Key messages
- Large companies, banks and exporters must now report their Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and many producers will soon be asked to provide emissions data to their buyers
- Farmers who know their emissions numbers will be ready for these new requirements and market opportunities
- While emissions reporting is becoming part of doing business in agriculture, it’s also a practical way to run a more efficient, profitable farm by identifying inefficiencies, cutting input costs, and helping improve long-term farm performance
- There are a number of simple, free, Australian emissions calculators that can support farmers to track their emissions
Across the Riverine Plains, farmers are already adapting to changing seasons, market pressures, and tighter margins.
Measuring farm emissions is becoming part of that process, not just as an environmental obligation, but as a way to understand how the business performs and where efficiencies can be gained. Knowing where emissions come from can highlight inefficiencies, guide input decisions, and help strengthen long-term resilience on-farm.
Agricultural emissions are the gases released through farming activities that contribute to climate change. The main ones are:
When reporting emissions, it’s important to understand the three scopes used internationally:
Knowing these categories matters because new regulations, including the Mandatory Climate-Related Financial Disclosure, will require large companies to report against all three scopes. This means that buyers will increasingly need credible data from their suppliers, including primary producers. More information on this is available via Australian Treasury – Climate Disclosure Framework (2024).
Emissions reporting is becoming part of doing business in agriculture, but it’s also a practical way to run a more efficient, profitable farm. By identifying “hotspots” such as fuel, fertiliser or manure-generated emissions, farmers can cut waste and input costs.
GRDC trials show that better, or more timely nitrogen management can lower fertiliser costs by up to 20 percent without affecting yield.
Tracking emissions also prepares producers for new market and compliance expectations. Increasingly, major buyers and exporters are requesting this data under upcoming financial disclosure rules, and those who already measure their footprint will be ready to respond.
Beyond compliance, understanding emissions will help farmers plan for the future, access carbon and finance opportunities, and build long-term farm resilience.
Not yet. In 2025 the Australian Government introduced voluntary standards for estimating and reporting agricultural emissions.
However, under the new Mandatory Climate-Related Financial Disclosure regime, large companies, banks and exporters must now report their Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions across the entire supply chain.
As a result, many producers will soon be asked to provide data to their buyers.
In short: it isn’t mandatory today, but it’s quickly becoming part of doing business in agriculture.
Record key operational information:
Several Australian-based emissions calculators are available to estimate direct and indirect farm emissions.
They rely on official National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) factors and methods consistent with international standards.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), together with the Carbon Farming Outreach Program (CFOP), has prepared an official summary table comparing these calculators, showing their coverage, data requirements and suitability for different farming systems (grains, livestock, dairy or mixed).
3. Interpret the resultsEmissions are expressed in tCO₂-e, but what matters most is the trend over time or the emission intensity (e.g. kg CO₂-e per tonne of grain).
A hypothetical on-farm example
Imagine a Riverine Plains mixed farmer who starts tracking fuel, fertiliser and crop rotations after attending a local training or information session. After reviewing the data, they find that 30% of emissions come from nitrogen fertiliser use. By fine-tuning application rates, adding a legume rotation and recalibrating equipment, the farm cuts emissions by 15 percent and saves about $18/ha in input costs, with no yield loss.
This example is hypothetical, but it reflects realistic outcomes achievable through better nitrogen and fuel management.
Once emissions are measured, the real value comes from applying that information to improve efficiency and soil health. The table below shows how different emission sources can lead to practical on-farm actions.
|
Emission data shows |
Meaning |
What you can do |
Expected benefits |
|
High nitrous oxide (N₂O) from soils |
Over-application or poor timing of nitrogen fertiliser |
Base N rates on soil testing; use stabilised fertilisers or nitrification inhibitors; include legumes or cover crops |
Lower fertiliser costs, improved soil fertility, reduced N losses |
|
Significant methane (CH₄) from livestock |
Inefficient digestion or low-quality feed |
Improve forage quality; manage grazing rotations; trial natural feed additives |
Better feed conversion, healthier animals, reduced methane per kg of product |
|
Rising CO₂ from fuel or electricity |
Heavy machinery use or inefficient energy systems |
Maintain machinery; reduce unnecessary passes; switch to renewable or efficient energy |
Lower fuel bills and emissions |
|
Low soil carbon levels |
Limited groundcover or soil disturbance |
Maintain continuous cover; reduce tillage; reforest marginal areas or plant native shelterbelts |
Improved soil structure, moisture retention, and long-term productivity |
|
No clear year-to-year trend |
Inconsistent data collection |
Record emissions annually and review results with an adviser |
Track improvements, demonstrate progress to buyers or financiers |
As mandatory climate reporting rolls out for large companies, market access and potential premiums will increasingly depend on credible on-farm data. Farmers who know their numbers will not only be ready to meet buyer expectations but can also use that information to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen their business for the future.
If you’d like to learn more about measuring and reducing on-farm emissions, or explore opportunities under Australia’s carbon farming framework, visit our Carbon Farming Outreach Program or contact Sayra Samudio at sayra@riverineplains.org.au.