Teagasc National Farm Survey Environmental Sustainability Indicators - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Teagasc National Farm Survey Environmental Sustainability Indicators

Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS)  Annual, nationally representative dataset  Approx. 900 farms each year  Dairy, Cattle, Sheep, Tillage  Originally focused on farm accounts • EU Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN)  Increasingly detailed physical data • Emphasis on environmental impacts 2 Teagasc Presentation Footer

NFS Sustainability Indicators  Annual metrics to describe farm-level sustainability  Environmental, Economic, Social, Innovation  2 main environmental indicators in 2015 report • Greenhouse Gas Emissions • Nitrogen Balance 3 Teagasc Presentation Footer

Greenhouse Gas Emissions  On farm energy and fuel use  Agricultural Emissions

GHG emissions and profitability  Emissions efficiency of production  Variation between farms Agricultural Emissions Energy Emissions 6 Teagasc Presentation Footer

Nitrogen Balance  Nitrogen inputs • Purchased feed and livestock • Synthetic fertiliser application • Manure transfers  Nitrogen outputs • Crop and livestock sales • Livestock products 7 Teagasc Presentation Footer

N balance and profitability  N application sig. production input  Efficiency of N applied varies Nitrogen surplus Milk output per surplus N 8 Teagasc Presentation Footer

Trends over time  E.g. Nitrogen balance • Highlights variations in performance, and underlying market/meteorological effects

Conclusions  The NFS can provide an excellent source for environmental metrics  Link to finances and management • Highlight underlying drivers • Scope for improvements or support  On-going work to improve accuracy and add further important indicators 10 Teagasc Presentation Footer