Climate Change, Carrying Capacity of Grazed Pastures and Potential Benefits of Windbreaks, a Single-site Case Study.
by Roger Hosking WDA.

Download the paper (368 kb)
The purpose of this paper is to report on: climate change trends found in records of rainfall, temperatures, evaporation and wind at Braidwood; the adverse impact of climate change on livestock carrying capacity of grazed pastures and on rainfall runoff into farm water storages; the effect of wind run and wind direction on evaporation; and, the quantified potential benefits of windbreaks as a practical farm management strategy to counter the impacts of climate change.

The analyses involved the use of annual values derived from previously unpublished data in the original records of daily weather observations made at BoM station 069010 at Braidwood. The author has been the volunteer observer for this station since 1985. Annual carrying capacity of grazed pastures were derived from reliable tallies of livestock classes on a nearby well managed beef cattle operation.

The main results and conclusions are: that there have been significant trends in climate elements and in carrying capacity of pastures; that there is a close correlation between carrying capacity and the relative frequency of northerly winds; that wind run and wind direction are major factors driving potential evaporation; and, that windbreaks offer a practical method to reduce evaporation loss from farm dams and to extend the growing season of pastures.

Managing the Carbon Cycle
This forum held on 14th and 15th of September in Armidale NSW brought together some of Australia's most innovative farmers, scientists and administrators to discuss the issue of carbon sequestration and its relationship to agricultural soils.

Papers were presented by two Board Members of Healthy Soils Australia, Dr. Brian Tunstall and Gerry Gillespie.

The Forum was organised by Dr Christine Jones, whose extensive networks enabled a diverse range of talents to be brought together to discuss this important subject.

Held over two days, the forum concluded with a forum discussion which enabled all participants to refine their thinking and enabling the forum discussion to be taken to the broader Australian public.

Assisted by Healthy Soils Australia and Zero Waste Australia in association with Compost Australia and Dr Christine Jones, further forums are planned for other states of Australia, with a larger conference planned for Canberra in 2006.

More information on conference papers and the work of Dr Christine Jones can be obtained at www.amazingcarbon.com

You can also download the paper (142 kb) and PowerPoint presentation (912 kb) presented by Dr Brian Tunstall (ERIC) at this conference