Agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions drop to new low

Crippling drought and floods have forced agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions to drop in 2019, due to a reduction in the national herd.

CRIPPLING drought has caused agricultural greenhouse gas emissions to drop almost six per cent in the past year.

The latest quarterly update of Australia’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory shows declining herds of cattle and sheep due to the drought and the north Queensland floods has led to a 5.8 per cent decrease in emissions from the sector for 2019.

The figures, released today, show overall agriculture made up 12.9 per cent of Australia’s total emissions inventory, with 68 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents for the year – the lowest figure since 2001.

Electricity remains the largest contributor at 32.9 per cent. Overall emissions were down 0.9 per cent from the previous year.

Agricultural emissions primarily come from methane and nitrous oxide in manure, rice cultivation, fertilisers and crop residues, and field burning.

The reduction in livestock due to increased grain costs and poor grazing conditions because of the drought was the main factor in agriculture’s lower emissions, according to the report.

“The lack of feed available led to elevated levels of turn-off of both sheep and cattle resulting in a contraction in the Australian national herd and flock,” the report stated.

“Floods in Queensland in early 2019 also led to a significant loss of cattle.”

High water prices and low availability of irrigation water also meant rice production was reduced; while low-level soil moisture meant less cropping.

While agriculture emissions are now at a low, they have remained relatively steady over the past decade.

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