Land management and farming in Australia 2007-08

Source: Aust. Bureau of Statistics
"This publication presents information on agricultural land management practices. Data were collected in the 2007-08 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) conducted by the ABS. The publication and related datacubes provide important information on a variety of management practices of Australian agricultural businesses, including cropping and pasture management, soil management, fertiliser use, surface water and effluent management, natural environment conservation protection and farm management. The estimates in this publication provide benchmark data on resource management practices for the Australian Government's Caring for our Country program. This program is a Commonwealth government initiative that seeks to achieve an environment that is healthy, better protected, well managed and resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate."

Extending the sustainable management of kangaroos

Source: RIRDC
"Kangaroo harvesting is entrenched as an essential agricultural and environmental management tool in the arid grazing rangelands of Australia. A significant amount of research exists which confirms that harvesting kangaroos at the maximum sustainable yield of the population delivers a considerable benefit to agricultural enterprise margins. More-over doing so also aids in biodiversity maintenance. Overgrazing remains one of the biggest sustainability threats to the rangelands environment. Various state and territory governments regulations prevent commercial kangaroo harvesting in large sections of grazing lands in Australia. This project was commissioned to identify these restricted areas, the impediments involved and attempts to gain commercial access key identified regions."

On-farm impacts of an Australian emissions trading scheme

Source: RIRDC
"This report provides detailed information on the impacts of a CPRS at the farm level. While embedding its analysis in an economywide perspective, this report provides detailed impact estimates for each agricultural sector and each type of farm. It will be a useful basis for those contemplating investment or formulating policy and will help to inform RIRDC as it plans its research and development priorities into the future."

Government drought support: inquiry report

Source: Productivity Commission
"Governments need to commit to a long term reform path that recognises that the primary responsibility for managing risks, including from climate variability and change, rests with farmers."

Soil carbon for carbon sequestration and trading: a review of issues for agriculture and forestry

Source: AFFA
"This review looks at factors that may influence organic soil carbon and issues facing its inclusion in a carbon trading scheme in the future. In order for organic soil carbon to be included in an enterprise-level carbon trading scheme, it must be measurable in an efficient and inexpensive way and at scales small enough to be applicable at the farm level. The review highlights areas where further information is needed."

Estimates of carbon mitigation potential from agricultural and forestry activities

Source: U.S. Congressional Research Service
"In the United States, the agriculture and forestry sectors account for less than 10% of current estimated total U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually. Combined, these sectors are estimated to emit nearly 600 million metric tons CO2 equivalent (MMT CO2-Eq.) each year, most of which is emitted from the agriculture sector. Current estimates of the combined amount of carbon sequestered by the agriculture and forestry sectors is reported at about 800 MMT CO2-Eq. per year, most of which is attributable to carbon stocks and uptake by trees in the forestry sector. Numerous studies estimate the additional GHG mitigation potential of farm and forestry activities. Among these, two commonly cited studies are those conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)."

Quantifying salinity risk from modern agriculture in brigalow landscapes

Source: RIRDC
"The release of the Queensland DNRM Salinity Hazard map for southern Queensland in 2002 created significant concerns at the political, community and local farm levels. Questions were raised on the likelihood of secondary salinity outbreaks locally and downstream, and how current or future land management strategies may impact on the realisation of the salinity risk for the region. This study seeks to address some of these questions by developing information aimed at improving our understanding of environmental management in areas of soil salinity, deep drainage and salt movement in brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) landscapes. It will be of interest to farmers, land managers, policy makers and researchers working in brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) landscapes of Queensland and Northern NSW."

Climate change and the Australian agriculture sector

Source: Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
"This final report addresses two aspects of the Senate inquiry's terms of reference: the implications of Australia's likely future climate for current farm enterprises and possible future industries; and the need for a national strategy to assist Australian agricultural industries to adapt to climate change. The report discusses some of the risks and opportunities that climate change presents to current and future farm industries and discusses some implications for the Australian agricultural sector arising from a proposed emissions trading scheme. It also examines the need for a national strategy to assist agricultural industries to adapt to climate change."

Assessment of methane capture and use from the intensive livestock industry

Source: RIRDC
"This report explores the viability of methane capture and use systems for the Australian intensive livestock industry. A review of existing manure methane systems from intensive livestock industries operating within Australia and overseas is presented and the technologies that are best suited for capturing methane in the Australian context are identified."

Climate change and the Australian agricultural sector

Source: Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
"The committee has decided to report in two stages. This interim report addresses two parts of the Inquiry’s terms of reference. Chapter 2 of the report outlines the scientific evidence available on the likely future climate of Australia’s key agricultural production zones. Chapter 3 of the report discusses the adequacy of existing drought assistance and exceptional circumstances programs to cope with long-term climatic changes."

