Climate change means tough time for Northern Rivers farmers

FARMERS across the Northern Rivers face a future of higher temperatures, more pests and less ground water, a report from the Australian Climate Commission says.

FARMERS across the Northern Rivers are facing a future of higher temperatures, more pests and less ground water, warns a report released this week by the Australian Climate Commission.

And these are only some of the risks facing the agricultural sector detailed in the report Critical Decade 2013.

• Some main points from the report

The nation's highly respected Climate Commissioner Professor Will Steffen described the risks to the farming sector as "substantial".

"Farmers are on the frontline of climate changes and will continue to face risks into the future," Prof Steffen said.

The report makes it clear that we are already seeing the social, economic and environmental consequences of a changing climate, including increasing frequency of extreme heatwaves and bushfire weather, as well as shifting rainfall patterns.

"Many of the risks scientists warned us about in the past are now happening," Prof Steffen said.

"One example is the on-going drying trend across south-west Western Australia since the 1970s and in the south-east of Australia since the 1990s. In the future these regions are expected to get drier still, which will affect water availability for dry land and irrigated agriculture."

Commissioner, Professor Lesley Hughes said horticultural industries were one of the most sensitive agricultural sectors, particularly from changes in temperature and reduced rainfall.

"As the climate shifts, some horticultural crops will not be able to be grown where they are now," she said.

The report was launched by a number of prominent Austra- lians, including Admiral Chris Barrie, former head of the Defence Force, and 2011 Australian of the Year and Chair of CSIRO Simon McKeon.

The report is the work of Professor Steffen and Professor Hughes, both internationally renowned scientists.

The Commission's Science Advisory Panel comprised of scientists from CSIRO, BoM and Australia's leading universities have reviewed the report for scientific accuracy.

Our changing climate

• Climate models generally predict ongoing drying in the south-east and south-west, which will affect water availability for dry land.
• Climate change will affect groundwater. Recharge of groundwater systems may decline in the southern, south-western and central parts of the continent, but increase in the north and some parts of the east.
• Shifts in distribution of pest species are likely, such as the cane toad extending further into NSW.
• Increasing temperatures are likely to have adverse effects for cattle by increasing the frequency of heat stress.
• Horticultural industries are one of the most sensitive agricultural sectors, particularly from changes in temperature and reduced rainfall.