Adaptation

Climate change in New Zealand is predicted to result in drier conditions on the East Coast, wetter conditions on the West Coast and generally warmer temperatures. Farmers need to consider alternate or modified farm practices to adapt and align with climate change.

Adaptation actions may include:

• Moving to reduced or no-tillage methods for crop establishment to retain soil carbon and moisture
• Applying nitrification inhibitors to reduce nitrous oxide emissions
• Switching from sheep to beef production to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of output
• Sowing crop types and new pasture varieties be able to cope with changing climate conditions and new pest and disease threats
• Including a fallow period in a grazing or cropping system to build up soil carbon
• Using alternative on-farm sources for electricity and fuel
• Improvement of water use efficiency on-farm and at a regional level so that current water resource can be used more widely and effectively.

Info sheet 7 provides more discussion on how farmers may manage agricultural emissions