What is climate change
A change in average global or regional weather patterns over a period of time
Evidence of climate change
-Decrease in average rainfall
- Increase in extreme climatic events
o Flood
o Fire
o Cyclones
o Drought
- Increase in average temperatures
- Rising sea levels
- Diseases and pests moving to different areas Eg) blue tongue in cattle moving with rainfall
Climate drivers
Wind
Temperature
Cloud
El Niño
- Trade winds weaken or even reverse
- Brings drier conditions and warmer temperatures to much of eastern Australia, and if prolonged, can lead to drought.
- An El Niño generally brings drier El Niño events generally occur every two to seven years.
- Warmer water drifts back to the east
La Niña
- Typical easterly winds across the Pacific are strengthened
- Bringing above average rainfall to much of Australia, and can cause flooding and lower day time temperatures
Causes of climate change
Water vapour Carbon dioxide Methane Nitrous oxide Chlorofluorocarbons
Future weather patterns
Temperature by 2040
- The south west region will warm by 1 to 1.7 degrees
- Maximum temperatures will increase will be lower minimum temperatures
- More hot days will cause greater heat stress for dairy cows, impacting reproduction rates and milk production
Rainfall by 2040
- Annual total rainfall will continue to vary from year to year will a 15% reduction by 2040
- Rainfall will decrease throughout every season especially spring
- Affecting pasture growth
Drought by 2040
- Increase in drought frequencies is expected as rainfall levels decrease
- Affecting producers as they have to put in more input costs for lowered output costs
- Affecting animals as they are more susceptible to heat and water stress
Soil moisture by 2040
- With less rainfall has higher evapotranspiration it means lower soil moisture
- Affecting pasture growth and nutrient availability in the soil for animals
Impact of climate change on producers
Loss of production
Loss of viable land
Decreased profit (quality and quantity)
Effects of climate change
EFFECTS ON ANIMALS/PLANTS:
o Timing of species life cycle
o Warmer weather may cause some species to relocate or adapt to the new weather systems some pests may begin to thrive as they are better suited to warmer weather.
o Pests and diseases will migrate to new areas
EFFECTS ON PRODUCERS:
o Shorter cropping season which reduces the amount of fodder grown
o Decline in animal productivity Eg) milk production
EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT:
o More extreme climatic events causing more damage to ecosystems
Animals
Mitigating strategies
Dairy
- Breed selection for heat tolerant/water tolerant (introducing boss indicus into herd)
- Pasture variety (varieties more suited less water or hotter drier growing seasons)
- Fodder conservation (better storage facilities to hold more fodder on sight)
- Feed additives (lessening amount of food needed while still growing)
- Modifying timing or weaning and mating
General
- Water storage
- Insurance (fire, flood, wind)
- Relocate
- Diversification (investing in multiple enterprises)
- Off farm investments (shares, partner working)
- Breed selection for heat tolerant/water tolerant (introducing boss indicus into herd)
- Pasture variety (varieties more suited less water or hotter drier growing seasons)
- Fodder conservation (better storage facilities to hold more fodder on sight)
- Water storage
- Feed additives (lessening amount of food needed while still growing)
- Modifying timing or weaning and mating
Plants sections
Causes of climate change
- Increased use of fossil fuels for energy
- Increased CO2
- Increased methane production (increase intensity of production systems/demand for protein)
- Increased use of nitrogenous fertilisers
- Land clearing (burning)
- Deforestation à trees cool the environment as they absorb infrared rays so without them the earth is warming up/ trees also add water vapour to atmosphere increasing rain
- Greenhouse gas emissions due to increase in industrialisation
o Trap heat in the atmosphere
o CO2 increases due to increased number of trees being removed
o Methane increases due to livestock and waste dumps
Impact on broad acre farming
- Changes to growing season
- Changes in localised weather (rainfall, temperature, sunlight intensity, wind)
- Higher incidence and severity of extreme weather events (flood, hail, drought, storms)
- Loss of productive land/ shrinking of arable land
- Yield reduction
- Increased in pest and disease activity
- Changing production systems (livestock and cropping)
- Changes in variety or crop grown
- Reduce soil quality and health
- Loss of income (damage by extreme weather events, loss of quality grain)
- Increase in production cost pest/disease management, weed control, input costs, costs of maintaining land, cost of technology/machinery, cost of mitigation strategies)
Intergeneration equity
- Ensuring future generations have the same opportunities as todays and that no decisions made by todays generation should jeopardise future generations opportunities to meet their own needs
- Involves social, economic and environmental (all must be balanced)
Duty of care
Refers to a farmers responsibility in ensuring all activities minimise the risk to the environmental harm and encourage ecological sustainability
Farmers have a duty of care to themselves, their employees, and the environment
