Projects

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Researchers from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) will help support Queensland graziers to manage drought and climate decision-making more effectively by developing tools including:

  • improving the Long Paddock website to support pastoral managers with a range of innovative tools, webinars, videos and information.
  • on-line land management tools and training for extension officers, educators and consultants, including safe-carrying capacity and property forage budgeting
  • a grazing systems modelling framework incorporating field data, remote sensing and models to support subsequent generations of scientists and landholders
  • improved knowledge of sequences of wet and dry years in Queensland that impact longer-term strategic decision-making

Information products and tools will be improved to support decision making in the grazing industry through a better understanding of the barriers to managing climate risk and drought preparation.

Social scientists from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) will engage with Queensland graziers, extension officers and scientists to identify barriers to drought preparedness.

The Northern Australia Climate Program (NACP), a partnership between the Queensland Government, Meat and Livestock Australia Donor Company and the University of Southern Queensland, is helping the grazing industry better manage drought and climate risks through:

  • improved reliability of multi-week seasonal and multi-year forecasts for Northern Australia
  • establishment of a network of ‘climate mates’ across the pastoral regions of Northern Australia to support delivery of climate information into regional extension and social networks
  • production of new products and information and integration into business management decision-making.

DAF staff are providing information to support improved profitability and resilience of Queensland’s grazing businesses. Economic analyses are being conducted for a number of regions across Queensland and a range of management strategies and technologies are being assessed that are aimed at making grazing businesses more profitable and drought resilient.  In addition, this project is examining options in the drought response and recovery phases.

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The DAF GrazingFutures team is working with industry partners to deliver production, business and climate information to build resilience and grow grazing businesses across Western Queensland.

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Customised forecasts of extreme rainfall and temperature events will help grazing and sugar producers to make more informed short and medium-term management decisions to improve farm profitability.

Palaeoclimate research will:

  • Reconstruct a 1000 year rainfall history for key locations in SEQ, based on palaeoclimate data.
  • provide a long-term drought risk assessment
  • Reassess the probability of multi-year drought in the light of insights emerging from the palaeoclimate information.

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Last updated: 30 January 2024