Demonstration projects for on-farm practical methane management strategies: UWA Ridgefield

Summary

​There has been considerable investment nationally and internationally in research to reduce methane emissions from livestock.  Until the late 1990s this has largely been directed at incremental increases in productivity, recognising that methane essentially represents energy lost from production systems, and adoption has been market-driven.  However there has been no large breakthrough and there are currently no practical, cost-effective technologies or practices that give a substantial reduction in emissions while maintaining productivity.   The Reducing Emissions from Livestock Research Program aims, through an integrated Research, Development and Demonstration program, to achieve the Australia's Farming Future outcome: Primary producers are equipped with the knowledge, tools and strategies to manage their emissions including the ability to respond to the commercial imperatives arising from emissions trading.  In order for the Program to show that research outcomes can be developed for commercial applications, and to promote uptake by the industry, demonstration sites have been used to engage with livestock producers and ensure that the research is directed to practical on-farm practices and measures. Livestock production systems in Australia are highly varied and the most effective abatement measures will likely vary between different production systems.  UWA Future Farm, Ridgefield, was one of the regional sites established as part of the Program to ensure commercial applications and to promote farmer acceptance and adoption. We held two key field days during the programme and engaged with producers through key State Agricultural field days, university open days and local producer groups.  We also ensured that some of the research activities within the Program were being undertaken on the Future Farm to make the field days relevant.​