Accredited official statistics

Emissions

Updated 13 June 2024

Applies to England

Farmers were asked about the importance they place on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when making decisions about their farms. Questions also focused on the actions that farmers are currently taking to reduce emissions and their motivations for doing so. In contrast, we also look at the reasons that prevent farmers from taking action.

Almost two thirds (62%) of farms consider GHGs to be fairly or very important when making decisions about their land, crops and livestock in 2023. This has risen in recent years, from just over half of farms (55%) in 2019 (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Importance placed on GHGs by farmers when taking decisions about their land, crops and livestock (Proportion of holdings)

Year Very important Fairly important Not very important Not at all important My farm does not produce GHGs Total
2019 13% 42% 29% 8% 8% 100%
2020 18% 46% 22% 8% 6% 100%
2021 19% 49% 20% 6% 6% 100%
2022 17% 47% 22% 7% 7% 100%
2023 17% 45% 24% 9% 6% 100%

Less than half of farms (44%) believe that reducing GHG emissions from the farm will contribute to the overall profitability of the farm. Despite this, 53% of farms are taking action to reduce GHG emissions from the farm in 2023.

For those farms that were taking action to reduce GHG emissions, the two most popular actions in 2023 were “improving energy efficiency” and “recycling waste materials from the farm” (Figure 2). The proportion of farms taking each action showed little or no real significant change between 2022 and 2023. Over the longer term, increasing efficiency in manure and/or slurry management and application has seen the biggest change. Over half of farmers (53%) are now taking this action in 2023, compared with just 28% in 2013 when the question was first asked.

Figure 2 Actions being taken to reduce GHG emissions from farms (Proportion of holdings who are currently taking action)

Action 2023
Taking other actions 19%
Improving nitrogen feed efficiency 24%
Increasing use of legumes in arable crop rotation 31%
Increasing use of clover in grassland 49%
Improving efficiency in manure/slurry management & application 53%
Improving nitrogen fertiliser application accuracy 61%
Recycling waste materials from the farm 80%
Improving energy efficiency 82%

For those holdings taking action to reduce GHG emissions, the main motivations for doing so were “consider it to be good business practice” and “concern for the environment”, selected by 83% and 73% of holdings respectively (Figure 3). These have consistently been the main motivations since the questions were first asked in 2013.

Figure 3 Main motivations for those taking action to reduce GHG emissions (Proportion of holdings)

Motivation 2023
Other motivation 6%
To meet market demands 21%
Regulation 27%
To improve profitability 50%
Concern for the environment 73%
Consider it good business practice 83%

For those holdings not taking action to reduce GHG emissions from the farm, the reasons for not doing so varied (Figure 4). The most common reason, selected by 43% of these farmers, was that they were unsure what to do due to too many conflicting views. The next most common reasons were that farmers felt action was unnecessary (selected by 33%) and a lack of information (selected by 30%).

Figure 4 Reasons preventing farmers taking action to reduce GHG emission for those not currently doing so (Proportion of holdings)

Reason 2023
Other reasons 10%
Already done all they can 10%
Don’t believe farmers can do much 14%
Too expensive 18%
Lack of incentive 25%
Lack of information 30%
Not necessary - don’t believe farm produces many emissions 33%
Unsure what to do - too many conflicting views on the issue 43%