Monaro grazier Bryce Garnock will be telling his story about water at the annual conference of the NSW Grassland Society.

The need for grazing industries in southern Australia to exhibit even greater adaptation in the future than they have in the past in the context of rising fuel prices is on the agenda for the NSW Grassland Society’s annual conference.

Queanbeyan will be the venue on July 18 and 19.

Managing for a Variable Climate is the conference theme.

“Climate change predictions of a long-term decline in winter and spring rainfall, and increases in annual mean temperature of between two and five degrees are likely to usher in a period of increasing uncertainty for pasture-based industries,” NSW Department of Primary Industries research agronomist, Dr Mark Norton, said.

“Less feed would be available in winter and spring and an increase of warm-season weedy grasses into pastures would be likely,” he said.

“As most residents in regional areas already know, the answer to climate change is not going to be just turning up the air conditioner one or two notches.”

In the previous edition of Agriculture Today, former CSIRO atmospheric research chief, Graeme Pearman, said polling of farmers in NSW and Victoria reflects climate change as their most important concern.

Dr Pearman contends that farmers feel that the impact will be so great that even if they are not sure of the science, they must respond now to manage the risk.

Keynote speakers at the Grassland conference will have a strong practical slant and can speak directly to farmers about their experiences.

Their addresses will cover Climate and environment, Developing and managing plants for variable climates, Maximising cash flow under adversity and Managing on-farm water in variable climates.

Ian Atkinson from “Gundabooka”, Cumnock, will describe the management strategies he has used to get his animals through the drought.

John Ive will talk about how he marries production and sustainability on his property near Yass.

Peter Hayman from the South Australian Research and Development Institute will outline aspects of climate variability.

David Kemp from Charles Sturt University will describe some of the new research developments that help achieve better pasture production in variable climates.

Contact the Queanbeyan office of NSW DPI (02) 6297 1861 to register for the conference. Early bird registration closes June 29.