Videos

This year Farmers for Climate Action is taking a closer look at how Tasmanian graziers can become more climate-smart via an online and in-person series, Climate-Smart Tasmanian Grazing.

At this webinar attendees heard from Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) Research Fellow Dr Rowan Smith on the latest in growing red meat productivity through the selection and establishment of perennial legumes.

Our first event for 2021 was a Campbell Town site visit held on 19 January, where attendees took a closer look at Dr Smith’s new research that promises to boost beef productivity and enhance resilience in the face of a changing climate. Dr Smith will share the latest from the Campbell Town site for all those unable to make the day.

The research will help grow productivity in the red meat industry by identifying and establishing perennial legume species that can successfully persist to fill feed gaps and improve tolerance and productivity under waterlogging.

Dr Smith’s project aims to take a region-focused approach to improve the proportion of legumes in the high rainfall regions of the North West Coast and low-medium rainfall region of the Tasmanian Midlands.

Find out more about how this exciting new project promises to boost the productivity and resilience of Tasmania’s red meat industry here https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/legume-research-to-boost-tassie-s-red-meat-industry/

To join our Tassie network go here https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/tasmania/

You can find other FCA events here https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/what-we-do/events/

Photo credit: Brett Hall

Authorised by F. Davis 6 Lewis Drive, Castlemaine VIC 3450

Acknowledgments:

‘Growing red meat productivity through the selection and establishment of perennial legumes’ is jointly funded by TIA and the MLA Donor Company in association with the Livestock Productivity Partnership.

Research Team: Rowan Smith, Beth Penrose, Adam Langworthy, Gary Martin, Joanna Talbot.

‘TIA’s Herbage Development Program’ is jointly funded by TIA and the State Government.

Research Team: Rowan Smith, Beth Penrose, Gary Martin, Joanna Talbot
Student contributions from: Kristy Stevenson, Hugh McShane.

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Renewing the Regions: Agriculture and the Energy Transition was held on Wednesday 9 December 2020.

With abundant sunshine and wind, regional Australia has the potential to reap enormous rewards from the clean energy transition. This webinar explores how farmers here are already benefiting as well as new research out of the United States focussed on growing crops under solar panels.

Hosted by the Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Farmers for Climate Action, this free webinar showcased a great line-up of speakers, including:
- Oregon State University Associate Professor Chad Higgins on growing crops under solar panels
- Victorian farmer Paul Squires on growing potatoes under solar panels
- South Australian farmer James Stacey on cutting costs with solar irrigation
- Meredith Dairy environmental co-ordinator Dom Murphy on using bioenergy

Karin Stark, National Renewables in Agriculture Conference convenor, facilitated the webinar. ReAqua business development manager (QLD) Glenn Miller and GV Community Energy CEO Geoff Lodge joined the panel for a Q&A.

This event was brought to you thanks to generous sponsorship from Regen Energy. https://regenenergy.com.au/

Visit our website for similar events https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/
Visit the Renewables in Ag Conference website for more information about the 2021 conference https://www.renewablesinagconference.com.au/

Thanks also to the partners of the Renewables in Agriculture Conference:
NSW Farmers, NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, National Irrigators’ Council, Clean Energy Council, Queensland Farmers’ Federation, National Farmers’ Federation and ReAqua.

Authorised by F. Davis, 6 Lewis Drive, Castlemaine VIC 3450

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On Tuesday 1 December, Farmers for Climate launched their latest briefing paper Foot off the Gas: How a gas-led recovery will impact Australian farmers.

This briefing paper explores the impacts of gas extraction on rural Australia’s natural capital, economy and social capital. It finds that increasing gas production in Australia creates obstacles to the agriculture sector’s economic viability, social cohesion, environmental stewardship and ability to meet sustainability goals.

Wendy Cohen, CEO of Farmers for Climate Action, launched the briefing paper. Wendy was joined by Richard Heath, Executive Director of the Australian Farm Institute, and Niall Blair, former leader of the New South Wales National Party.

The briefing paper was written by the Australian Farm Institute, commissioned by Farmers for Climate Action and Australian Conservation Foundation.

You can read the full report here: https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/foot-off-the-gas/

Sign the petition here: https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/portfolio/keep-gas-off-our-farms/

Authorised by F. Davis, 6 Lewis Dr, Castlemaine VIC 3450

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What trade risks and opportunities lie on our road to net zero? How do we make sure Australian agriculture makes the most of the shift to a low carbon world? How can Australian farmers capitalise on international demand for clean, green produce and not just retain but expand our export markets?

On Friday, 20 November FCA hosted this webinar to hear leading experts from National Farmers’ Federation and Australian Wool Innovation on commodity trading discuss these questions and more.

