Carbon farming for primary producers
Carbon farming encompasses landscape, seascape, forestry, and livestock management activities that:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock and fertilisers.
- Enhance carbon sequestration (the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide) in soil, vegetation, and blue carbon ecosystems.
The South Australian Government is working with stakeholders to build the knowledge and capacity needed to increase carbon farming in our state. PIRSA will work with partners on implementing actions of the Carbon Farming Roadmap.
Carbon farming examples
Carbon farming projects are specific to the local context, considering your production systems, business or personal preferences, and the financial opportunities available.
It can be a single change in land management, or a combination of methods within an integrated plan. Consider the below examples of carbon farming for your farm.
Sequestration activities
Sequestration activities
Options include, but are not limited to:
- replanting native forests
- farm-based forestry – integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural systems to increase carbon storage
- cover cropping – planting cover crops like grasses and legumes between main crops to protect and enrich the soil
- reduced tillage – minimising soil disturbance to maintain soil structure and organic matter
- composting and mulching – adding organic matter to the soil to enhance carbon sequestration and improve soil health
- rotational grazing – moving livestock between pastures to allow vegetation to recover and sequester more carbon.
Emissions reduction activities
Emissions reduction activities
Options include, but are not limited to:
- reducing methane emissions from livestock
- managing manure
- reducing emissions from fertilisers.
Co-benefits and opportunities
Carbon farming has the ability to generate a range of co-benefits for landholders, primary producers, and regional communities.
Find out more about how you can leverage your farmland.
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Growing Carbon Farming Pilot
See the successful carbon farming projects highlighting co-benefits that are possible in multiple SA regions.
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Carbon market opportunities
Learn how your farm can improve market access, access carbon offsets, and engage with emerging environmental markets.
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Understand your carbon footprint
The first step in recognising your potential for carbon farming is to know the carbon footprint of your property.
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Industry support
The Australian Government's Carbon Farming Outreach Program (CFOP) aims to:
- Support farmers and land managers to make decisions to reduce emissions and store carbon.
- Build capacity of trusted and independent advisers to deliver advice to farmers and land managers.
- Provide access to clear and culturally appropriate information on carbon farming.
The CFOP program includes a training package and grants for advisers to help farm businesses across Australia.
