Australia
July 25, 2006Pasture
growth rates across the south-west of Western Australia are
expected to be around 60 per cent down on what they were last
year and could be the worst in nearly 100 years, according to
researchers at CSIRO Livestock
Industries.
The prediction – by the
division’s Pastures from Space group – follows a detailed
analysis of satellite-generated data on weather patterns and
pasture growth rates recorded over the past 12 years.
The data is used to produce
pasture growth maps of the state and assess growth rates of
pasture from Geraldton to Esperance.
Group project leader Dr Steve
Gherardi said that even if rainfall patterns for the rest of the
year were similar to last year, net biomass yields would be no
more than 40 per cent of those in 2005.
He said the data also indicated
Western Australia was experiencing wild extremes in weather with
very good years being followed by extremely bad years.
“2002 was considered a very bad
year for Western Australian farmers but our models show that
2006 will be far worse,” Dr Gherardi said. “By comparison, 2005
was a very good year.
“Unfortunately we are not
Robinson Crusoe here – the eastern states are experiencing
similar patterns with some areas being in drought for more than
five years.
He said that while farmers
could previously wait out bad years with the expectation that
things would improve, recent weather patterns were almost
totally unpredictable.
“Farmers are facing
unprecedented management issues where they need to make
predictions about when and how many animals they need to get rid
of to enable them to carry on until the next break in April next
year.”
Dr Gherardi said the Pastures
from Space project was an example of how science was being used
to assist farmers to manage their properties.
The satellite data provides a
close-up picture of pasture biomass content. Using the latest
technology scientists are able to use the images to measure the
rate of growth of plants down to the level of individual
paddocks on individual farms.
“By using satellite imagery,
climate data and predictive modelling, science is able to give
farmers a clearer indication of what may be around the corner.
The Pastures from Space project is an example of bioscience
making the most of advances in technology and innovation.”
The Pastures from Space project
is supported by CSIRO and the State Departments of Agriculture
and Food and Land Information. |