Hereford Monitor Farm meeting

At this Hereford Monitor Farm meeting, Harley Stoddart, Toby Townsend & Rob Waterson will lead discussion how carbon calculation can assist arable farmers in managing their zero carbon targets.

The Hereford Monitor farmers have all done a full carbon audit and we will discuss how they approached this process, interrogate their data and discuss their own carbon management plans. 

Climate change is arguably the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today and British farmers are all too aware of the increasingly frequent weather extremes. Consequently, farmers have a special responsibility to protect carbon reserves already in soils and vegetation. 
 
As highlighted in the Government's 25-year environmental strategy and by its 'net zero' greenhouse gases emissions target, farmers must prepare their businesses for the pending deadlines.  
 

Harley Stoddard, Senior Agri-Environmental Scientist at AHDB help us by explaining:

• Carbon terminology and myth busting
• What is carbon and why is it rising on the farming/political agenda now?
• How does agriculture compare to other industries?
• Carbon terminology and myth busting
• Emissions, sequestration & stores
• How does the Cereals & Oilseeds sector compare against other sectors?
• What emissions would you expect in a cereals & oilseeds crop?
• Understanding how carbon audits can help farm businesses to make strategic decisions
• Which carbon measurement tool to use and why?

Toby Townsend, Senior Consultant of Sustainable Food and Farming at ADAS will lead discussion around:

• What was involved in the Monitor Farm carbon audit
• Analysis of the Hereford Monitor Farmers’ carbon figures
• Making a realistic management plan to reduce carbon on arable farms

Rob Waterston, arable farmer from Newbury will discuss:

• Introduction to Welford Park Estate
• Carbon sequestration at my farm
• How do I aim to manage/reduce my carbon emissions?
• What tools have I used and what are my observations of the process and output?
• What do my figures look like and how have I made an informed management plan on the back of them?

BASIS and NRoSO points will be available.