New average carbon footprint estimates for beef, sheep, milk and
cereal production in Scotland have been released. These are
average emission intensity estimates for enterprises (activities)
on farms in the Farm Business Survey.
In 2023-24 the average beef emission intensity for livestock farm
types in the Farm Business Survey ranged from 30.9 to 32.8
kgCO2e/kg dwt. Average sheep emission intensity was
higher on Less Favoured Area sheep farms (35.5
kgCO2e/kg dwt) than on lowland cattle and sheep
farms (25.2 kgCO2e/kg dwt). On dairy farms, the
average emission intensity for milk production was 1.3
kgCO2e/kg FPC milk in 2023-24. This is an increase of
2% from the previous year, as average milk yields fell. Lower
productivity is associated with higher emission intensities.
Emission intensity for cereals production in 2023-24 increased on
cereal (by 14% to 258 kgCO2e/tonne crop) and general
cropping farms (by 7% to 241 kgCO2e/tonne crop),
compared with the previous year. The rise was mostly driven by
increased emissions from fertiliser and manure. Fertiliser usage
rates rose in 2023-24 as prices fell from their peak in 2022-23.
The report includes estimates of total emissions for agricultural
sub-sectors. While total agriculture emissions continued at their
lowest levels in 2023 at around 7.5 MtCO2e, arable
farming saw the largest increase in emissions (by 5% to 1.5
MtCO2e). Emissions for suckler beef, dairy, sheep and
dairy beef sub-sectors fell by 1% each, compared with the
previous year.
Estimates of nitrogen use at farm level show an increase in
nitrogen balance (input minus output) and a decrease in nitrogen
use efficiency on the average farm compared to the previous year.
Similar results are seen for most farm types and generally driven
by increased fertiliser and high energy feed inputs. Falling
cereal outputs, where lower yields can lead to nitrogen
accumulation in the soil, also drove increases in nitrogen
balance.
Background
The full statistical publication with supporting data tables is
available at:
Scottish agriculture
greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen use: 2023-24
Results for the agriculture sector, along with national
greenhouse gas emissions, were released in the publication. The
report includes new subsector analysis based on methodology developed by
SRUC . Subsector analysis allocates total Scottish Greenhouse
Gas Statistics emissions from agriculture to subsectors that
align more closely with agricultural enterprises.
Farm level results are calculated from the 2023-24 Farm Business
Survey, which covered the 2023 cropping year and the 2023-24
financial year. The Farm Business Survey is an annual survey of
approximately 400 commercial farms with economic activity of at
least approximately £20,000. Farms which do not receive support
payments, such as pigs, poultry and horticulture, are not
included in the survey. On-farm emissions are estimated using a
life cycle assessment (LCA) based carbon calculator (Agrecalc).
Enterprise estimates are not weighted to the 2023 June
Agricultural Census and represent sample averages of farms in
Farm Business Survey. Nitrogen estimates are based on standard
estimates of nitrogen content in all farm inputs and outputs
where possible.
More information is available at: Methodology
The data are designated as official statistics in development.
They are being released to involve users in our assessment of the
suitability and quality of the data.
