Farmers sceptical on climate change

Jan 3 2008 by Andrew Forgrave, Daily Post

ONE IN five farmers does not believe the world’s climate is warming – and almost none fear the arrival of exotic new pests.

A survey by Farming Futures, the Defra-funded climate change body, was commissioned at the end of a year which saw a dry spring, new diseases and summer floods.

It found that 19% of farmers reject the notion the world's climate is changing and fewer than 2% of farmers surveyed worry about new pests and diseases.

Moreover farmers believe new weather patterns present more threats than opportunities.

On a more positive note three-quarters of farmers have already changed their on-farm practices to reduce their impact on the environment.

Some 22% are also keen to measure their on-farm emissions.

UK environment secretary Hilary Benn said the survey showed that climate awareness among farmers is growing. He urged producers to continue responding to the challenges of a rapidly changing environment.

He said: “I look forward to now seeing the industry go further in recognising its responsibilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and in turning awareness into practical action on the ground."

Agriculture contributes 7% of the UK's greenhouse gases (67% nitrous oxide, 37% methane and 1% carbon dioxide) and farmers are likely to play a key role in meeting the government’s targets for reducing carbon emissions.

Farming Futures, launched in December 2006, is attempting to raise awareness of climate change and stimulate on-farm action.

It believes global warming presents new business opportunities for farmers and land managers – 20% of those surveyed cite new crop opportunities as a climate change benefit.

NFU president Peter Kendall said unpredictable weather will increasingly impact on global markets.

He said: “As farmers we can not afford not to rise to the challenges this presents.

“Agriculture is uniquely placed to provide solutions to the great issues of food, energy and environmental security and we need to see coherent thinking from government across its policy-making to ensure farmers can prepare for the challenges that lie ahead."

Farmers are urged to use the www.farmingfutures.org.uk website to seek out climate solutions and to speak with their farm advisers, agronomists and animal nutritionists for technical advice.

The CLA will soon make available its free, on-line Calm calculator to enable farms and estates to calculate their annual emissions and the carbon sequestration of key greenhouse gases.

Further support is available from 4,000 FACTS advisers and BASIS agronomists, said the Agricultural Industries Confederation.

Farming Futures, a collaboration between the NFU, CLA, ARF, AIC, Forum for the Future and Defra, will be relaunched at this week’s Oxford Farming Conference.

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