I want to
There are many factors that contribute to your farm’s emissions, so the more knowledge you have, the easier it will be to lower your footprint.
It’s good to remember that lower net footprint milk is attractive to customers and helps maintain the value of all our milk by keeping our Co-op competitive.
WHAT IS A FOOTPRINT?
And how is it calculated?
Your farm’s carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated from your farm, minus any carbon removals.
These include:
- On-farm activity emissions – from feed, fertiliser and your herd
- Land-use changes – emissions from deforestation or converting scrub to pasture
- Peat soil emissions – higher emissions occur when peat soils are drained
- Carbon removals – how much carbon is stored by vegetation on your farm
WHAT IMPACTS YOUR NUMBERS?
Several factors make up your footprint
Here are the main factors that influence your overall emissions.
On-farm activity
Emissions depend on how your farm is operated (with factors like feed and fertiliser use). The more milk produced per cow and per hectare spreads emissions over greater output, lowering the footprint per tonne of product.
Land-use change
If areas of trees or scrub have been deforested and converted to pasture, the carbon impact of that conversion is accounted for over a 20-year period (also known as the responsibility window).
Peat soils
Drained peat soils emit greenhouse gases due to oxidation when the water table is lowered.
Carbon removals
Your vegetation removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, lowering your overall footprint.
HELP TO LOWER EMISSIONS
Helpful support and resources
Lowering your emissions begins with understanding your numbers and identifying opportunities. Here are some good places to start.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Learn more about emissions and what this means on-farm
Your Farm Insights Report summarises your emissions from on-farm activities. You’ll find an indication of your net footprint on the Co-operative Difference dashboard here.
To compare emissions across farms and with global competitors, we use Fat and Protein Corrected Milk (FPCM) which is a standard measure that accounts for milk’s fat and protein levels.
Imported feeds have embedded emissions from production, processing and transport. There can be a lot of variation in emissions from feed, talk to your trusted farm advisor for advice.
Higher milk production per cow spreads emissions over more output, lowering emissions per tonnes of FPCM.
Talk to an advisor through our On-Farm Efficiency Service to review your data and explore further options.
Your footprint is based on your Farm Dairy Records, so accurate record-keeping is essential. If you need help, talk to your Sustainable Dairying Advisor.
Accurate emissions reporting keeps Fonterra competitive and ensures continued access to premium markets. Customers are increasingly rewarding farmers who act on sustainability. That’s one of the reasons we’ve made a strategic choice to be a leader in sustainability.