November 2007 issue - Science and Research Updates

CLIMATE CHANGE | NSW farmers put adaptive strategies in place
Forty-five percent of farmers who attended climate change forums conducted across NSW say they are already putting adaptive strategies in place. And 75 percent say they expect to see climate change have an impact in the next five to 10 years.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/adaptive-strategies

CLIMATE CHANGE | Agriculture's 15.7pc of greenhouse gases
Agriculture was responsible for 15.7 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2005, according to the Australian Greenhouse Office.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/agricultures-greenhouse-gases

CLIMATE CHANGE | Pests expected to be a greater threat
Pest insect management costs Australian farmers $500 million a year - and higher temperatures will increase the susceptibility of crops to pest insects and pathogens.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/insect-pests-on-rise

CLIMATE CHANGE | Less pasture in wheat sheep zone
Pastures in the rangelands and parts of the wheat sheep zone are likely to be more severely affected by anticipated climate changes than in the high rainfall zone.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/feed-base-variability

CLIMATE CHANGE | Broadacre crop impact 'manageable'
Broadacre crop producers who adapt their farming practices to a hotter, drier climate should be able to manage the impact of projected climate changes.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/impact-on-broadacre

CLIMATE CHANGE | Coping strategies already exist
Many of the strategies needed by broadacre crop producers for coping with climate change already exist.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/coping-strategies-already-exist

CLIMATE CHANGE | Carbon trading could fund more tree planting
Catchment Management Authorities could become managers of "carbon pools" under a scheme to encourage more tree planting in regional NSW.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/carbon-scheme

CLIMATE CHANGE | NSW DPI identifies opportunities and risks
NSW DPI is identifying opportunities and risks from climate change, as well as gaps in our knowledge from modelling, and mitigation and adaptation strategies.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/targeting-the-knowledge-gap

CLIMATE CHANGE | Drop in freshwater fish
Opportunities for recreational fishing in inland NSW are likely to be reduced, especially in highland trout fisheries.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/drop-in-freshwater-fish

CLIMATE CHANGE | Climate change research website
More about climate change research is available from the NSW Department of Primary Industries website.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/climate-change-research-website

ENERGY | NSW scientist leads international research efforts on biofuels
A NSW government scientist is appointed co-leader of an International Energy Agency research program examining biofuels as alternatives to fossil-based fuels.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/research-on-biofuels

HORTICULTURE | New cold treatment opens doors for citrus exports to Japan
Citrus growers in eastern Australia now have greater access to the Japanese market as a result of research by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/new-cold-treatment

FISHERIES SCIENCE | Drought helps control carp in regional waterways
The on-going drought is having at least one positive spin-off - fewer carp are being distributed through our inland waterways.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/drought-helps-control-carp

LIVESTOCK | Small changes help sheep producers recover from drought
Recent analysis of sheep enterprises shows small improvements in enterprise performance can have large impacts on drought recovery.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/small-changes-help

CROP BREEDING | Barley boon from disease resistant varieties
A new research project aims to improve barley varieties used by NSW farmers so they are more disease resistant and able to thrive in acid soils.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/updates/issues/november-2007/barley-boon