Nine in 10 farmers do not know their farm's carbon footprint, research reveals

Nine in ten farmers (87 per cent) do not know what their farm's carbon footprint is, according to research by Lloyds Bank. The figure was revealed as the NFU pressed ahead with its plans for the industry to reach net zero by 2040 - 10 years ahead of the Government's legal target for England.According to the survey, carried out before lockdown in March, just 3 per cent of respondents are already at net zero.But two thirds (62 per cent) believed they would be able to reach the NFU's target, with more than half looking to industry bodies such as the union for support to help make their farm greener.Lee Reeves, head of agriculture at Lloyds Bank, said: "There is no doubt farmers understand the importance of the challenge ahead - more than two thirds (69 per cent) of those we polled agreed that agriculture must fundamentally change its operating model if the UK is to meet net zero targets - but there is certainly some confusion about how to actually make the change happen." The research found the biggest barriers to net zero uptake included a lack of understanding about the available options and the cost of investing in green technology and sustainable solutions.Over half (58 per cent) of farmers had never heard of green finance.NFU chief renewable energy and climate change adviser Dr Jonathan Scurlock said: "The NFU stands by its aspiration, but it cannot achieve the delivery of net zero on its own."A wide partnership with other industry stakeholders is necessary to meet the ambitious target."Net Zero The Tenant Farmers' Association (TFA) has its own concerns about tenant farmers' ability to take part in net zero measures, with the average length of farm business tenancies four years or less, and nearly half of England's tenanted land under these agreements.George Dunn, chief executive of the TFA, said: "We need the Government to amend the taxation environment within which landlords make decisions about letting land to encourage longer and more open agreements and discourage the use of shorter more restrictive tenancies." Other findings from the survey: 61 per cent of respondents have introduced agri-tech to improve efficiency 26 per cent of respondents have been or plan to reduce pesticide use 93 per cent of respondents have been or plan to use greener products (fertiliser) on crops 73 per cent of respondents have been or plan to reduce water usage and wastage 71 per cent of respondents have been or plan to rewild 90 per cent of respondents neither have or plan to restore peatlands 74 per cent of respondents neither have or plan to plant trees