Ash Salardini, NFF Chief Economist and General Manager Trade, discussed the broad trade implications. Angus Ireland, AWI Program Manager for Fibre Advocacy and Eco Credentials, discussed some of the opportunities already available for sustainable producers.

For more information visit our website https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/

Authorised by F. Davis, 6 Lewis Dr, Castlemaine VIC 3450.

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On Wednesday 11 November, Farmers for Climate Action held Creating Change in Regional Communities.

Former Independent Member of Parliament, Cathy McGowan, and President of the National Farmers Federation, Fiona Simson discussed the future of regional Australia and how it can achieve its full potential.

The discussion was moderated by journalist, farmer and author, Gabby Chan.

Regional Australia is responsible for about 40 percent of the nation’s economic output and provides jobs for around one third of Australia’s workforce. It is the backbone of Australian agriculture, which seeks to grow from a value of around $60 billion to $100 billion over the next decade.

Over the past few years regional communities have been hit hard first by ongoing drought, bushfires and now the COVID recession. Climate change, urbanisation and the changing nature of work poses both challenges and opportunities for regional Australia.

Photo credit: Peter Holding

For more information visit our website https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/

Authorised by F. Davis, c/o The Hub, 233 Barker St, Castlemaine, 3450

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On Friday 25 September 2020, Farmers for Climate Action hosted the first in a new webinar series, The Road to Net Zero. Each webinar will focus on a particular industry or way that farmers can reduce their emissions, providing practical steps towards carbon neutrality.

In this first webinar we focused on livestock emissions. Tom Davison, University of New England, presented on how livestock emissions are calculated on-farm, and the potential areas for emissions reduction. Lucinda Corrigan, Rennylea Angus, spoke to her experiences in selectively breeding for a lower emissions herd and the benefits in doing so.

For more Farmers for Climate Action events visit out website https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/what-we-do/events/

The Regional Horizons and Change in the Air reports can be found here https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/what-we-do/reports/

Photo credit: Angus Emmott Photography

Speaker Bios
Tom Davison
Tom Davison obtained his PhD from the University of Queensland on milk production from tropical grazing systems and led national research into heat stress management for dairy. He held investment positions in research management with Dairy Australia and Meat and Livestock Australia. While with MLA he led the National Livestock Methane Program from 2010-16 that conducted research into productivity in combination with methane mitigation in ruminants. His membership of the Emissions Assurance Reduction Committee and understanding of carbon markets gave rise to leadership of a study into pathways for the Australian red meat industry to become Carbon Neutral.

Lucinda Corrigan
Lucinda is the chair of Farmers for Climate Action and runs a large multi-property cattle genetics enterprise with her husband in the Murray Valley, east of Albury. Lucinda’s leadership on climate change adaption in the grazing industry was recognised by the National Climate Change and Research facility, being named the 2012 Climate Adaption Champion. To accompany this, Lucinda is also the Director or Chair of multiple Organisations and Councils, including the Commissioner of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.

Authorised by F. Davis, c/o The Hub, 233 Barker St, Castlemaine VIC

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On 21 August, Farmers for Climate Action hosted Part 3 of the Regional Horizons Summit, Resilience Strategies.

In Parts 1 & 2 of the Regional Horizons Summit we heard about the threat of climate change, some of the financial implications and the possibilities that renewables and ecosystem service payments bring to agriculture. This webinar helps farmers begin planning practical strategies on their farm to help their farm business not just survive but thrive.

Associate Professor Lauren Rickards, RMIT University, provided insight into building genuine resilience, while Cam Nicholson, Agronomist, provided a framework for on farm decision making.

You can read the Regional Horizons program here https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/portfolio/regional-horizons/

Sign the petition here https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/portfolio/net-zero-by-2050-petition/

Associate Professor Lauren Rickards
Lauren Rickards is a co-leader of the Climate Change Transformations research programme of the Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, and co-director of the Climate Change Exchange to facilitate learning between researchers and practitioners. An interdisciplinary researcher, Lauren is a Lead Author in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report and coleader of the Nature, Risk and Resilience group at the Institute of Australian Geographers. She has worked at the agriculture-climate change interface for the last fifteen years, with a focus on resilience and agricultural extension. This includes projects with Birchip Cropping Group and CSIRO, as an Associate Partner at RM Consulting Group and as coordinator of the with the Primary Industries Adaptation Research Network. @LaurenARickards

Cam Nicholson
Cam Nicholson is a partner in Nicon Rural Services, a consulting business near Geelong working with the grazing and cropping industries and in natural resource management. Cam has been involved in many farmer programs for the GRDC, MLA, Dairy Australia, Southern Farming Systems and Landcare. He provides consultancy advice to farmers and lectures on animal and pasture systems at Marcus Oldham College. His most recent work has focussed on understanding and discussing risk in farming businesses and how to enhance decision making. He and his wife Fiona run a beef and sheep farm on the Bellarine Peninsula turning off cattle for the long fed Japanese market, lambs and wool.

