New carbon footprint estimates for key agricultural enterprises

11th June 2025

New average carbon footprint estimates for beef, sheep, milk and cereal production in Scotland have been released. These are average emission intensity estimates for enterprises (activities) on farms in the Farm Business Survey.

In 2023-24 the average beef emission intensity for livestock farm types in the Farm Business Survey ranged from 30.9 to 32.8 kgCO2e/kg dwt.

Average sheep emission intensity was higher on Less Favoured Area sheep farms (35.5 kgCO2e/kg dwt) than on lowland cattle and sheep farms (25.2 kgCO2e/kg dwt). On dairy farms, the average emission intensity for milk production was 1.3 kgCO2e/kg FPC milk in 2023-24. This is an increase of 2% from the previous year, as average milk yields fell. Lower productivity is associated with higher emission intensities.

Emission intensity for cereals production in 2023-24 increased on cereal (by 14% to 258 kgCO2e/tonne crop) and general cropping farms (by 7% to 241 kgCO2e/tonne crop), compared with the previous year. The rise was mostly driven by increased emissions from fertiliser and manure. Fertiliser usage rates rose in 2023-24 as prices fell from their peak in 2022-23.

The report includes estimates of total emissions for agricultural sub-sectors. While total agriculture emissions continued at their lowest levels in 2023 at around 7.5 MtCO­2e, arable farming saw the largest increase in emissions (by 5% to 1.5 MtCO2e). Emissions for suckler beef, dairy, sheep and dairy beef sub-sectors fell by 1% each, compared with the previous year.

Estimates of nitrogen use at farm level show an increase in nitrogen balance (input minus output) and a decrease in nitrogen use efficiency on the average farm compared to the previous year. Similar results are seen for most farm types and generally driven by increased fertiliser and high energy feed inputs. Falling cereal outputs, where lower yields can lead to nitrogen accumulation in the soil, also drove increases in nitrogen balance.