Science and Research Updates - Climate change

21 May 2009	National Centre for Rural Greenhouse Gas Research to be led by Annette Cowie Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald today announced the appointment of Professor Annette Cowie as the inaugural Director of the new National Centre for Rural Greenhouse Gas Research at Armidale.
30 Apr 2009	Roos have less impact: study A comparative study of the energy requirements of kangaroos and sheep has concluded roos have far less impact on the environment than once thought.
30 Apr 2009	Ag's nitrous oxide output under review Soil scientist at NSW DPI�s Tamworth Agricultural Institute, Dr Graeme Schwenke, will lead a research project aiming to measure nitrous oxide emissions from soils under common cropping rotations in north-west NSW.
01 Feb 2009	Not enough wood in the climate change debate People are becoming increasingly aware of their own �carbon footprint� and the little things they can do to reduce carbon emissions and diminish climate change pressures. Switching to low wattage light bulbs, turning appliances off at the wall, walking more, and buying a hybrid car are first steps. But as consumers, what else can we do to make a difference?
02 Sep 2008	More positive scientific results have reinforced the potential of ‘biochar’ to revolutionise climate mitigation and adaptation in Australian agriculture, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.
13 Mar 2008	Two major new initiatives to address climate change announced Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald has launched two major new initiatives to address climate change.
31 Jan 2008	Cowie heads up IEA biofuels research A NSW government scientist has been appointed co-leader of a key International Energy Agency (IEA) collaborative research program examining biofuels as alternatives to fossil-based fuels.
29 Nov 2007	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.
29 Nov 2007	Climate change research website More about climate change research is available from the NSW Department of Primary Industries website.
29 Nov 2007	Drop in freshwater fish Opportunities for recreational fishing in inland NSW are likely to be reduced, especially in highland trout fisheries.
29 Nov 2007	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.
29 Nov 2007	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.
29 Nov 2007	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.
29 Nov 2007	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.
29 Nov 2007	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.
29 Nov 2007	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.
31 May 2007	Soils offer new hope as carbon sink The huge potential of agricultural soils to reduce greenhouse gases and increase production at the same time has been reinforced by NSW Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) research into a product known as agrichar.
31 May 2007	NSW DPI a World Environment Day finalist Research into agrichar - a black carbon by-product of a process called pyrolysis - has earned NSW DPI a finalist place in next Tuesday’s World Environment Day awards.
26 Apr 2007	Helping farming systems cope No-till farming tools developed for a variable climate more than 30 years ago are likely to have an even greater role in tackling climate change.
28 Feb 2007	Climate change affects plant disease risk Higher CO₂ levels could change the nature and severity of plant pests and diseases affecting agriculture.
12 Feb 2007	Role of pastures in locking up carbon NSW DPI is to study the role of pastures in locking up carbon under a range of management practices in central and southern NSW.
28 Sep 2006	Primary industries need to adapt Primary industries need to face the fact that climate change is occurring – and develop strategies to adapt, according to the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
21 Sep 2006	NSW Government invests $2.5 million in climate research The State Government will invest $2.5 million in climate research in an effort to shed light on the management of climate change for the State’s primary industries and the environment.
29 Jun 2006	Less land clearing, emission target met Reduced land clearing by farmers is the only reason Australia is able to meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets, according to Co-operative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting CEO, Dr Michael Robinson.
22 Jun 2006	Beef industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions The Australian beef herd is on track to produce about 3% or half a million tonnes less methane over the next 25 years, according to the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).