Understanding land use change and U.S. ethanol expansion

Source:Renewable Fuels Association
"The amount of agricultural land required to produce 15 billion gallons of grain ethanol in the United States by 2015, as required by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), is likely to be less than 1 percent of total world cropland, according to a new report released today by the Renewable Fuels Association. According to the report, “Understanding Land Use Change and U.S. Ethanol Expansion,” gains in agricultural productivity, coupled with the contribution of feed produced as an ethanol co-product, are expected to significantly mitigate the need for conversion of non-agricultural lands to support expanded U.S. biofuels production."

Agriculture and emissions trading: the impossible dream?

Source: The Australia Institute
"The ability to measure emissions accurately and affordably is a pre-requisite for including any source of emissions in a robust ETS. While it is relatively easy to measure energy combustion emissions, this is not the case for agriculture. The three main gases produced from agricultural enterprises are carbon dioxide, methane from the digestion systems of livestock and nitrous oxide from chemical processes and microbial activity in agricultural soils. The amount of agricultural emissions depends on a number of factors, many of them not anthropogenic (human-induced) in nature. The Government wants to include agriculture in the CPRS because it sees the market as being the lowest-cost method of reducing emissions. This paper argues that the Government’s rationale is incorrect; including agricultural emissions in the CPRS is problematic for several reasons."

Browsing on fences: pastoral land rights, livelihoods and adaptation to climate change

Source: International Institute for Environment and Development
"Climate change leading to rising temperatures and increasing rainfall variability will affect different regions and people in different ways. The implications of climate change for pastoral livelihoods are not yet fully understood. Two opinions prevail. Some see pastoral groups as the ‘canaries in the coalmine’ in the sense that that they will be the first to lose their livelihoods as rangelands and water points dry out. Others argue that pastoralists are the best equipped to adapt to climate change, as pastoral livelihood strategies are honed to respond to scarce and variable natural resources and cope with difficult and uncertain agro-ecological conditions. In this scenario, climate change could result in an extension of territories where pastoralism could show comparative advantages."

Managing Australian soils: a discussion paper

Source: CSIRO
"The importance of sustainable soil management in relation to issues such as climate change, food production, and the carbon and water cycles is canvassed in a new discussion paper.The discussion paper highlights a lack of recognition of the connection between soil management and environmental issues such as climate change and water availability, or between soil management and food security as the major problems with present soil management practices and policies."

SmartCane riparian and wetland areas on cane farms

Source: BSES
"This booklet aims to ■ provide the sugarcane growing industry with guidelines for sustainable management of riparian lands and wetlands associated with sugarcane production;■ promote to landholders the benefits of adoption of the BMP in protecting and enhancing wetland biodiversity, fishery production and water quality; ■ document examples of where the implementation of BMP has achieved improvements in environmental performance without impacting adversely on farm productivity;■ ensure that the BMP is acceptable to, and endorsed by, the sugarcane industry; and ■ identify the necessary incentives for cane rowers to adopt BMP to protect and enhance the ecological values of wetlands on cane farms."

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) wetland initiatives

Source: USDA
"USDA has announced that additional payment incentives are being provided through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to agricultural producers to encourage enhanced wetland and bottomland hardwood conservation. Included are practice, signing and soil rental rate incentives."

The state of food and agriculture 2008

Source: FAO
"The State of Food and Agriculture 2008 explores the implications of the recent rapid growth in production of biofuels based on agricultural commodities. The boom in liquid biofuels has been largely driven by policies in developed countries in support of climate-change mitigation, energy security and agricultural development. The growing demand for agricultural commodities for the production of biofuels is having significant repercussions on agricultural markets, and concerns are mounting over their negative impact on the food security of millions of people across the world. At the same time, the environmental impacts of biofuels are also coming under closer scrutiny."

2007 water quality report: Great Barrier Reef catchments and inshore ecosystems

Source: QLD EPA
"This report focuses on catchments identified as priorities by the Reef Plan and near-shore marine ecosystems of the Reef. It applies a pressure–state–impact–response framework across land management, water quality and reef health. It compiles best available data from a variety of sources and is a first step in providing a comprehensive, integrated and statistically robust assessment for the Reef and its catchments."

An overview of climate change adaptation in Australian primary industries: impacts, options and priorities

Source: CSIRO
"This review has identified a number of potential options for Australian agriculture to adapt to climate change. Many of these options are extensions or enhancements of existing activities that are aimed at managing the impacts of existing climate variability and improving the sustainability and efficiency in the use of natural resources."

Climate change: opportunities and challenges in Australian agriculture

source: ABARE
"The paper examines some of the projected changes in Australian climate and their potential impacts on Australian agricultural production and exports. It provides a brief discussion of potential adaptation and mitigation options and strategies available to the Australian agriculture sector to respond to climate change."