Climate conversation in the air

CLIMATE change adaptation is something we will all have to think about over the next few years.
The Agricultural Climate change project is helping to facilitate this dialogue amongst South Gippsland food producers. So far, this State Government funded project has looked at how the weather here is being affected by climate change and the tools available for us to keep abreast of things such as the current El Nino and what this will mean to our future weather.
Orchardists and vegetable growers used the summer series of workshops to find out how the warmer winters and drier summers will impact their choice of plant varieties, and following up interest from this we visited local farms to find out how producers managed their water supply and soil health.
When we talk about adaptation, the thing that is adapting is of course the farmer. Farming systems may change, cow breeding may introduce new traits, calving may be in a different month and the variety of pumpkin may be a different cultivar – but driving the decision making is the farmer.
How do you optimise effective decision making?
Reactive decisions made in the heat of a crisis are often wrong decisions, but how do we become proactive? Do we change our systems in anticipation of climate change effects, or do we wait until change is noticed? How do we afford it? How do we make good decisions, both from a business perspective and manage personal stress.
The Climate Change Café is a great place to start some of these discussions. Come along a enjoy an entrée of soup with a side of conversation with our experts in animal breeding, a main course with a helping of farmer health, financial planning skills, pasture species choice, and dessert flavoured with a spicy risk management topping.
The first Climate Change Café will be held in Foster next Tuesday night, June 23 at the Foster Golf Club, 7 Reserve Street, Foster. Attendees will be served a three course pasta meal for $20 per head. (pay at the door) At the dinner table our special guests will lead the conversation and we will talk about how we can develop agricultural resilience whilst maintaining our personal equilibrium.
There will be lots of good fun, information, new friends and door prizes. Please book at http://www.sustainabilitygippsland.com/event/climate-change-cafe
We will also be bring the Café to Loch on 26/8 /2015 and Dalyston on 14/9/2015 – stay tuned for details.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Jun 16 2015. Filed under Rural News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry