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Attitudes to climate change in Southern NSW Jan Edwards District Agronomist, Cowra
| Date post: | 25-May-2015 |
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Attitudes to climate change in Southern NSW
Jan Edwards
District Agronomist, Cowra
2 funded projects
Developing climate change adaptation options for NSW mixed farming systems
Southern livestock adaptation 2030
Case study farms
Livestock sites
Cropping & livestock sites
Engagement in research
Climate change research– complex– high degree of
uncertainty• GCMs• downscaling• biophysical models
Farmer engagement and participation are vital– increase adoption– build capacity
Participation
Iterative process with farmers– designing farming
systems and enterprises– interpreting the results– discussing the risks and
practicalities– suggesting adaptations
Preparing not predicting
Our role is to – prepare farmers to deal
with climate change and climate variability
– NOT predict the future
Attitudes to climate change
Preliminary analysis from 160 survey respondents
Climate change will mean …
An increased incidence of droughts
– 12% disagree– 42% not sure– 45% agree
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNot sureAgreeStrongly agree
Climate change will mean …
Less rainfall especially in autumn and spring
– 13% disagree– 50% not sure– 37% agree
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNot sureAgreeStrongly agree
Climate change will mean …
Warmer temperatures, fewer frosts and more ‘hot’ days
– 19% disagree– 36% not sure– 38% agree
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNot sureAgreeStrongly agree
Do you believe in climate change?
26% no– likely to have increased
recently 27% not sure 48% yes
No Not sure Yes
Do you believe in climate change?
In the 31–45 age group
– 33% no– 29% not sure– 38% yes
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
18-30 31-45 46-60 60+
Age group
Yes Not sure No
Attitude to the future
15% of the farmers – believe they won’t be
farming
The 60+ age group – 36% of the sample
group
Attitude to the futureRespondents
(%)
Committed to farming and intend to stay
64
Committed to farming but may take up other employment options
21
Am about to retire 12
Want to take up other employment and leave farming
2
Will be forced to leave the farm
1
To reduce the impact …
An emissions trading scheme is essential
– 48% disagree
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNot sureAgreeStrongly agree
What will help?
Changing to more drought tolerant species or varieties
UselessNot importantNot sureImportantVery important
What will help?
Changing the farm enterprise mix to include more trading livestock
UselessNot importantNot sureImportantVery important
What will help?
Increasing the use of no-till or direct drill
UselessNot importantNot sureImportantVery important
What will help?
Increasing on-farm water and fodder conservation
UselessNot importantNot sureImportantVery important
What will help?
Using drought-lots UselessNot importantNot sureImportantVery important
What will help?
Sourcing off-farm income UselessNot importantNot sureImportantVery important
What will help?
Gaining economies of scale UselessNot importantNot sureImportantVery important
The projects are funded by
Contacts
Kate Lorimer-Ward – Leader Agriculture & Climate Change
Phil Graham– Technical Specialist Grazing System
Phil Bowden – District Agronomist Cootamundra
Jan Edwards – District Agronomist Cowra
Jason Crean – Principle Economist (CC Policy)
John Smith – District Agronomist Deniliquin
