while still maintaining a focus on business productivity. It can be challenging to know where to start.
Many dairy farmers I speak with have already started reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, often without knowing or being able to measure it. The latest Australian Dairy Sustainability Framework report found that 96 per cent of Australian dairy farmers have already implemented practices that are actively reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. For many farmers, the important first step is knowing where these emissions are being generated. Then being able to measure and track this information often referred to as the carbon footprint, becomes incredibly valuable.
We are definitely seeing an increased interest in dairy farm greenhouse gas emissions throughout the entire supply chain. From banks and the finance sector to milk supply companies and supermarkets, understanding and trying to reduce these emissions is fast becoming a standard requirement of doing business.
The industry's focus on emissions reduction offers opportunities for the dairy sector in Australia to amplify the great things we are already doing. My role is to assist farmers to understand this topic better, including how it aligns with their individual business objectives – at whatever stage they may be at.
One of the ways we are supporting dairy farmers is through a series of workshops. With feedback from farmers following a number of pilots, Dairy Australia’s ‘Understanding Farm Carbon’ workshops are a great starting point for farmers looking to break down the jargon and get to the most relevant information. The first topic in these is all about understanding greenhouse gas emission sources on dairy farms and learning why they matter to your farm business.
The workshops also look at activities and technologies that aim to improve business efficiency but have the added bonus of also reducing emissions. These include efficient use of fertiliser and irrigation water, improved effluent management, renewable energy, and using genetics to improve herd productivity.
Another topic covered in the Understanding Farm Carbon workshops is an introduction to Dairy Australia’s Australian Dairy Carbon Calculator (ADCC). The free calculator equips farmers to estimate their farm carbon footprint and understand the relative impact of different emission sources on farm. The workshop also helps farmers develop an understanding of the full range of options to reduce emissions, and how to do this profitably.
The great thing about the ADCC as a tool is that it’s specific to each farm. The Understanding Farm Carbon workshops also look at carbon markets and the Australian Carbon Credit Unit scheme, as well as the risks and opportunities they offer.
Alongside the workshops, my role is to also provide one-on-one support, so if someone finds it all a bit confusing, has questions or needs more help, they just have to reach out and I can step them through the process.
It’s really important for farmers to get involved and be prepared. Whether it is attending one of our workshops in your local region or using the Australian Dairy Carbon Calculator, or start by reaching out to your regional team, there is support available.
To find out more about how Dairy Australia supports farmers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or to register your interest in an upcoming workshop, visit Managing Farm Carbon.