Authorised by F. Davis, c/o The Hub, 233 Barker St, Castlemaine 3450.

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After hearing in Part 1 from Lesley Hughes and Russell Mehmet on the changing climate and future of insuring for climate risk, in Part 2 we turned to the opportunities currently available on farm.

What renewable energy options are there for farmers currently? How can farmers benefit from the latest technological advances? What financial rewards are there for farmers doing good environmental work?

Karin Stark, Farm Renewables Consulting, spoke on her experiences with renewables in agriculture and the barriers to the uptake of new technologies on farm. Doug McNicholl, Meat & Livestock Australia, spoke to the market rewards currently available for farmers who engage in climate smart practices.

Regional Horizons is Farmers for Climate Action’s economic recovery program which places regional Australia at the forefront. (https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/portfolio/regional-horizons/)

The Regional Horizons Summit is a three-part series which takes a deep dive into the big issues that underpin the program, and the risks and rewards it presents for Australian farmers.

Part 1: Knowing and Managing Risks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzenjmEquwo&t=2944s)

Part 2: On-Farm Opportunities

Part 3: Resilience Strategies

Authorised by F. Davis, c/o The Hub, 233 Barker St, Castlemaine VIC, 3450

Karin Stark
Karin Stark’s international and professional history combines 17 years of engagement with communities around contemporary environmental issues. She was a NSW-ACT Agrifuture’s Rural Womens Award Finalist last year for her work convening the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference. She is Director of Farm Renewables Consulting, is also a mum and works part time for ReAqua, with previous roles within the NSW State Government and in Landcare. Karin lives on a cotton farm that installed a 500kW solar diesel hybrid pumping system in 2018, the biggest in the country.

Doug McNicholl
Doug is a research and development Program Manager experienced in livestock production, technology development, and business administration. He holds the role of Supply Chain Sustainability Innovation Manager at Meat and Livestock Australia, investing $12M p.a. into innovation management services for the Australian red meat industry. His focus is investing in initiatives that maintain consumer and community support for the red meat industry and increase profitability in a sustainable manner. Investment areas include developing technologies and practices with value propositions for improved management of natural resources, energy, greenhouse gas emissions and waste streams. Former positions include R&D Program Manager at the Australian Meat Processor Corporation and various renewable energy project development roles in the UK.

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How is Australia’s climate changing? Are insurers prepared to cover Australian agriculture against climate risk?

On Friday 17th July we held a webinar to hear the latest from the nation’s leading experts on climate change and insurance.

Professor Lesley Hughes, Climate Council and Macquarie University, provided an overview of the climate change science in Australia, while Russell Mehmet, Willis Towers Watson, helped us to understand the future outlook for insurance, in particular farm insurance in light of climate change.

Regional Horizons is Farmers for Climate Action’s economic recovery program which places regional Australia at the forefront (available here https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/portfolio/regional-horizons/)

The Regional Horizons Summit is a three-part series which takes a deep dive into the big issues that underpin the program, and the risks and rewards it presents for Australian farmers.

Part 1: Knowing and Managing Risks

Part 2: On-Farm Opportunities

Part 3: Resilience Strategies

Sign up for our events here https://farmersforclimateaction.org.au/what-we-do/events/

Speakers
Lesley Hughes
Lesley Hughes is Distinguished Professor of Biology and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Integrity & Development) at Macquarie University. She has been researching the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems for more than 20 years.

She is a former Lead Author in the IPCC’s 4th and 5th Assessment Report, a former federal Climate Commissioner and now a Councillor with the Climate Council of Australia. She is also a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and a Director of WWF-Australia.

Russell Mehmet
Russell is an Account Director at Willis Towers Watson, a multinational risk management, insurance brokerage and advisory company. Russell has spent over 35 years in the insurance industry. During that time, Russell has successfully introduced, marketed and serviced some of Queensland and Australia’s largest accounts in the following sectors; Government, Natural Resources and Utilities, and Real Estate.

Russell has been involved in a number of agricultural specific projects, including the Drought and Climate Adaption Programme, CSIRO Data Project on Land Use and Yield, Queensland Farmers’ Federation Insurance Data Project, and the National Farmers’ Federation On-Farm Financial Risk Management Project – Mutuals and Co-operatives Sub-Project.

Authorised by F. Davis, c/o The Hub, 233 Barker St, Castlemaine 3450.

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