Overcoming barriers for West Australian Growers to participate in the Emission Reduction Fund

Carbon Farming and Emissions Management in Broadacre Agriculture

This project was an Extension and Outreach Project supported by funding from the Australian Government (until 30 June 2017). WANTFA was keen to have a project in this field because the objectives of carbon farming and emissions management in broadacre agriculture fit nicely within the aims and objectives of conservation agriculture and we recognise the implications of climate changes on farmers in Western Australia and see opportunities to adapt to climate change and contribute to mitigation via carbon farming practices.

Project description

This project will identify and promote the synergies that exist between grower participation in the Emission Reduction Fund (ERF) and profitable agricultural practices. Currently there are a range of research and demonstration projects being undertaken in the WA wheatbelt that will provide several management options for growers. Up-to-date knowledge and information about the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions management and increases in soil carbon sequestration will be made accessible to farmers and their key influencers using effective existing extension networks.

Project scope

This project will focus on WA broadacre cropping regions. Extension networks spanning a maximum of 48 grower groups in south-west WA will be used to identify and address information and skill gaps in the knowledge systems. The project will not duplicate activities already undertaken; rather it will augment other work in this field by scientific and policy experts, for example the work being done within other Extension and Outreach projects. The project will present current factual information on policy and science and considers that policy conjecture and emissions information that is unsupported by good science is outside the scope of the project

Project objectives

1. Build the capacity of Western Australian consultants, agronomists and researchers to deliver information to growers on how they can participate in emissions management and the ERF
2. Extend emissions management and ERF information to WA farmers
3. Create an ongoing legacy for farmers to access information though the improved knowledge of key influencers and increased resources

Outcomes

It is anticipated that by 2017 West Australian wheatbelt growers will have an understanding of how farming practices can affect carbon sequestration and greenhouse emissions and the opportunities that exist to participate in the Emission Reduction Fund.

Implications

The result of the project will be that growers will be in a better situation to make informed decisions about how to meet their productivity objectives whilst reducing land sector emissions and sequestering carbon into agricultural soils. Farmer’s would then be able to identify opportunities to participate in the ERF.

Project Materials

Presentations

• Presentation – Carbon farming to improve production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions – 1.
• Presentation – Carbon farming to improve production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions – 2.

Webinars

• With Chris Gazey: Managing sub-surface soil acidity.
• With Dr Ken Flower: Effect of long-term no-tillage on wheat yield residue levels and soil carbons. 
• With Aaron Simmons: LCA as a tool for targeted GHG mitigation in Australian cropping systems.
• With Prof Phil Vercoe: Boost your farm’s productivity while reducing GHG Emissions – How changing livestock management practices can reduce methane production.

Fact Sheets

• What is carbon farming
• Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils
• Carbon sequestration methodologies for WA grain growers
• Farming with climate change in southwest WA
• Methods to sequester carbon in soils and participate in the Emissions Reduction Fund.

Newsletters

• Issue 1 – pdf – Jan 2014
• Issue 2 – pdf – Apr 2014
• Issue 3 – pdf – Aug 2014
• Issue 4 – pdf – Nov 2014
• Issue 5 – pdf – May 2015
• Issue 6 – pdf – Aug 2015
• Issue 7 – pdf – Nov 2015
• Issue 8 – pdf – Feb 2016
• Issue 9 – pdf – April 2016
• Issue 10 – pdf – Winter 2016
• Issue 11 – pdf – Winter 2016
• Issue 12 – pdf – Spring 2016
• Issue 13 – pdf – Spring 2016
• Issue 14 – pdf – Summer 2016
• Issue 15 – pdf – 2017 *NEW*

New Frontiers in Agriculture articles

• WANTFA secures Federal funding for the Extension and Outreach project – Jun 2013
• Counting the real carbon costs of carbon – Sep 2013
• WANTFA’s new Extension Officer – Dec 2013
• Why would a wheat farmer want to store carbon – Dec 2013
• Are farmers willing to adopt changes – Dec 2013
• Summer cover crops to improve productivity – Dec 2013
• Long-term Cropping systems and Soils Day coverage – Dec 2014
• Case Study – WA farmer Doug Pow converting biochar into carbon – Jan 2015
• Case Study – WA farmer Stephen Sprigg creating healthy soils and happy sheep with mallee trees – June 2016
• Soil organic carbon in Wheatbelt cropping systems – Autumn 2016

Field day booklet articles and other newsletters

• Nutrient use efficiency has co-benefits for farm profit and climate change mitigation –
• Opportunities for Carbon Farming in WA
• Carbon farming in broadacre agriculture.
• Carbon farming in agriculture.
• Newdegate booklet – The Emissions Reduction Fund now has new methods available for carbon farming projects
• Wheatbelt NRM Newsletter – Soil organic carbon in Wheatbelt cropping systems
• Southern Dirt Newsletter – Carbon farming in broadacre agriculture
• AFG Newsletter – Carbon farming in broadacre agriculture
• Wheatbelt NRM Newsletter – New Carbon Farming Extension Officer

News / Media

• Core carbon group plan for grain growers – May 2014
• Summer cover crops – Jan 2014
• Long-term Cropping systems and Soils Day – Sep 2014
• Change from the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) to the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) and what it means for farmers
• Brown manuring of Lupin in Bogart. – Nov 2015
• The Emissions Reduction Fund now has new methods available for carbon farming projects. – Nov 2015
• Carbon farming – what does it all mean? – April 2016

Extra reading

• Climate change and the economics of farm management
• Climate change impact on rainfed wheat in south-eastern Australia
• Climate change impacts in Australia – agricultural impacts and adaptation
• How do we improve crop production in a warming world
• Practicing agronomy in an uncertain climate
• Soils and climate change