Net Zero Carbon Farming

UK farming’s path to net zero carbon emissions, including the critical distinction between CO2 and methane targets. Based on the SFT/NFU “Farming and Climate Change” event (July 2019) and Direct Driller Issue 7 editorial.

NFU Pledge

Minette Batters (NFU President) pledged to make UK farming net-zero by 2040 — 10 years ahead of the government’s 2050 deadline. Event held at Fir Farm, Gloucestershire, July 2019, organised by Sustainable Food Trust with NFU support.

CO2 vs Methane — A Critical Distinction

Professor Myles Allen (Oxford University) presented key insight:

CO2

  • To halt warming: must reduce net output to zero
  • Crops, grass, hedges and trees consume vast amounts of CO2 — farmers have a distinct advantage

Methane

  • To halt its effect on warming: only need a 10% reduction (not zero)
  • Solutions already exist: feed additives, methane collection systems, burning methane for energy/tractors
  • NFU 2040 goal easily achievable for methane
  • Net zero for methane = 90% of today’s production

This is “great news for livestock farmers” — path to net zero is not complicated. But will have massive effect on meat pricing from UK production.

“Ironically, this is the exact opposite of the picture presented by the national media, where meat is taking a bashing.”

[Source: dd-issue-07, 2026-04-11]

Role of No-Till and Conservation Agriculture

  • Cover crops: government should consider paying farmers to grow them — “now there’s an idea if they want to help save the planet”
  • Soil carbon sequestration: no-till systems build SOC (see Soil Carbon and Organic Matter)
  • Reduced diesel: no-till uses 10–15 l/ha vs 150–180 l/ha for plough systems
  • Reduced N fertiliser: lower applications → less N2O emissions
  • Diversity and livestock integration: pasture-fed approaches beneficial for soils

US No-Till Adoption Context

2017 Census of Agriculture (USA):

  • No-tillage: 104M acres (37%)
  • Reduced tillage: 97M acres (35%)
  • Intensive tillage: 80M acres (28%)
  • Some states (Nebraska, Montana, Maryland, Dakotas, Tennessee) over 40–50% no-till
  • UK estimate: 8–12% no-tilled — “well behind the curve”

[Source: dd-issue-07, 2026-04-11]

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