Carbon Farming:
Tas Farming Futures

About
the project

TAS FARMING FUTURES – 2013 TO 2016

RMCG together with NRM North and Pear Consulting delivered the inaugural Tas Farming Futures project over a three-year period 2013 – 2016. This was a truly collaborative and integrated project, operating across all industries, throughout all of Tasmania.

An extension officer was based in each of the three regions, south, north and north-west, to provide one-on-one support for farmers and/or to coordinate group events. This core on-ground team helped landholders to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in areas such as soil management, water and energy use efficiency, nutrient use efficiency, livestock nutrition and optimising feed quality. The broader RMCG project team provided key support in a technical, project management and communications capacity.

Cradle Coast NRM and NRM South supported project activities in the north west and southern regions. A Project Advisory Group included representatives from the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA), the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA), the Tasmanian Climate Change Office (TCCO), Private Forests Tasmania (PFT), the Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group (TAPG) and leading agronomy provider Serve-Ag.

“Reducing land sector emissions and effecting the Emissions Reduction Fund in Tasmania” was supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, as part of its Extension and Outreach program.

Please contact RMCG for more information.

CASE STUDIES

  • 21 May 2016

    Getting the balance right, managing protein and energy ratios in feed for reduced livestock emissions

    View the case study here

  • 20 May 2016

    Improving efficiency and carbon storage to reduce vineyard costs and GHG emissions.

    View the case study here

  • 20 May 2016

    Profitable Dairy Farming

    Good business management reduces greenhouse gases

    View the case study here

  • 19 May 2016

    Tips for sustainable soil management that save costs and emissions

    View the case study here

  • 19 May 2016

    Organic matter matters - Boosting profits by keeping OM up and greenhouse gas emissions down

    View the case study here

  • 19 May 2016

    Trees for Farm Productivity: Strategic tree planting and fencing to restore eroded gullies & improve productivity

    View the case study here

  • 18 May 2016

    Efficient farms reduce emissions - Improving farm efficiency and reducing greenhouses gas emissions go hand in hand

    View the case study here

  • 18 May 2016

    Reviewing orchard efficiency to reduce energy use, costs and emissions.

    View the case study here

articles & resources

  • A quick guide to emissions on farm

    View the booklet here

  • 20 May 2016

    Convincing producers to reduce GHG emissions with farm-specific management options

    Reprinted with permission from Agricultural Science, JAIA, vol. 27, no.2, Nov. 2015

    View the paper here

  • 20 May 2016

    Tas Farming Futures Field Day at Quercus Park Focuses on Reducing Greenhouse Gases

    By Caitlin Jarvis, March 17th 2016

    View the article here

  • 19 May 2016

    This fact sheet discusses the importance of energy and nitrogen in ruminant livestock production, including methods to increase efficiency.

    View the fact sheet here

  • 19 May 2016

    This guide provides information on planning for emissions reduction, including schemes, resources available, feed testing and nitrogen use efficiency

    View the guide here

  • 19 May 2016

    This fact sheet provides information on the benefits and management practices of biofumigation crops.

    View the fact sheet here

  • 19 May 2016

    Reducing nitrous oxide emissions on Tasmanian vegetable farms

    View the fact sheet here

  • 19 May 2016

    This fact sheet provides information on the benefits and system fit of green manure crops.

    View the fact sheet here

  • 19 May 2016

    This guide provides an overview of the condensed tannin legumes available, their attributes and function.

    View the guide here

  • 19 May 2016

    This fact sheet discusses nitrogen for crops in Tasmania, including preventing losses and an balance template

    View the fact sheet here

  • 19 May 2016

    This fact sheet provides an introduction to the benefits of biofumigation in farming systems

    View the fact sheet here

  • 19 May 2016

    This guide summarises the types of nitrogen available, their attributes and ways to reduce losses

    View the guide here

  • 19 May 2016

    Is all the excitement for the wrong reasons?

    View the fact sheet here

  • 19 May 2016

    This fact sheet provides information on the management methods of orchard floors and their benefits

    View the fact sheet here

  • 18 May 2016

    This fact sheet provides information on nitrogen use efficiency and N balance to extension officers.

    View the fact sheet here

  • 18 May 2016

    This fact sheet provides an overview of the main emissions in the fruit industry, as well as information on the Carbon Farming Initiative.

    View the fact sheet here

videos

Where does the energy in sheep and cattle feed and fodder go? What can farmers do to improve efficiency, capture more energy and reduce emissions?

Nitrogen efficiency in pasture systems is usually low but farmers can improve it, achieve higher production and reduce emissions.

Interviews

  • Tasmanian Country Hour: Richard Eckard from the University of Melbourne speaking with Sally Dakis on the Paris agreement, producing food efficiently and food security.

    View the interview here (at 31 minutes)

  • 20 May 2016

    Tasmanian Country Hour: Campania producer Andrew Beven speaks with Sally Dakis on the unanticipated productivity benefits that a stock take of green house gas emissions has delivered.

    View the interview here (at 11 minutes)

  • Tasmanian Country Hour: Rob Asselman discusses the MyCarbonFarming website, it's diverse range of carbon farming projects and relevant resources.

    View the interview here (at 20 minutes)