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Neutral rain outlook for Victoria |
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The Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM), three-month rainfall outlook for the December quarter (October to December) continues to predict average conditions despite the persistent downpours being felt across Victoria. The BoM also confirms that a La Nina event is now well established in the Pacific Ocean.
And the majority of long-range climate models surveyed by the BoM, indicate the La Nina event will continue into at least early 2011.
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Mixed temperature outlook for south-east Australia |
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The south-eastern Australian outlook for maximum temperatures, averaged over the October to December quarter, favours warm day and night time conditions in southern New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia (SA) as well as Victoria and Tasmania, with cooler daytime temperatures favoured in north-eastern NSW.
And according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), this pattern of seasonal temperature odds across Australia is the result of the recent warm conditions in the Indian Ocean and the cooling trend in the equatorial Pacific, both of which are related to the current La Nina event.
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Great choice for irrigators with “carryover” opportunities – but beware of the changes! |
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Changes to carryover rules for the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe regulated systems will decrease the risk of growers’ losing carryover in full allocation years.
The rules, introduced on June 30 for the 2010/2011 irrigation season, allow irrigators to carryover all unused water into their Allocation Bank Account (ABA). Previously the volume was capped at 50% of their water shares.
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Forecasting streamflow: days to seasons |
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A new project is underway that generates continuous short-term and seasonal streamflow forecasts predicting the amount of water likely to flow down rivers in the days to seasons ahead.
The project is an expansion of the flood forecasting and warning services already offered by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and ultimately aims to improve Water Agencies’ ability to plan and operate water supply systems in northern Victoria.
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Taking the guess work out of irrigation requirements |
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Irrigation scheduling can be more efficient and cost effective thanks to the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) new on-line daily Evapotranspiration Service (ETo) and techniques developed by Department of Primary Industries (DPI) researchers.
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A must read for growers of the future - Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change |
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More than 30 authors have contributed to a “must-read” book aimed at any person wishing to be part of Australia’s primary industries in the future.
Called Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: Preparing Australian agriculture, forestry and fisheries for the future, the book provides an excellent reference covering the latest research that will assist growers in meeting the challenges of climate change. Importantly, the book emphasises that climate change could present the greatest economic and environmental challenge the country has ever faced.
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New web-based tool calculates on-farm water loss |
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A new web-based tool, the Ready Reckoner, is now available to growers to calculate on-farm water loss in dams from evaporation or seepage.
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Precision Horticulture – Productive, Efficient and Climate Friendly |
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Alleviating soil compaction is just one of the
many attributes of adopting precision agriculture.
Precision Agriculture (PA) has the potential to significantly reduce growers’ costs by improved management of expensive inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, while increasing growers’ returns by improving crop quality and yield. The concept teaches growers to understand the spatial variations in such parameters as disease, plant stress due to lack or excess water and nutrients and tillage requirements.
While the Horticulture Industry has been slow to adopt PA, due to the small scale of the farms and the enormous variability across the growing systems, the technology and pricing is now more attainable and many growers are considering the concept when upgrading machinery or increasing production.
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Sustainable Water Strategies – securing regional Victoria’s future water resources |
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 A Victorian Government initiative is behind the development of four regional Sustainable Water Strategies (SWS) which aim to provide a medium to long-term strategy for the management of the State’s water resources.
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Feasible targets offered in government’s Climate Change White Paper |
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Victoria is taking a leading role in climate change and has charted a course of action despite the uncertainties of climate policy from the recent Federal Election.
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Log onto the Climate Webinar series |
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The Department of Primary Industries Climate Webinar offers a series of interactive, online seminars on topics relating to climate and emissions in agriculture
It is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about a range of climate and emissions related topics. To participate in a webinar you will need access to a computer with the internet and a phone line.
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For more information:
Pam Strange
Climate Adaptation Manager
Horticulture & Forestry
Farm Services Victoria
Department of Primary Industries
T: (03) 5051 4571 M: 0437 748 422 E: pam.strange@dpi.vic.gov.au
OR
Nic Gowans
Climate Adaptation Officer
Horticulture Program
Farm Services Victoria
Department of Primary Industries
T: (03) 5336 6640 M: 0429 799 987 E: nicholas.gowans@dpi.vic.gov.au |
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The glossary covers terms mentioned in each edition. 
