Programme launched to help farmers reduce carbon footprint

A new programme led by The Lancashire Colleges is helping farmers to reduce their environmental impact.

The initiative is one of seven Strategic Development Fund (SDF) Pilot projects and is backed by an investment of more than half a million pounds. The SDF pilot has been granted a total of £8.4m to meet the needs of the zero-low carbon economy of the future through a programme delivered by the county’s colleges.

So far, ten carbon audits of farms across the region have already helped with improvements in soil health, reduced reliance on purchased fertilisers and an increase in the use of farmers’ own nutrients.

A number of carbon roadshows have also provided advice across a newly-created farmer network in the county on issues such as silage, the quality of cattle’s nutrient health and a reduction in the use of concentrates.

The carbon farm roadshows, led by Myerscough College, have featured the use of drones for checking livestock, robotic silage pushers, and automatic calf feeders, and the restoration of peatland to improve carbon sequestration.

The college has also advised farmers about developing resource management in buildings including a calf house that improves animal welfare and a potato store built to deliver maximum efficiencies in drying capabilities which will enable 12 million packets of crisps made from British potatoes to find their way to the consumer.

Andrea Gardner, head of agricultural projects at Myerscough College, said: "Every farmer has bought into the carbon audits and the benefits they bring. These practices will start to change the way they run their farms and address the issue of carbon reduction and will be in place long after this project finishes."