6 September 2024
Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) appreciates the opportunity to provide a submission on the
Consultation Draft of the National Drought Plan.
Key Points
- FCA welcomes recognition of the clear correlation between the impacts of climate change and drought, as drought event frequency, intensity and length now routinely exceed historical norms.
- While drought is a natural element of the Australian landscape, FCA seeks government assurance that adequate support will be provided where drought intensity, length and frequency exceeds historical norms due to the impacts of climate change.
- FCA welcomes the consistent approach to drought across Australia outlined in the draft National Drought Plan, which will limit jurisdictional overlap, and provide clarity in drought preparedness and response.
- FCA requests that the Plan include an indication of the roles of state, federal and other entities including those outlined under the National Drought Agreement.
- FCA notes that weather and drought forecasting is being made more difficult by climate change, and that this is hindering farmers’ ability to plan and understand how droughts may impact them. Prediction models work best for farmers when they focus on the short to medium-term and give an understanding of drought likelihood, and impact. Inaccurate long–term predictions and forecasting erode farmer confidence in models and institutions.
- Ensuring that drought education and resilience extension work is effective and beneficial to farmers forms a key part of this National Drought Plan. Alleviating some of the past challenges with extension will be key to successfully implementing the preparedness aspect of the drought cycle.
About Farmers for Climate Action
Representing over 8,300 farmers and backed by 45,000 supporters nationwide, Farmers for Climate Action seeks deep emissions reductions this decade to protect our farmers and our food supply. FCA is made up of farmers, agricultural leaders and rural Australians advocating for strong economy wide climate policies.
Drought and Climate Change
Although drought is a feature of the Australian landscape which farmers have dealt with continuously for many generations, climate change means that more frequent and intense droughts will impact on farms and food production. FCA is pleased to see this recognition in the draft National Drought Plan, as it confirms that farmers are on the front line of climate impacts. FCA emphasises that deep, economy–wide emissions reduction this decade is necessary to mitigate the ongoing impacts of climate change, including drought, on farms. FCA notes and acknowledges the Plan proposal to separate drought from natural disaster classification and to no longer make drought declarations, and that this a significant step change for the farming community to navigate. We therefore request assurance that all drought events will be evaluated to assess whether their occurrence is beyond normal seasonal and weather patterns expected in Australia, such as where their intensity or length may have been directly influenced by climate change. Where this is the case, further government support must be provided to farmers.
Drought Forecasting
While recognising that there has always been a degree of uncertainty in predicting the weather, FCA highlights that climate change is making predicting and forecasting drought increasingly difficult. The lack of certainty in weather forecasts about when a drought could begin, and how long it will last add to the challenge of preparing for drought. Ensuring that forecasting is accurate must be a priority. Communication of drought predictions must be clear and understandable to ensure that farmers are able to make the best decision for their farm business. Maintaining ongoing investment and consultation in prediction models, and forecasting services is necessary to ensure accurate forecasts, communication and that benefit farmers. As an example, while My Climate View gives indications of long–term averages and claims changes to weather in geographical locations, it does not assist farmers in understanding the impacts, and likelihood of drought in the short to medium term.
Consistency Across Jurisdictions
FCA welcomes the consistent approach that the government is taking to implement a National Drought Plan, which promotes uniformity and works to mitigate overlap and confusion across jurisdictions. With such an approach, it is important to be mindful that every agriculture location, commodity and community will have a unique set of drought response priorities, and these must be informed by a ground–up approach. Ensuring that a national approach does not detract from local response and preparedness is vital and can be achieved through the ongoing investment and support of Local Drought Hubs, not–for–profit agricultural organisations, councils, and community specific drought support services.
Ensuring that farmers and regional communities have an understanding of how governments and other entities are responsible for responding, and preparing for drought should be further explained in the Plan. Clarity about state and Commonwealth roles in providing services that educate and build resilience, and where farmers should go to seek support during drought, should be expanded upon and explained to provide a single point of information for farmers.
Resilience and Preparedness
The focus on resilience and preparedness in the Plan is appreciated, and FCA acknowledges that best practice drought response begins well before the onset of dry conditions. Ensuring that farmers are well prepared and educated on drought resilience-building options that can be incorporated into their farm business requires increased government investment in extension activities. Ensuring that drought resilience and education extension work is effective is critical to drought preparedness. As an example, highlighting the extension work already being done by Local Drought Hubs, FCA has previously heard from our farmer members that it is “hard to connect with drought hubs”. Some farmers also raised concerns that, “there is little transparency and access to the hub”. While others more recently have indicated that “the hubs are improving”. Ensuring that drought resilience education and extension activities are beneficial to farmer drought preparedness, requires they have a clear remit and reporting framework so that farmers can easily access information and support and better understand the service offering. FCA suggests that extension activities under the National Drought Plan be guided by those principles. Further, a wide variety of entities, including agricultural not-for-profits, and local farming and education service providers, should be funded to deliver farmer-informed and ongoing drought resilience and preparedness programs.
Drought is a considerable challenge for the agricultural sector and climate change is only exacerbating drying conditions and impacting farm productivity and profitability. Although Australian farmers are well versed in dealing with drought, ensuring that support, resilience and response serves them best as droughts become more frequent and intense is crucial in delivering a National Drought Plan.
If you have any questions relating to comments raised in this submission, please do not hesitate to contact myself or Paul Stark, Policy and Farmer Engagement Officer, on the below details.
Yours sincerely,
Natalie Collard
CEO
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1800 491 633
Post: FCA C/– Melbourne Connect Co–Working, Lvl 2, 700 Swanston Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053
