Publication Date

2025

Publisher

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

City

Perth

ISBN

978-1-925415-37-7 (Online)

Abstract

Western Australia’s broadacre mixed farming systems combine cropping and sheep production and are the largest component of the state’s agricultural sector. The south west Western Australia (WA) agricultural area hosts about 98% of the state's sheep flock. The sheep industry contributed $1.5 billion to the state’s economy in 2021-22 and accounts for about a quarter of on-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Most sheep industry emissions (over 80%) come from methane produced by the sheep. Despite this environmental impact, only 9.9% of Australian sheep producers have estimated their emissions, which limits the industry's ability to monitor and manage carbon footprints effectively. This report presents comprehensive carbon footprint estimates for sheep production across different agroecological zones (AEZs) within WA’s agricultural area, drawing on five years of industry benchmark data to establish regional emission baselines. We examine relationships between profitability, emissions, and emission intensity.

Number of Pages

37

Keywords

Western Australia broadacre, broadacre farming systems, mixed farming systems, cropping, sheep, agriculture, WA, sheep industry, greenhouse gas emissions, GHG, carbon footprint, South-west Western Australia, emissions data, regional patterns, agroecological zone

Disciplines

Agricultural Economics | Environmental Monitoring | Sheep and Goat Science | Sustainability

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