The country is 87per cent of the way to being carbon neutral on our sheep and beef farms.
The 1.4 million hectares of native trees, and 180,000ha of forestry plantings on our farms offsets 87per cent of our emissions. This was only the start of the good news to come out at the recent Beef + Lamb/ Crowe Horwath Carbon farming seminar.
To help farmers the Hawke's Bay Regional Council has funds and advice to get the right tree in the right place, so adding more trees may not have to cost you a whole lot.
In some circumstances, you won't have to put your hand into your pocket at all as there are funds to cover not only planting but fencing and associated costs.
The trees might be spaced poplars or willows to stabilise erosion prone slopes, natives in retired areas, or pines and other production species (even totara).