By Danielle Galvin
FARMERS shouldn’t ignore the effects of climate change or buy into the “doom and gloom”.
That’s the message from a farming workshop, hosted by the Cardinia Shire Council and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) last week.
The meeting, held at the Pakenham Community Hall, invited local farmers and residents to discuss carbon farming, climate projections and agricultural productions in the Westernport Green Wedge.
A three-year report into Agricultural Production in the Westernport Green Wedge was also launched.
DPI climate change policy manager David Griffin spoke at the workshop, and explained the Federal Government’s carbon farming initiative. “Getting into the carbon space must complement your business or it’s not worthwhile,” he said.
“There are implications for agriculture when the carbon tax comes into effect (on 1 July).”
“ The main sector it will affect will be the dairy industry but it will fall across all sectors,” he said.
“It will affect the dairy industry because it is more energy intense and the processes are emissions intense.”
Mr Griffin also recounted an anecdote about a farmer who likened the carbon-farming initiative to gay marriage and said “it wasn’t for him.”
“It’s hard to tell how it will affect in terms of monetary values,” Mr Griffin said.
“Dairy Australia estimates dairy farmers’ costs will increase $4000, Australian Farmers Institute estimates closer to $6000.”
DPI research scientist Victor Sposito said that Australia’s future was unwritten in regards to how to handle climate change.
“The problem that we are facing is that there is misinformation regarding climate change,” he said.
“If the predictions are right then we are just at the beginning of major change.”
Mr Sposito, who worked on the joint report with the council, said the warming of the climate was beyond doubt.
“We need to adapt to the impacts of climate change,” he said.
“Don’t believe the doom and gloom – there are opportunities for change.”
Another DPI scientist who worked on the report, Harmen Romejin said that climate change may have a significant impact on agricultural growth and production in the Westernport Green Wedge.
“Changes to values of key climatic variables would potentially impact the optimal growth for all commodities,” he said.
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