Case Study: Farm Carbon Audit
Herefordshire Farm Carbon Project: Leading Sustainable Agriculture
FARM CARBON AUDITING PROJECT AT A GLANCE
In collaboration with Herefordshire Council’s Greener Footprints Initiative and the Herefordshire Climate and Nature Partnership Board, a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment was conducted across 46 diverse farms in the county.
The project aimed to establish baseline carbon emissions and identify opportunities for reduction across various farming types and sizes.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a comprehensive audit and benchmarking project to establish the carbon footprints of farms throughout the county.
client
Greener footprints Herefordshire
location
Herefordshire
Methodology
Utilisation of IPCC and PAS2050 accredited
calculator for consistency
Single experienced assessor with extensive
agricultural background to ensure uniform data
collection and interpretation
In-person report delivery and walkthrough to
facilitate understanding and discussion
Comprehensive benchmarking against similar
enterprises nationwide
Stakeholder engagement through farm events
to share findings and foster collaboration
Guidance on available grants to support carbon
efficiency improvements
Key findings
Carbon reduction potential identified across
all farm sizes
Integrated and mixed farming systems demonstrated lower carbon footprints
Grasslands play a crucial role in carbon sequestration
Significant impact of woodland and hedgerows
on overall carbon balance
Importance of detailed record-keeping for
accurate assessment and improvement tracking
The fundamental role of comprehensive
Nutrient Management Planning, including:
– Soil organic matter analysis
– On-farm manure testing
– Efficient use of on-farm organic materials
– Reduction in artificial inputes
Metrics
12,000
Farms benchmarked for comparison
12,500
Hectares covered
46
Farms assessed
Drive Compliance and Productivity on Your Farm – Contact Us
Project Team Leader
Jonathan Lloyd
Agricultural Consultant, 4R Reassurance
Jonathan works closely with farmers to develop their bespoke Nutrient Management Plans and Carbon Reports.
Jonathan’s qualifications include FACTS and WAMITAB and he has worked in practical farm management on a range of mixed farms for many years, along with recycling organic materials to land. Therefore, he understands farm systems and can ensure advice is bespoke to individual farms.
Jonathan’s qualifications include FACTS and WAMITAB and he has worked in practical farm management on a range of mixed farms for many years, along with recycling organic materials to land. Therefore, he understands farm systems and can ensure advice is bespoke to individual farms.
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Our 4R Reassurance agricultural services are available individually or as a bespoke farm support package.
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