Several management changes may be needed to adapt to climate change and promote ground cover, often very hard to keep.

Summer storms are characterised by heavy rain, lightning, thunder, hail and strong winds, often in a very short time.

Consequences include increased runoff, flash flooding, soil erosion and loss of organic material washed into dams and waterways.

It often takes years to recover.

The prediction under climate change is for an increase in summer rain, most likely as violent thunderstorms.

At this time of year pastures frequently have low ground cover and many cropping paddocks are bare from several months of grazing after harvest.

Many farmers find there is a feed gap at this time and need to hand feed stock, especially if they are joining breeders or in the run up to autumn lambing or calving.

Any changes to maintain ground cover in the critical summer period when these storms occur should fit in with the management of these enterprises.

Grazing for short durations to retain some stubble so paddocks don’t becoming dusty will help.

The feed value of stubbles at present can be very low – less than 40 per cent digestibility, so a supplement would be necessary to maintain livestock condition in most cases.

Lucerne pastures can also be a problem at this time with bare areas between plants.

These paddocks need to be grazed carefully.

Usually a very quick rotational grazing with high stock numbers will prevent the paddock dusting up and give better recovery of the pasture.

On grazing paddocks, perennial pasture mixtures with a variety of summer and winter species may better keep ground cover, as they can respond to rain year round.
Native pastures on the steeper slopes may benefit from being locked up from stock.

Preparing for fodder conservation during spring or buying in feed will need to be considered to take the pressure off pastures and stubble paddocks.

Many farms have had success with sacrifice paddocks, or have used drought lots to hand feed stock during the last few years, so this may be an option over summer.

Many farms can benefit from summer rain where adequate ground cover has been maintained.

The best ways of dealing with this challenge of nature need to be considered well before the storms occur.

More information

Managing land capability, soil erosion and ground cover - PROfarm course