Tools and Resources

Resources

A variety of information and tools are available to

• improve decision making by farmers in regard to seasonal conditions
• assist farmers to identify the risks posed by climate change to their farming business,
• develop strategies to manage the impacts of climate change
• reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Case Studies

Actions that are being undertaken by dairy farmers to adjust to climate change are highlighted in case studies covering a range of topics:
DPI Farmers Taking Action Case Studies

Dairy Australia case studies by regions
Western Victoria
Gippsland
Murray – Northern Victoria
South Australia

Short Term Weather Forecasts

Much of what farmers do both on a day to day and seasonal basis is influenced by the weather.  Improved understanding of the short term (days or weeks) weather outlook can assist with business decisions and plan activities, such as

• planning grazing rotations or when to hold stock off particular paddocks.
• when to apply fertilisers to obtain optimum benefit,
• when to spray paddocks,
• when to cut hay or silage.

While many sites exist, perhaps the most comprehensive, reliable and useful is the Bureau of Meteorology.  Some useful links are

Satellite images, synoptic charts & rainfall forecasts
BOM Forecast Explorer - 7 day outlook
4 day forecast summary for major towns on a regional basis
4 day synoptic forecast

Explanation of factors that influence our climate and weather can be found on the DPI Climate Change website or the Bureau of Meteorology website.

Medium to longer term outlooks

These outlooks range from weeks up to months ahead and can be useful for planning activities such as pasture and cropping rotations, feed budgeting, forward contracting of supplementary feed stocks (hay and grain). 

DPI Monthly Climate Update
BoM Seasonal outlook (The official BoM forecast based upon a statistical model using long term historical rainfall and sea surface temperature data)
BoM ENSO wrap (Based on a dynamical model using ocean and atmospheric data that will eventually replace the Seasonal Outlook using the statistical model)

It is important to understand how to use these forecasts and the times of the year that they are most reliable. To understand this further read newsletters.

Newsletters 

Milking the Weather provides an up date on seasonal conditions and the outlook for the next few months, and how it is likely to effect pasture and crops.  Subscribe.
The Break provides a monthly update on conditions for hay and grain industries.  Subscribe.
The Fast Break is a monthly summary of seasonal model forecasts looking at conditions for the coming months ahead. Subscribe.

Dairy Emissions Calculator

Dairy Greenhouse Gas Abatement Strategies Calculator (DGAS) is an online calculator designed to calculate greenhouse gas emissions for dairy farms and evaluate and compare strategies to reduce the farms emissions.

Emissions Information and Network

Carbon Toolkits in Agriculture network provides information on GHG accounting tools, and information and policy updates on carbon and emissions management. Subscribe to the network.    

DPI Climate Webinar Series

DPI hosts regular online and interactive seminars on a range of climate change issues, covering topics such as understanding seasonal conditions, seasonal outlooks or adapting to climate change. Register for upcoming webinars, and view previous webinars here.