It is becoming clear that, in time, farmers will receive a payment linked to the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere through their soils and hedgerows. Recognition of this at international level marks a significant departure from the once widely held view that such a function could only be afforded to forestry. It has taken over two decades for the omission to be recognised; it could be another decade before it is rectified.

Regardless of the time frame, change is coming. In Australia, the government, through its voluntary Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), is already purchasing carbon credits linked to the capture and storage of carbon in soils. This additional income sits alongside that secured by farmers from the production of crops and/or livestock.

In the US, environmental policy is shifting. At the core of a series of documents released last week on how the Biden administration would fight climate change was a suggestion to establish and expand programmes to encourage farmers to draw down atmospheric carbon into soils. It was recommended that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) use the government’s Commodity Credit Corporation to create a “carbon bank” that would offer carbon credits. A $1bn pilot project would purchase credits at $20/t. Having identified agriculture in his campaign as the industry with the potential to become the first net zero carbon industry in the US, the concept is likely to win favour with president-elect Biden.

Moves are also afoot in the EU – but at a slower pace. In the Farm to Fork strategy, the concept of a certificate scheme to allow companies pay farmers for carbon sequestered through agriculture and forestry is floated.

As reported last week, the EU 2030 climate target plan discusses how all carbon removed from the atmosphere via soils, trees and hedgerows will be set against emissions from agriculture. This would allow sectoral emissions be based on a net rather than a gross figure, which ignores the ability of farm land to sequester carbon.

Policymakers must ensure the mistakes that created a totally inequitable food supply chain are not repeated

Last week, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue announced the establishment of a national agriculture, soil and carbon observatory. As we report this week, it will see Teagasc commence intensive monitoring of carbon emissions and removals across a range of soil types. Devenish through its work in Dowth is well advanced in this area.

The direction of travel at international, EU and national level is positive, but farmers must not see themselves as passive observers, allowing others shape the policy direction. Our farm leaders must be fully engaged and armed with the expertise to set out clear policy demands. A properly constructed carbon trading scheme that rewards carbon stored and sequestered in agricultural soils and hedgerows has the potential to significantly rebalance farmers’ power in the supply chain and generate a significant additional income stream.

However, it is this potential to rebalance power and the scale of financial dividend that will see vested interest groups trying to shape policy to maintain the status quo – where farmers are price takers from those operating either side of the farm gate.

At this stage, farmers can influence how governments move to shape what are rapidly evolving global markets. These markets must be properly structured to ensure farmers are protected before they inevitably move into the hands of the private sector. Policymakers must ensure the mistakes that created a totally inequitable food supply chain are not repeated.

Farmers must also watch the methodology used when calculating the level of carbon retained and sequestered in soils and hedgerows. National measurement is a positive but Ireland should form alliances with other grass-based regions of the world to develop a robust and standardised measurement methodology – one that is not just accepted by the International Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) but also recognised by the WTO. With carbon labelling and consumption taxes on the horizon, carbon could quickly become entangled in trade and market access.

The challenges must not take away from the ambition. The recognition of the role played by soils and hedgerows is a positive development. Yes, the science is still unsettled but the direction of travel is clear and hypothesis well proven. Should Ireland now express the same ambition as US president-elect Joe Biden – to invest in realising the ambition of making our agricultural sector carbon-neutral and our farmers truly sustainable?

How refreshing that when we here in Ireland have had a drip-drip media diet of agriculture being “the problem”, president-elect Biden sees “such an opportunity”. With the EU and the US setting the pace, it’s time for us to jump aboard with more urgency and ambition, with farmers at the heart of it.

Dairy days: food for thought at virtual dairy events

We must say a big thank you to all those farmers and industry representatives who helped make the Irish Farmers Journal Virtual Dairy Day happen. It was enlightening to see the mix of practical on-farm innovation on calf housing, livestock handling and sward management technology. That innovation aligned with an industry perspective looking back on some of the major investments and forward into what might determine the shape of future developments made for interesting viewing.

Comments from Dairygold CEO Jim Woulfe on the need to push dairy products further up the value chain will be welcomed by farmers. As ever, we would appreciate your thoughts on how we could further develop Dairy Day.

Meanwhile, the Teagasc virtual conference shone a light on where its thinking is going. It is good to see Teagasc bringing more environmental measurement and targets into the roadmap for dairying. As we report this week, nitrogen usage and response rates were a focus of attention.

For dairy farmers, it probably wasn’t quite clear where the artificial nitrogen might be taken out of the system without affecting farm profits. Again, the theory around clover and grass swards sounds promising but it’s crystal clear a very high level of grassland management is required.

Farm buildings: grant aid funding vital to support farm development

Also this week, the important role played by grant aid programmes that support investment in farm infrastructure and new technologies that enhance efficiencies of production is clear to be seen.

The Whelehan family have made a significant investment in a suckler unit that will not only improve their farming enterprise, it will also safeguard the family farm structure and allow work to be carried out in a safe and efficient manner.

It is important to acknowledge the role this funding plays in promoting spending in rural Ireland and supporting such a wide network of employment outside of agriculture.

For the building in question, more than eight companies benefited from the TAMS investment. The Department of Agriculture should not be behind the door in raising these knock-on benefits when formulating a budget under the next Rural Development Plan.

Securing funding for TAMS in 2021 has been a positive development. Clarity around how the scheme will work after tranche 20 closes in mid-January would be another hugely positive step to allow farmers make longer term business decisions with some level of accuracy.

Tillage: EU decision not to regulate straw from Britain questionable

The decision to introduce regulations on plant products coming into the EU from Britain in new trade arrangements is understandable. The decision to not include imported straw as a regulated plant product is less so given that it is a proven source of blackgrass importation and possibly a carrier of yellow rust strains that emerged first in Britain.

It is a direct threat to the sustainability of tillage farming and it is expanding the number of specific weed problems that must be addressed with even more herbicide at a time when the reduced use of, and dependence on, herbicides is being encouraged. The importation of any product that increases production costs or that threatens a native industry should be regulated. Blackgrass should be treated as a noxious weed, if not an invasive weed, given the threat it poses to commercial tillage producers.

Read more

Commission suggestions for countries’ CAP plans due at Christmas

Watch: farm incomes and environment to the fore in new agri-food strategy