Livestock industry: ‘We won’t stand’ for herds to be cut

Leading members of the livestock industry agree with the Morrison government’s decision not to sign up to the Global Methane Pledge at Glasgow.

The livestock industry is broadly supportive of the Australian government’s decision not to sign up to the US and European-backed Global Methane Pledge at this week’s Glasgow summit.

The Global Methane Pledge is calling for a 30 per cent global reduction in methane emissions on 2020 levels by 2030, however the Morrison Government confirmed to The Australian last week it will not sign the pledge due to the potential impact on the agriculture sector, namely the beef industry.

Tony Mahar, National Farmers’ Federation chief executive, who is managing the issue on behalf of the beef industry, said they “don’t and won’t support policies and programs” that will limit farmers ability to grow their business and restrict investment.

“We can’t support any measures that require ag land to be taken out of production or herd numbers to be cut. We won’t stand for it,” Mr Mahar said.

“There is no case to provide greater focus on methane from livestock. In Australia we are already well down the path of reducing livestock emissions. We are advised that net zero doesn’t mean zero for enteric methane, and we know that methane in agriculture is part of a broader natural cycle.

National Farmers' Federation CEO Tony Mahar. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

“Technologies to mitigate enteric methane are well advanced, and the place of livestock in socio-economic and dietary contexts is critical.”

“Farmers must have strong public support from the Government to keep doing what they do best: producing the highest quality food and fibre.”

He said they have a clear expectation that they will be able to grow productivity and cut emissions.

NSW Farmers president James Jackson said methane was poorly understood, and it was “in the interests” of the coal and gas industry to have “a whipping boy like cows”, as methane from mining has increased but it has decreased from cattle.

“It is a good thing the government hasn’t signed up to something that will have an impact on the industry when the footprint isn’t properly understood,” Mr Jackson said.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group president Steve Harrison said farmers had adapted to climate change over the past 30 years and had done a “fair bit of the heavy lifting” so they shouldn’t be hit with any more.

“The cattle industry has been reducing emissions, and to put more regulations on us, I would question that,” Mr Harrison said.