NSW DPIRD On-Farm Carbon Advice Newsletter
May 2025
Welcome to the latest news and updates from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) On-Farm Carbon Advice project!
Workshop Highlights: Carbon Farming Fundamentals at the Carbon Market Institute Forum
The On-farm Carbon Advice team was proud to deliver the Carbon Farming Fundamentals workshop as part of the pre-forum program for the Carbon Market Institute’s (CMI) Carbon Farming Industry Forum held from 6-8 May in Lennox Head.
The workshop was attended by various industry and government stakeholders from across Australia. It provided a valuable platform to share insights from the farmer’s perspective - highlighting influences such as global, national, corporate and consumer targets and expectations, and the challenges faced, for example implementing measurable management practices that can reduce or avoid on-farm emissions but also maintain productivity. Feedback from participants was positive and reinforcing the importance of practical carbon farming practices for on-farm emissions avoidance, reduction and sequestration with multiple co-benefits for agricultural productivity and the environment.
The Carbon Farming Industry Forum, a two-day event, focused this year on the theme: “Scaling Carbon, Nature, and Investment.” The forum featured dynamic conversations around methodologies and development delays, the role of farmers in carbon markets, verification, transparency and the barriers to project implementation and maintenance. Nature-related topics were a particular focus, reflecting the growing interest in integrated environmental outcomes.
New Resource for Landholders
CMI's Landholder Guidance and Checklist for Carbon Farming
The CMI has developed a resource to support farmers considering carbon farming projects: Guidance for Landholders: A Checklist for Partnering on Carbon Farming Projects. You can access the checklist here
This checklist is designed to help landholders, when they are considering carbon farming projects under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme, make informed decisions when partnering with a third party.
The CMI and the Australian Carbon Industry Code of Conduct are hosting a webinar on Tuesday, 27 May from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM (AEST) to obtain feedback on the checklist.. Register for the webinar here
Alternatively direct feedback can be given here
Grant opportunity – Low Carbon Landscapes Grant
The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water have opened a Low Carbon Landscape grant, closing on 7 August 2025, opened to farmers and other land managers.
Kickstart local carbon projects with up to $1 million in funding from the NSW Government.
You can apply for a Low Carbon Landscapes grant if your project targets a landscape of at least 3,000ha. The grant round will help overcome barriers in the early stages of project development and support investment-readiness.
Eligible public and private organisations can apply. Check your eligibility online and sign up for the information session on Thursday 29 May.
Upcoming events
Trangie Agricultural Research Centre is hosting a Livestock Emissions Field Day
Thursday 24 July 2025, 9am – 4pm
NSW DPIRD invites you to attend a field day on the topic lowering emissions in livestock systems. You will hear from experts on low methane sheep and beef projects, pasture and grazing management techniques, information on feed additives, and general information on carbon and emissions.
The low methane beef and sheep projects are in collaboration with Meat and Livestock Australia, Angus Australia, Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit and University of New England.
Carbon Farming CommPrac
The Carbon Farming Community of Practice (CommPrac) hosted by the On-Farm Carbon Advice Team, is an independent hub of trusted information focused on the core principles of emission management and carbon farming. This CommPrac offers a comprehensive knowledge bank of resources, regular newsletters, and an engaging webinar series. The empower farmers with confidence to make informed decisions about carbon farming opportunities.
This webinar series showcases current policy work and research undertaken by NSW DPIRD in the space of low emissions agriculture.
The next webinars are:
- low methane sheep – 11 June
- low methane beef, - 30 July
- nitrogen efficiency and novel fertilisers – August 2025
- opportunities to replace fossil fuels with renewable options – September 2025.
To register your interest for our webinar series, or to watch the recordings of our previous webinars click here
- Matthew Newell and Richard Meyer talking about designing pastures mixes to reduce emissions
- Dr Warwick Badgery speaking about soil carbon, its limits, and opportunities, and
- Dr Aaron Simmons speaking about low emissions agriculture, its drivers, opportunities and risks
Interesting Read Exploring Low-Methane Pasture
Agronomic performance, herbage quality, methane yield
and methane emission potential of pasture mixtures
A recent published study by NSW DPIRD researchers sheds light on how different pasture mixtures can influence livestock methane emissions. This is an important step toward lower emissions in agriculture and grazing systems.
Over three years, researchers evaluated 33 pasture combinations across two NSW sites, focusing on:
- Agronomic performance
- Feed quality
- Methane emission potential
Key findings include:
- Plantain and biserrula showed strong methane-reducing potential due to high levels of natural compounds like saponins and condensed tannins—though both struggled with persistence.
- Chicory-based pastures stood out for their productivity and feed quality.
- Balansa clover and biserrula had the highest levels of methane-suppressing compounds.
This research highlights the potential of targeted pasture selection to reduce emissions while maintaining productivity. However, long-term viability and adaptability of these species remain key challenges.