THE FUTURE OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IS LIKELY NOW TO BE:
"IF YOU SAVE IT OR REDUCE IT AND CAN PROVE IT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SELL IT!"
The Australian global target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by the year 2050.
Bimbadeen aims to reduce emissions from animals (20%), soils (10%), energy & machinery (5%), with a total of 35% by 2020. The remaining 25% to reach the Australian target will be achieved by our annual tree planting program and management.
"By applying best management practices for grazing cattle, balanced nutrition and fertiliser we can reduce both methane and nitrous oxide emissions and improve the efficiency of production.
A potential win win opportunity." (Richard Eckard, ILFR, The University of Melbourne)
In May 2002, Bob and Anne Davie were invited with others in the Bass Valley and the Candowie/Lance Creek Landcare Groups to be participants in Landcare Australia's Greenhouse Challenge. Moragh Mackay was the facilitator of this unique initiative.
View the Video of the Davie Family's "Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia - Farmers Case Study"
National “Carbon Cocky” Awards 2019. Carbon Farmers of Australia.
Finalist. Outstanding Achievement in Soil Carbon Sequestration.
Finalist. Outstanding Achievement in Soil Carbon Leadership.
Finalist and Winner. Outstanding Performance in Carbon Trading Innovation.
Finalist in National Carbon Cocky Carbon Awards 2011 for Outstanding Best Practice.
Finalist in National Carbon Cocky Awards 2011 for Outstanding Innovation or Invention.
Winner at National Carbon Cocky Awards 2011 for Outstanding Innovation or Invention.
We prepared an Emission Inventory Assessment and Action Plan as prescribed by the Challenge.
Bimbadeen is a 200 hectare property situated on Phillip Island. It was run as a dairy farm from 1954 to 1968. Since that time it has been breeding Brangus cattle and selling its genetics and now also Angus cattle. The property has low undulating land with 3 main soil types. These are Phillip Island soils which are rich, red and found on top of hills and Flinders soils: brown buckshot and found on sides of slopes. The other soil found on Bimbadeen is Merricks soil and this is grey/black and found on flats and lower slopes and this is the salt affected land.
Approximately 40 hectares are salt affected as a result of land clearing in the middle of last century. The saline paddocks are being sown to salt tolerant pasterures now drainage issues have been addressed. The saline areas have been mapped with EM38 and EM32 technology. There has been extensive tree planting over 15 years and 2.000 trees are planted annually. The yearly average temperature is 15.2 degrees Celsius and yearly rainfall an average of 785 mm.
THE GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS ASSESSMENTS COVERED:
• Continuous Grazing
• Animals
• Energy
• Vegetation Management
BIMBADEEN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION STRATEGIES: Continuous Grazing
Bimbadeen now has approximately 92 paddocks, averaging 2 heactares in area. Cattle are moved every 2 days. Since 2002 there has been a reduction in the use of fertiliser and lime has been applied. There is also trialling with chicken litter.
Cattle
• Cattle numbers have been reduced.
• Cell grazing has been introduced.
• Different species of dung beetles are now present.
• Genetics are selected for high feed conversion. The ratio is monitored through Breed Plan and this is ongoing.
• Pasture selection is species specific for maximum utilisation.
• Molasses is fed from time to time to improve digestion.
Animals
It was necessary to provide details of stock numbers i.e the number of bulls, steers, cows, heifers and the methane output from the livestock was calculated. Calf methane output is based on emissions from birth to 3 months of age. Methane from livestock represents 86.5% of total farm emissions. Animals that have an efficient energy use are likely to have lower methane emissions. Emissions produced per kilogram of meat on the farm are less by having an efficient pasture to meat ratio. Bimbadeen will be using grapemark and recycled vegetable oil to reduce methane emissions with our animals. Bimbadeen has been testing their cattle since the inception of Breed Plan and GeneSTAR with continued improvement. (Refer to Breedplan figures and GeneSTAR DNA Testing of star rating for Feed Efficiency.)
Energy
This component is divided into: Vehicles, Waste Products, Building and Equipment.
Vehicles included tractors, trucks and 4 wheel farm bike. Tillage is minimal. Tillage makes up 40% of total use of fuel on farms. We are more conscious of ongoing maintenance of the tractors as this means less fuel use because of greater fuel efficiency. The farm bike is used whenever possible. We have introduced strategies to improve energy consumption in our home, resulting in smaller power bills. Waste minimisation is ongoing with recycling and composting. Silage wrap is taken to an off farm facility for recycling.
Vegetation Management
Vegetation management is one of the major keys to a greenhouse friendly farm. Sequestering carbon dioxide together with soil retention, habitat creation and stock protection are savings in their own right but also contribute to a reduction in methane and nitrous oxide emisssion through indirect means. Bimbadeen has fenced remnant areas and there is as stated previously, an ongoing tree planting program.
Soil Management Since completing a Master Soil Class Course, Bimbadeen soil is managed using Biological Soil Technology. These techniques protect soil carbon and reduce leaching of other soil nutrients.
We continue to be actively involved in Landcare Australia and other networks and education programs to learn more about Greenhouse and Climate Change in Australia and at Bimbadeen we annually record our emission reduction strategy which is included in an EMS audit update.
CONCLUSION We believe that landowners will increasingly be required to audit their on farm activities and determine how they impact on the environment. We are very mindful of the potential impact our actions have on the environment.
Bimbadeen aims to reduce emissions from animals (20%), soils (10%), energy & machinery (5%), with a total of 35% by 2020. The remaining 25% to reach the Australian target will be achieved by our annual tree planting program and management. Our aim is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and thus our carbon footprint by 35% over the next 12 years, with the overall goal of being a carbon neutral farming enterprise.
Bimbadeen was declared Carbon Neutral in July 2014 and will remain so by Carbon Sequestration in their Soils.
