Whole Farm Systems Analysis of Climate Change Impacts on the Southern (TIAR component) Grazing Industries - (a sub-project under the Climate Change Adaptation in the Southern Australian Livestock I...

Summary

This investment enabled in regional consultation with producers to present modelling and gather regionally specific feedback from on likely adaptation and mitigation options as part of the Climate Change Adaptation in the Southern Australian Livestock Industries (CCASALI) program 2012-2019.

The CCASALI program focused on the mitigation of greenhouse gases and climate change adaptation options for the dairy industry at a farm systems level.

Objectives

There were three main objectives of this specific sub-project and all were completed by the end of the project:

• biophysical modelling simulations that address the key regional questions of climate change impacts on current dairy grazing systems in a future environment, adaptation options and new farming systems
• further development of climate change adaptation and mitigation modelling capability for the dairy industry
• a better informed industry and producer population of the opportunities and risks associated with climate change through the publication and communication of research results.

Key findings

Modelling analysis revealed that the potential Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) income from adopting currently possible mitigation options in Dairy production was in the vicinity of ~ 1% of total milk production income.

Therefore, adoption of CFI offset mitigation options in Dairy production were found to be unlikely unless other non- GHG emissions aspects of the mitigation option, e.g. increases in milk production, could provide significant financial gain.

Benefits to industry

Regional consultation occurred with producers to present the modelling and gather regionally specific feedback from farmers and consultants on likely adaptation and mitigation options. This enabled a greater understanding among producers of the opportunities and risks associate with climate change ibn their region.

Future research

There is need to research the component level physiological/agronomical factors associated with modifying the feedbase. The ability to effectively and efficiently quantify CFI methods is needed across a broad spectrum of farming systems for the livestock industries. The current Carbon Offset Scenarios Tool (COST) calculator has begun this process for the dairy industry.