Tag Archives: carbon-farming
Confidence In Carbon Farming Takes Another Hit
Posted Tue Jul 16, 2013 PHOTO: Labelled the ‘Ghostbusters’ the fire scientists suck up the flames with their long silver wands. (ABC Rural) AUDIO: Tough times in Australia’s carbon farming market (ABC Rural) MAP: Darwin 0800 Confidence in Australia’s carbon farming market is shaky at best and the ongoing changes to policy is not helping according to an industry expert. The Federal Government has today announced its plan to scrap the carbon tax and bring forward an emissions trading scheme by one year. That move could see the carbon price in Australia drop from around $25 to just $6 a tonne. The government will also cut millions of dollars from the Biodiversity Fund and Carbon Farming Futures program. Manager of carbon markets for EcoKnowledge, Dr Tim Moore, says the forecast drop in price is going to make it very hard to run viable carbon farming businesses. “I’m the optimist in this market and I’m not particularly confident at the moment,” he said. “For a carbon farming project to be viable you have to be able to profitably reduce emissions or permanently store emissions in the landscape for less than $6 or $7 (a tonne) and I think that’s going to be a real challenge for the Australian Carbon Farming Initiative and the carbon credit production sector in Australia.” Dr Moore says a lower carbon price and lack of approved methodologies is making carbon farming tough, particularly in the rangelands of Australia. “I think there’s over 150 projects registered under the Carbon Farming Initiative and I think if you go through the records there’s probably only five or six farmers participating in the scheme, the rest are landfill operators,” he said. “So even though it’s named the Carbon Farming Initiative it hasn’t really been effective to date in assisting landholders to get into the carbon market and generate some additional revenue from changed land management practice.” Continue reading
New Opportunities For Carbon Farming
Targeted new opportunities released today will help farmers and landholders access the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) with the announcement of phase two of the Extension and Outreach Program. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, said the guidelines for the second phase of Extension and Outreach had been updated to target key industries. “The second phase of extension and outreach will target sugar and horticulture industries, as well as the commercial forestry and plantation timber industries,” Minister Ludwig said. “These are all sectors in agriculture that can reap the benefits of the Carbon Farming Initiative. By targeting this funding phase towards them it means they won’t be left behind in the low carbon economy. “The Carbon Farming Initiative is part of the Governments $1.7 billion Land Sector Package. It builds on Australian agriculture’s strong foundation and prepares it for the future. “The CFI is a win-win for Australian farmers, who can reduce their emissions, lower their costs and gain a second income stream under the program.” The Extension and Outreach Program funds programs to deliver clear, credible and consistent information and supports carbon farming activities by landholders and farmers. “Applications are now sought for projects that deliver extension and outreach services to regions or industries.” Minister Ludwig said. “Under the first phase, 24 projects shared in more than $21 million. These were high quality applications and it was positive to see so many organisations looking to share the new opportunities carbon farming provides. “We want this second phase to complement the projects already funded, by supporting extension services through providers like agri-advisers and agronomists.” Applications for the Extension and Outreach Program are open until April 2016, while funds remain. To be included in the second assessment phase, applications are due 5pm AEST, 12 June 2013. 02 May 2013 Continue reading
