2. Overview
1. Introduction
2. Overview of Signpost Programme
3. Key Indicators of Success
4. Win: Win…Creating More Sustainable
Farming Systems
5. Getting the Measure of Carbon Sequestration
2
3. • Research to date (Teagasc
MACC’s) has given us a
toolbox
• Now need to enable
farmers to adapt their
farming practices at “pace
and scale”
• While continuing with new
research
– Carbon sequestration
– New technologies for
methane
– Further nitrous oxide
reduction
3
Teagasc Role in Climate Action
4. Farming’s role
▪ “Critically important social, economic and environmental value”
• 137,000 family farms
• €8.38 billion goods produced on livestock and tillage farms (2020)
• €14.5 billion total exports (2019, 9.5% of Irish merchandising exports)
▪ Increased focus on environmental impact of farming activities
• GHG and ammonia emissions, water quality, biodiversity
▪ Farmers are uniquely placed to be part of the solution, as
“custodians of the land”
5. A changing policy environment
Sustainability
Environmental focus
Expansion
Intensification
Competitiveness
Efficiency
Re-balancing the focus
6. 6
▪ A national campaign to lead climate
action, achieving early progress in
reducing GHG emissions
▪ Three elements:
• Network of 100 Signpost Farms
• Signpost Advisory campaign
• NASCO
▪ Programme aims to achieve whole
of industry alignment
The Signpost Programme
7. Signpost Objectives
Signpost Farms
▪ Showcase the science
based technologies which
can reduce agricultural
emissions
▪ Act as “hubs” for the
Signpost Advisory campaign
▪ Create a national network of
farms where carbon
sequestration in grassland
and hedgerows can be
examined
Signpost Advisory
▪ Mobilise all advisers
(Teagasc, private and
industry) to engage with all
farmers, using a
combination of channels, in
climate action
▪ Scale up the messages from
our experiences with the
Signpost Farmers to all
farmers
7
8. Policy
New
CAP
Market
requirements
All farmers
All farmers
All students
Signpost
Farms
Events
Farm Sustainability
Plan
Training
Discussion
groups
Digital
On-farm
research
Signpost Programme
Campaign for climate action
8
Partners
Annual Sustainability
Report (NFS)
9. Key Indicators of Success
9
We will work with farmers to achieve these targets.
GHG emissions
• Contribute to the national reduction of GHG emissions from farming
• Reduce GHG emissions per kg FPCM by 40% to 0.7 kg CO2e per kg FPCM
Pasture productivity &
stocking rate
• Target an increase of 2 tDM/ha pasture utilised over 5 years
• Ensure that the farm is appropriately stocked: < 250 kg org. N/ Ha (whole farm)
Reduced fertiliser use
• Reduce chemical N fertiliser usage by 10% over 5 years; increase NUE%
• Increase sward clover content to 20% over 5 years
• Spread 50% of chemical N as protected urea and all slurry using LESS
Optimum soil fertility
• 90% of soils to have optimum soil fertility status
• Adhere to NMP to correct soil deficiencies
Adequate slurry
storage
• 16, 20, 22 weeks slurry storage to be available for all livestock (location dependent)
Replacement rate
• Target 18-20% for stable herd
• Target 4.5 lactations herd average lactation number
• Increase EBI by €10 per year
Concentrate CP% • Reduce concentrate CP% to 14% (main grazing season)
Biodiversity
• Target 10% of high value biodiverse area per farm
• Increase quantity and quality of biodiversity on the farm
10. ▪ Signpost Farmers will be central to Signpost
Advisory Campaign
▪ Primary focus for our advisers and teachers
▪ Tailored advice – Farm Sustainability Plan
▪ Blended approach – traditional and digital
▪ Work with partners
▪ Targeted communications
10
Signpost Advisory Campaign
12. Profitable and Sustainable
12
The dairy and drystock farms with the lowest carbon footprint
were also the most profitable.
Source: Teagasc National Farm Survey 2019 Sustainability Report, Buckley and Donnellan, 2020.
13. National Agricultural
Soil Carbon Observatory
▪ All Signpost Farms will be part of the
NASCO
• Deep soil sampling (1m) – soil C
• Above ground C stocks will also be measured
▪ Plus 12 Carbon Flux Towers
• Strategically sited – soil type, management
practices, stocking rate etc.
▪ Model soil C sequestration
• Using farm specific data plus data from
Carbon Flux towers
▪ Measurements to start in 2021
13
14. Summary
▪ Teagasc research has identified solutions to enable farmers reduce
emissions from agriculture
▪ The challenge now is to deliver this research into practice
▪ The Signpost Programme will lead climate action through
• a whole of industry alliance;
• a network of demonstration farms;
• an advisory campaign to engage all farmers; and
• new research