Coming Together in Beechworth to squarely face climate change

25 October, The George Kerferd Hotel, Beechworth.

From the back paddock to parliament, everyone’s talking about climate change. What does it mean for agriculture? What are the risks? What can farmers do? Climate risk management is fast becoming core business. And about time, because at stake is nothing less than the future of Australian agriculture and whole communities.

The first Managing Climate Risk in Agriculture Conference 2018 drew people from as far as North Queensland, Tasmania and the WA Wheatbelt, and included presentations from 33 experts and facilitators.

More than 200 farmers, agribusiness leaders, health professionals, finance experts, scientists and others gathered in North-East Victoria. They came to get a better handle on the big picture of climate change and to talk about on-farm opportunities and challenges.

Proceedings

The conference programme, speaker profiles, and presentations are available to download. (For more information, please contact the presenters directly.)

Media Coverage

Listen to Country Today’s Libby Price interview speakers: Prof Tim Reeves, Professor in Residence at Dookie Campus, University of Melbourne; Minter Ellison’s Special Counsel on climate risk Sarah Barker; Agriculture Victoria Climate Specialist Graeme Anderson; and Prof Mark Howden; Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute.

Warwick Long also talks to Tim Reeves on ABC Country Hour (34:10).

Watch WIN TV interview FCA Chair Lucinda Corrigan, Deputy Chair Charlie Prell, Sarah Barker, and Tim Reeves

And local North-East podcaster, Robert McLean, recorded the Acknowledgement of Country, NECMA CEO Katie Warner’s address, and Tim Reeves’ keynote presentation also interviewed Lucinda Corrigan, and (earlier) Sarah Barker and FCA Strategic Advisor Corey Watts.

You can also follow the conference on Twitter with #ClimateRiskAg2018.

A Partnership Effort

To all our speakers, facilitators, volunteers and other supporters—thank you!

Thanks especially to our conference partners: DELWP, North East CMA, Goulburn Broken Greenhouse Alliance, Indigo Shire, the Ovens Landcare Network, Gecko CLaN, and Greta Valley Landcare Group. FCA is supported in Victoria by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and the William Buckland Foundation.

More than 200 people, from all over Australia, took part in the conference, including former MP, Tony Windsor, pictured here with FCA Chair, Lucinda Corrigan.

We were lucky to be joined by great farming leaders, like South Gippsland farmer, Jenny O’Sullivan. Thanks Jenny!

Minter Ellison’s Sarah Barker talks about the financial and legal liability risks of climate change.

All smiles despite the workload! FCA Chair Lucinda Corrigan and Deputy Director, Fiona Davis.

A big shout out to all our wonderful volunteers for stepping in and stepping up. Thanks guys!

We’re in the papers! (The Wangaratta Chronicle, to be exact.)

L–R: FCA Strategic Advisor Corey Watts, Minter Ellison Special Counsel Sarah Barker, Currie Communications MD Susan McNair (Conference MC), and Prof Tim Reeves, University of Melbourne.

L–R: FCA Deputy Chair Charlie Prell, South-West dairy farmer and FCA Climate-Smart Agriculture Fellow, Karrinjeet Singh-Mahil, and FCA scientific advisor, Prof Mark Howden from ANU.

Getting advice on staying healthy and building resilience in a changing climate. L–R: Dr Susie Burke (Aust. Psychological Soc.), A/Prof Lauren Rickards (RMIT University), NSW sheep and wind farmer Charlie Prell, Benalla beef producer and FCA Climate-Smart Agriculture Fellow Kerri Robson, and Indigo Shire’s Helen Jones.

Birchip Cropping Group CEO Chris Sounness and FCA scientific advisor and climate-smart agriculture expert Prof Richard Eckard (University of Melbourne) continue discussions into the break.