Key points This study has delivered an invaluable baseline estimate of energy
use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on commercial farms in England. Energy
use and GHG emissions associated with particular commodities were quantified and
results broadly agreed with those derived by Life Cycle Assessment, but with
much scatter in the environmental performance of farms.Direct energy use on
farms was generally less that indirect (embedded) energy use, except for
horticulture, which is dominated by heating fuel use. In contrast, most GHG
emissions are incurred on farms, rather than as embedded emissions.Scatter in
both environmental and economic performance underlies the somewhat disappointing
finding of no clear positive link between farm financial performance and energy
use or GHG emissions. However, the mere existence of these ranges shows that
there is scope for improvement in both financial and environmental performance
and that there is no apparent barrier for both to be achievable in harmony. The
recording of such farm-level energy data is essential for the future, as it
should enable improvements to be made in efficiency of energy use. The improved
UK agricultural GHG inventory will depend on high quality energy data on
agricultural activities. This study will be invaluable in identifying the level
of detail needed. Future data requirements include: contractor work rates and
fuel use per unit area and per unit time, fertiliser and pesticide use by brand
name, enhanced output data, especially animal live weights, and horticultural
produce recorded by weight rather than by value
