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 Climate change already altering farm practices 

Climate change already altering farm practices

17/09/2008 12:01:00 PM
More than 65pc of Australian agricultural businesses say they have perceived a change in the climate and 62pc say the change is affecting their operations, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

But approximately half (49.5pc) of the agricultural businesses reported a change in the management practices on their holding in response to perceived changes in climate.

The most commonly reported perceived change in climate affecting the holding was a change in rainfall patterns (92.1pc), followed by more extreme weather events (74.2pc) and warmer temperatures (49.6pc).

The most commonly reported impact to the holding was a decreased level of production (88.8pc), followed by an increased frequency or extent of pests, weeds or disease (55.5pc).

In contrast, a small number of agricultural businesses reported a decreased frequency or extent of pests, weeds or disease (19.5pc) and an increased level of production (15.2pc).

Victorians claimed to be the hardest hit by the changing climate, with 90.3pc reporting a decrease in production, compared to 66.4pc in the Northern Territory.

Queensland and New South Wales reported the largest increase in frequency or extent of pests, weeds or disease (58.5pc and 58.0pc respectively) on their holding as a result of a perceived change to climate, while the Northern Territory reported the lowest (45.8pc).

Agricultural businesses in South Australia reported the largest decrease in the frequency or extent of pests, weeds or disease (22.9pc) on their holding as a result of a perceived change to climate, while Tasmania reported the lowest (10.4pc).

In Western Australia, 20.4pc of agricultural businesses reported an increase in the level of production on their holding as a result of a perceived change to climate, compared to just 13.5pc of agricultural businesses in South Australia.

The most commonly reported changed management practice was changed intensity of cropping (69.3pc), followed by changed watering/irrigation practices (32.7pc) and changed rotation or fallow practices (31.9pc).

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Comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Climate has been changing ever since white settlement. The alarmists are trying to mislead us, with their misleading stories about carbon.

Big business and banks stand to make much money out of the Carbon Trading Schemes, with nothing actually being achieved environmentally.

Posted by Len on 18/09/2008 3:26:15 PM
As one of the unfortunate subjects who was required to fill in this highly skewed, subjective and opinion-driven survey by ABS, I doubt you can make any useful interpretation from the results. I commented to ABS on their form that it was tantamount to push polling, but they conveniently lost that first effort and made me do another, possibly hoping for a more compliant (politically correct) version. Please take the results with a grain of salt.
Posted by thedog on 19/09/2008 9:05:32 AM
IF you want an internet site to inform on the reason why carbon is Not the reason why the climate changes , look at---- Anthropogenic Global Warming by James A. Peden
Posted by retired on 21/09/2008 4:01:14 PM

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Q: Do you believe the Rudd Government has a plan for the future development of inland Australia?

Yes
(7.1%)

No
(89.4%)

Undecided
(3.4%)

Total Votes: 757
Poll Date: 14/09/2008

11/12/2008 | Farm lobby groups will decide next week whether the future of farm representation will stay as it is or be broadened to bring in the big end of town.
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