A new sustainability survey of Irish farming for 2021 shows greenhouse gas emissions from Irish farms continued to rise, as livestock rates went up.
The 2021 Sustainability Report published by farm advisory and research body Teagasc found the dairy sector's greenhouse gas emissions rose last year due to an increase in average herd size.
Dairy output and incomes also increased.
Greenhouse gas emissions from cattle, sheep and tillage farms also increased in 2021 on the back of higher livestock stocking rates.
The spreading of lime by farmers added to the rise in emissions overall.
Lime is spread to improve soil condition, release nutrients and decrease the need for additional nitrogen fertiliser.
The authors of the report also note positive developments.
Ammonia emissions showed some decline in 2021 relative to preceding years, across the majority of farm systems on a farm level and per hectare basis.
On average, ammonia emissions, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, fell even on dairy farms in 2021 in spite of their increase in agricultural output.
The driver of reduced ammonia emissions is the continuing increase in the adoption of low-emissions slurry spreading (LESS).
LESS involves spreading slurry in lines direct to the soil surface or beneath the soil surface.
In aggregate terms, 48% of all slurry was applied using a LESS approach in 2021, compared to 38% in 2020. For dairy farms the comparable figure was 74%.
This week a cross-industry dairy group reconvenes to try and agree recommendations for Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue on how to first stabilise and then reduce GHG emissions from the dairy sector.
