"Although our farmers are resilient and dedicated environmental stewards, tackling
the reduction of emissions isn't going to be easy."
The action is in partnership with Fonterra, has the support of the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry for the Environment - and has been recognised by the Green Party as a step in the right direction.
Having completed this first course, I will be better placed to discuss with farmers the politics around global emissions reduction agreements and our national inventory, as well as the commitment made by the New Zealand Government under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.
Where to start
On a practical level, I can talk to farmers about what greenhouse gas emissions on a farm are - methane, formed when ruminant animals burp, and nitrous oxide formed when nitrogen (largely from urine) escapes into the atmosphere.
I can also update farmers on the role of Overseer software in calculating emissions, and discuss how they can help offset these emissions through good animal management, tree planting, better soil management and reducing nitrogen leaching.
There are some win-wins for farmers. DairyNZ has long focused on the financial benefits to a farm from improved herd reproductive performance - now there are potential reductions in emissions from the reduced replacement rate improvements to mating performance allows.
Farmers are also keen to hear about science-based endeavours, such as the promising research into a methane-inhibiting vaccine.
Although our farmers are resilient and dedicated environmental stewards, tackling the reduction of emissions isn't going to be easy. This is why a Government-supported, integrated approach must be taken to all the challenges facing dairy - from climate change and animal welfare, to the protection of waterways - and all the while maintaining a profitable dairy industry.
World leader
The dairy action dovetails with what's being done under the Biological Emissions Reference Group, a joint sector and Government reference group whose purpose is to build robust evidence on what can be done on-farm to reduce emissions, and to assess the costs and opportunities of doing so.
The dairy action also complements the the work dairy farmers have voluntarily undertaken under the Sustainable Dairying Water Accord.
While New Zealand's agricultural output of greenhouse gas doesn't look good as a percentage of this country's emissions, it must be understood it is accentuated because we have a relatively small population, we are not heavily industrialised, and a large amount of our primary energy already comes from renewable resources.
In other developed countries where there are larger populations the greater contribution is from the transport, manufacturing, construction and energy sectors.
We're acknowledged as a world leader for efficiently producing milk, based on greenhouse gas per unit of milksolid, as identified in a 2010 report from the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation.
This is the result of our dairy cattle being healthier and largely grass-fed, unlike animals in many other agricultural countries fed grains and other supplements that must be harvested and transported to the farm, thereby creating additional greenhouse gas emissions.
Added to this, their animals are often housed in barns, sometimes year around, not just over winter.
Dairy farmers can be proud they are efficient producers of high-quality food feeding millions of people in New Zealand and around the world.
Helen Moodie is Northland catchment engagement leader for DairyNZ
