New carbon footprint estimates for key agricultural enterprises

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.

We would like to hear about your use of this data, please get in touch with us at agric.stats@gov.scot.

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Official statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics