Managing Frost Risk: A Guide for Southern Australian Grains

Grain growers have implemented new developments in technology to improve water use efficiency by better managing rainfall variability and drought. As a result, average yield has increased over time as has the average area sown to wheat. Unfortunately, while yields and cropping area have increased, frost remains a significant risk.

Frost in cereals can be more devastating than drought as it is a sudden impact. This book is the final outcome of 5 years of Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) funded frost agronomy research in southern Australia to provide grain growers with a risk decision guide on preparing for and dealing with frost.

This book will allow cereal producers to:

• develop a better understanding of how frost damages wheat
• understand and estimate their exposure to frost risk
• understand the best economic options for sowing time, based on their exposure to frost risk
• know the best agronomic strategies to employ for minimising frost risk
• know how to make early assessments of frost damaged wheat
• implement management options for frost damaged wheat
• know where to find support for the future in the aftermath of suffering a serious frost.

Climate Risk Management Resource Manual

 This colour manual contains information about:

• understanding the weather
• understanding the forecasts
• ocean and atmosphere measurements in forecasting
• understanding climate risks
• where to access forecasts
• useful websites
• price risk management
• decision support tools to manage climate risks.

Climate Risk Seasonal Outlook Pocket Guides

Two booklets have been produced:

• one for wool producers in the South Australian Rangelands
• one for croppers south of Goyder's line.

These pocket guides show the probability of receiving a wetter or drier season for the following 3 months, and include:

• up to a one month lead time with each 3 month seasonal climate outlook
• when seasonal climate outlooks are more accurate during the year
• three month rainfall and pasture growth outlook maps for the wetter or drier seasons
• the role of the oceans and atmosphere as a trigger point to implement management decisions
• where to find these trigger points.
  

It is recommended that you attend a Climate Risk Management Workshop or Best Practice meeting to receive these booklets.

A Guide to Climate Change and Adaptation in Agriculture in South Australia

This guide will help you to better plan for short and longer-term climate change challenges and opportunities in agriculture by providing you with a simplified background on:

• greenhouse emissions
• climate change trends
• climate change projections
• climate change impacts on agriculture
• climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture.