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NRM on farms

News about climate and natural resource management in agriculture October 2017

CONTENTS Biodiversity

Climate

Climate impacts

Climate tools

Emissions

Energy

Events

Food

Land use

Soils

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Sustainability

Water

CLIMATE

Seasonal outlook

The October to December outlook shows an equal chance of wetter or drier conditions for most of Australia, with October likely to be wetter than average for large parts of the eastern and central mainland. Temperatures are likely to be warmer than average for northern and south-eastern Australia. Climate influences are likely to compete, with a drying influence in the Indian Ocean cancelling out a wetter influence from the Pacific. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/overview/summary/ http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/overview/video

Ocean surface temperatures cooling Sea surface temperatures are cooler than average in the eastern equatorial Pacific, continuing a cooling trend since mid-winter. http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/ocean/sst/anomaly/index.html http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/#tabs=Sea-surface

Photo courtesy Jayfields Nursery, Holbrook in southern NSW. If you would like to submit a photo for the masthead illustrating good NRM

management in agriculture please send it to nrmonfarms@iprimus.com.au

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Subsurface temperatures cooling Cool anomalies have developed across most of the equatorial Pacific down to 200m. In some areas sub-surface anomalies are more than 4 degrees cooler than average for September. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/

ENSO is still neutral but La Nina possible The El Niño–Southern Oscillation is neutral, but sea surface temperatures have cooled since mid-winter, and international climate models suggest further cooling is likely. Five of eight models used by BOM suggest SSTs will cool to La Niña thresholds by December 2017, but only four maintain these values for long enough to be classified as a La Niña event. While unusual, it is not unheard of for La Niña develop this late in the year. Late-developing La Niña events have had a mixed effect on summer rainfall: some have resulted in widespread wet conditions across eastern Australia, and others have had little effect. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/outlook/

El Nino models suggesting neutral to La Nina conditions

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/model-summary/

IOD models indicate neutral over summer

Three of the six climate models surveyed suggest positive IOD thresholds may be reached during spring, but it may now be too late to become an event. If a positive IOD eventuated it would be short-lived, as events typically decay by December. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/#tabs=Indian-Ocean

SOI The 30-day Southern Oscillation Index to 24 September was +4.1, and the 90-day value was +5.2, all within the ENSO neutral range. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/#tabs=SOI

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Australia in September: Very dry and hot in the east

September rainfall was below to very much below average over much of Australia. It was the lowest on record for the Murray-Darling Basin as a whole, and for NSW where rainfall was 86 per cent below average and the lowest on record for areas of the east coast and southwest. Rainfall was above average across much of the west of WA, Central Australia, western Tasmania, and the western and southern coast of Victoria. Daytime temperatures were exceptionally warm, especially NSW, Queensland, and the Top End. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/aus/summary.shtml

Drought conditions Serious to severe deficiencies are present at the 4-month timescale across most of NSW, and parts of Qld, SA, WA and Victoria. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/drought/drought.shtml

GLOBAL CLIMATE

Recent global climate statistics The globally averaged temperature over land and ocean surfaces for August 2017 was the third highest for the month of August in the NOAA global temperature dataset record, which dates back to 1880. The June–August seasonal global temperature was also third highest on record, while the year-to-date global temperature was second warmest in the 138-year record. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/global-climate-201708

Openings in Antarctic sea ice affect worldwide climate Climate modelling has found that openings in Antarctic sea ice, known as polynyas, can release ocean heat which then impacts sea and atmospheric temperatures and wind patterns around the globe and even rainfall around the tropics. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170911122659.htm

Ocean warming weakens the Polar vortex In winter, freezing Arctic air is normally 'locked' by strong circumpolar winds high in the atmosphere, known as the stratospheric polar vortex, so that the cold air is confined near the pole. However, when sea-ice north of Scandinavia and Russia melts, the uncovered ocean releases more warmth into the atmosphere and this can impact the atmosphere up to about 30 km height in the stratosphere, disturbing the polar vortex and allowing cold polar air to escape and cause extreme winter chill in parts of the northern hemisphere. These weak states have become more persistent over the past four decades and can explain most of the observed cooling of Eurasian winters since 1990. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170922094027.htm

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CLIMATE IMPACTS

Why southern Australia winter rains are in decline Normally in winter, storms come up from the southern Indian Ocean and deliver rain to the south of the country. But Australia’s south-west May to July rainfall has reduced by about 19 per cent since 1970; in the south-east April–October rainfall has declined 11 per cent since the mid-1990s. Winter rain in Australia's southern wheatbelt had declined by 28 per cent since 1990. Drivers of the decline include the southern annular mode (SAM) and the subtropical ridge (STR). Positive SAM keeps storms south of the continent which then experiences clear, calm days and cold, frosty nights. The STR, a belt of high pressure systems, prevents rains moving north. This winter, SAM was positive until late July when it went negative and allowed rain bearing fronts into southern Australia. However these rains could not go into central NSW or WA’s northern wheatbelt due to the unseasonal southerly position of the STR acting as a rain-barrier. Low rainfall and frosts due to the clear skies have jeopardised this year’s crops. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-20/winter-getting-drier-in-southern-australia-heres-why/8956754

Extreme temperatures projected to be higher than expected Australian research into severity of future temperature extremes demonstrates the significant potential benefits of limiting warming to 1.5°C, compared to 2°C or warmer. The research found that while the difference in global-average warming during the hottest Australian summer and the 2°C Paris target is 1.1°C, extremes of 2.4°C above the observed summer record are simulated. This example represents a more than doubling of the magnitude of extremes, compared with global mean change, and such temperatures are unexpected based on the observed record alone. Projected extremes do not necessarily scale linearly with mean global warming. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2017GL074612/abstract

Seasonal bushfire outlook This map from the Bushfire and natural Hazards CRC shows the bushfire outlook for Australia through to the end of 2017. https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/hazardnotes/38

Hot and dry: Australia’s weird winter This new Climate Council report concludes that climate change made Australia’s warmest winter on record 60 times more likely. https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/2017-weird-winter

Flood fatalities and roads Recent analysis of flood fatalities in Australia identified that 49 percent of flood fatalities were vehicle related. New research indicates that some road characteristics are common among sites where motorists have entered floodwaters and fatalities have occurred. Most frequently observed factors were small upstream catchment size and rate of rise, presence of road barricades, depth of flooding adjacent to the roadway, absence of lighting, dipping road grade, lack of kerb and guttering, and inability of motorists to easily turn around. https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/publications/biblio/bnh-3923

Carbon dioxide and food nutrition This article from the US magazine Politico looks at the growing body of research into the relationship between plant nutrition and carbon dioxide levels. There is a possibility that as rising CO2 speeds up photosynthesis, it leads plants to pack in more carbohydrates such as glucose at the expense of protein, iron and zinc. http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/09/13/food-nutrients-carbon-dioxide-000511

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Contribution of deforestation to climate change A US study shows that deforestation and subsequent use of lands for agriculture or pasture, especially in tropical regions, contribute more to climate change than previously thought. While only 20 percent of the rise in carbon dioxide caused by human activity originates from land use and land-cover change, that proportion increases to 40 percent once co-emissions like nitrous oxide and methane are factored in. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170905202946.htm

Significant changes in non-extreme precipitation Analysis of more than 50 years of North American rainfall data has found that changes in non-extreme precipitation are more significant than previously realised. The researchers identified several regions where the microclimate -- local climate determined by elevation and ecosystem -- appears to have a significant effect on precipitation trends. For instance, in Oregon's Willamette Valley, they observed decreases in total annual precipitation, number of days per year with precipitation, and number of consecutive days with precipitation. Areas immediately surrounding the valley, however, had increases in those measures. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170911122659.htm

Climate change threatens parasites and food webs A new study concludes that as many as one in three parasites – including tapeworms, roundworms, ticks, lice and fleas – could become extinct due to climate change. Their disappearance could destabilise many ecosystems, because they play a critical role in maintaining food webs; in their absence, a diverse range of animals could be threatened with extinction. https://www.carbonbrief.org/climate-change-drive-third-parasites-extinction-2070

Lake colour and climate Satellite observations show that warming of large lakes amplifies their colour. Lakes that are green due to high phytoplankton content tend to become greener in warm years as phytoplankton content increases. Clear, blue lakes with little phytoplankton, on the other hand, tend to become even bluer in warm years caused by declines in phytoplankton. Warming of lakes tends to amplify the richness or poverty of phytoplankton. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170921095024.htm

CLIMATE TOOLS

Mitigation strategies for avoiding climate change This US paper outlines a three-lever strategy to limit warming: the carbon neutral lever to achieve zero net emissions of CO2, the super pollutant lever to mitigate short-lived climate pollutants, and the carbon extraction and sequestration lever to thin the atmospheric CO2 blanket. http://www.pnas.org/content/114/39/10315.abstract

Agricultural climate insurance may be maladaptive A recent review of the efficacy of agricultural climate insurance suggests agricultural insurance programs shape land use decisions and may generate serious economic, social, and ecological consequences. If insurance is to be an appropriate tool for mitigating the impacts of climate change, it needs to be carefully developed with specific local social-ecological contexts and existing risk coping strategies in mind. Otherwise, it is liable to create long-term maladaptive outcomes and undermine the ability of these systems to reduce vulnerability. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170925113306.htm

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Australian natural disaster resilience index The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC has developed a natural disaster resilience index to measure a community’s coping capacity and adaptive capacity. https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/hazardnotes/39

Indigenous weather knowledge The Indigenous Weather Knowledge website documents traditional weather and climate knowledge developed and passed down through generations by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. http://www.bom.gov.au/iwk/?ref=ftr

Understanding fire weather Weather-related factors that contribute to an increased risk of bushfire danger include high temperatures, low humidity, little recent rain, abundant dry vegetation, strong winds and thunderstorms. http://media.bom.gov.au/social/blog/1538/understanding-fire-weather/

EMISSIONS

Global emissions static in 2016 Global emissions of climate-warming carbon dioxide remained static in 2016 due to less coal burning and increasing renewable energy according to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. CO2 emissions from China, the world’s biggest emitter, fell 0.3% in 2016. US CO2 emissions fell 2.0% and Russia’s 2.1%, with the EU flat, although UK emissions tumbled by 6.4% as coal burning plunged. Of the top five emitters, only India’s CO2 emissions rose, by 4.7%. Significant increases were also seen in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Turkey and Ukraine. http://themasites.pbl.nl/publications/pbl-2017-summary-trends-in-global-co2-and-total-greenhouse-gas-emissions-2983.pdf

Grazed and confused This report from the UK Food Climate Research Network dissects claims made by different stakeholders in the debate on grazing systems and their greenhouse gas emissions and evaluates them against the best available science to assess the role of grazing ruminants in contributing to, or mitigating climate change. http://www.fcrn.org.uk/projects/grazed-and-confused

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Livestock emissions higher than IPCC estimates Researchers from the Joint Global Change Research Institute have found that global livestock methane emissions for 2011 are 11% higher than the estimates based on guidelines provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2006. This encompasses an 8.4% increase in CH4 from enteric fermentation in dairy cows and other cattle, and a 36.7% increase in manure management. Total livestock methane emissions have increased most in Asia, Latin America and Africa, have increased less in the US and Canada, and decreased slightly in Western Europe. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170929093248.htm

Review of Carbon Farming Initiative and ERF The Climate Change Authority is reviewing the Carbon Farming Initiative legislation and the Emissions Reduction Fund, focusing on the operational aspects of the ERF. The Authority will draw on submissions from the public, relevant submissions to its March 2017 issues paper, Action on the land: reducing emissions, conserving natural capital and improving farm profitability, and to Department of Environment and Energy’s 2017 Review of Australia’s climate change policies. http://www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/review-carbon-farming-initiative-legislation-and-emissions-reduction-fund-%E2%80%93-consultation-paper

Forest degradation makes tropical forests carbon emitters Widespread deforestation, degradation and disturbance of tropical forests means they are now a net source of carbon to the atmosphere instead of a sink. Gross annual losses were about 862 teragrams of carbon and while gains were approximately 437 teragrams of carbon. Nearly 60 percent of losses occurred in Latin America, 24 percent in Africa and 16% in Asia. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170928142044.htm

SOILS

Sydney’s biosolids fertilising agriculture Treated sewage biosolids from Sydney are helping farmers grow more sheep and better crops, and demand outstrips supply. The biosolids are rich in phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon, and Bathurst farmer Stuart Kelly says his treated paddocks can now support four times as many sheep, while roots of oatplants are deeper, the grain bigger and the quality better. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/rocket-fuel-sydney-solids-the-countrys-golden-manure-20170907-gyctgc.html

Soil carbon under grassland and cropland UK research into soil carbon under grassland converted from arable cropland found no differences in SOC stocks in the top 30 cm between grassland up to 17 years old and arable cropland at 14 sites across the UK. However, SOC showed different distribution patterns, being concentrated in the top 10 cm under grassland. Soil microbial communities were significantly different between arable and grassland, with higher biomass and lesser dominance by bacteria in grassland soils. A land use conversion experiment showed these changes occurred within one year of land use change. Failure of grassland soils to accumulate SOC was attributed to reduced available soil nitrogen, resulting in low productivity. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-11083-6

Can American soil be brought back to life? This article from Politico magazine looks at the increasing focus on the living soil as the basis for productive agriculture. “Promoting soil health comes down to three basic practices: Make sure the soil is covered with plants at all times, diversify what it grows and don’t disrupt it.” http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/09/13/soil-health-agriculture-trend-usda-000513

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Soil carbon debt of 12,000 years of human land use Land use and land cover change has resulted in substantial losses of carbon from soils globally, but credible estimates of how much soil carbon has been lost have been difficult to generate. A new study estimates that agricultural land uses have resulted in the loss of 133 Pg C from the soil. Hotspots of soil carbon loss often associated with major cropping regions and degraded grazing lands suggest identifiable regions that should be targets for soil carbon restoration efforts. http://www.pnas.org/content/114/36/9575.full

WATER

Water storage levels

http://www.bom.gov.au/water/dashboards/#/water-storages/summary/state

Interim report into NSW water management Ken Matthews’ interim report on his investigation into NSW water management and compliance recommends the establishment of a NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator, initially responsible for water, and progressively taking on responsibility for other natural resources as determined by the government. The regulator would oversight delivery of compliance and enforcement activities, make decisions on the handling of serious alleged offences, and report publicly on plans and performance. https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/120193/Matthews-interim-report-nsw-water.pdf

PC draft report on national water reform progress While national water reform has delivered significant benefits, a draft report from the Productivity Commission says governments need to respond to the challenges posed by population growth, climate change and changing community expectations. Reform priorities include improving national policy settings in areas such as entitlement and planning arrangements for extractive industries, and the water requirements of Indigenous people; new irrigation infrastructure with a focus on environmental sustainability and financial viability; and urban and environmental water management. Submissions on the draft report close on 19 October, with the final report due on 31 December. https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/water-reform/draft

MDB environmental watering and knowledge research This project collaborates with water managers to investigate the uncertainties around how best to use environmental water, and apply this knowledge in decision making. The research will improve the ability of water agencies to assess and understand changes in ecological health over the medium to long-term. http://ewkr.com.au/

Communities working to restore rivers The latest issue of Rip Rap, the newsletter of the Australian River Restoration Centre features stories that show how working with local communities can reap great benefits, whether it be paddling down the Murray, tracking waterbirds or counting seeds. You can download the newsletter for free by registering online. https://arrc.com.au/portfolio/riprap/

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Time lapse cameras capture Murray flooding Murray valley time lapse cameras show the rise and fall of 2016 floodwaters and the response of wildlife. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/environmentalwater/murray-lower-darling-news.htm

BIODIVERSITY

Privatising stock routes may threaten ecosystems A new study in the Australian Journal of Botany suggests that privatising stock routes may endanger vital woodlands and put vulnerable species at risk. Travelling stock reserves across NSW represent some of the most intact examples of now-endangered temperate grassy woodland ecosystems, but their use is now under review. https://theconversation.com/review-of-historic-stock-routes-may-put-rare-stretches-of-native-plants-and-animals-at-risk-84049

Cats kill more than 1 million birds a day New research combining data on the cat population, hunting rates and spatial distribution suggests cats kill 377 million birds a year. Rates are highest in Australia’s dry interior, suggesting that feral cats pose a serious and largely unseen threat to native bird species. https://theconversation.com/for-whom-the-bell-tolls-cats-kill-more-than-a-million-australian-birds-every-day-85084

Biomass production increases with species richness Analysis of the effects of biodiversity on biomass suggests that biomass production increases with species richness in a wide range of wild taxa and ecosystems. The role of biodiversity in maintaining productive ecosystems should figure prominently in global change science and policy. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v549/n7671/full/nature23886.html

Biodiverse ecosystems are more productive and stable A Swiss study of some 450 landscapes harbouring 2200 plant and animal species has found that ecosystems with high biodiversity are more productive and stable in fluctuating environmental conditions than those with a low diversity of species, and also adapt better to climate-driven environmental changes. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170904165641.htm

Organic farming and plant diversity encourage insects An international review of abundance and diversity of insects in agriculture found that both organic farming and in-field plant diversification exerted the strongest effects on pollinators and predators. Conserving diverse plant and insect communities in farming systems requires sustainable practices that operate both within fields and across landscapes. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.13714/full

ENERGY

Energy market glossary The Conversation has developed a glossary to help you understand terms used in the current energy debate and how they relate to climate policies, new technologies and the progression of market reform and regulation in Australia. https://theconversation.com/baffled-by-baseload-dumbfounded-by-dispatchables-heres-a-glossary-of-the-energy-debate-84212

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22,000 potential sites for pumped hydro energy ANU researchers have identified 22,000 potential sites for pumped hydro energy storage sites across Australia. Most of these are off-river and all are outside national parks and urban areas. Off-river PHES requires pairs of modestly sized reservoirs at different altitudes, typically with an area of 10 to 100 hectares. The reservoirs are joined by a pipe with a pump and turbine. Water is pumped uphill when electricity generation is plentiful; then, when generation tails off, electricity can be dispatched on demand by releasing the stored water downhill through the turbine. Off-river PHES typically delivers maximum power for between five and 25 hours, depending on the size of the reservoirs. https://theconversation.com/want-energy-storage-here-are-22-000-sites-for-pumped-hydro-across-australia-84275

FOOD

Moreland Food System Strategy Moreland Council launched this strategy last month. The strategy aims for a sustainable, just and vibrant food system that contributes to a more resilient community and a healthier environment; ensures that nutritious food is socially and economically accessible to everyone; and protects and nurtures healthy food culture whilst celebrating diversity http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/globalassets/areas/social-policy/food-systems-strategy.pdf

Paris-compliant food systems This report from the UK Global Food Security program outlines the need for a food system that supports both health and the Paris climate agreement, exploring impacts of food production and consumption as well as potential interventions to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions across the system. https://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/blog/can-food-help-battle-climate-change-insight-paris-compliant-healthy-food-systems/

Foodsource Foodsource is a UK resource on food systems. It currently includes information on food system challenges, environmental impacts of food production, food emissions, and sustainable eating. http://www.foodsource.org.uk/

Defining a healthy diet in a sustainable food system The EAT-Lancet Commission on food, planet and health is developing science-based targets that define a healthy diet in a sustainable food system – and showing how to take action for a better food future. https://foodplanethealth.org/

Comparing the sustainability of local/global food products European analysis of the benefits of local versus global food supply found that local and intermediary products were strongest in health and socio-economic dimensions, while global food products were strongest on climate change mitigation and affordability to consumers. http://www.fcrn.org.uk/research-library/comparing-sustainability-local-and-global-food-products-europe

The ideal school curriculum on food and agriculture An interesting survey by UK Farming and Countryside Education on the ideal school curriculum on food, farming and the countryside found that understanding where food comes from and witnessing farming at first hand are high priorities for a range of stakeholder groups. https://www.face-online.org.uk/documents/A-curriculum-for-food-farming-and-the-countryside.pdf

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LAND USE

Agricultural land and water ownership 2015-16 Results of the ABS’ 2016 survey of agricultural land and water ownership shows that more than 99% of agricultural businesses were wholly Australian owned, and these businesses owned 88% of Australia's agricultural land and controlled 87% of Australia's agricultural water entitlements. Agricultural businesses with some level of foreign ownership held 12% of agricultural land in Australia with the Northern Territory reporting the higher rate of 29.7%. Agricultural businesses with some level of foreign ownership controlled 12.5% of Australia's agricultural water entitlements.

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/7127.0Main%20Features99992015-16

Global Land Outlook 2017 A third of the planet’s land is severely degraded and fertile soil is being lost at the rate of 24bn tonnes a year, according to the United Nations’ first Global Land Outlook. Decreasing productivity can be observed on 20% of the world’s cropland, 16% of forest land, 19% of grassland, and 27% of rangeland. The outlook addresses future challenges and opportunities, including food, water and energy security; climate change and biodiversity conservation; urban, peri-urban and infrastructure development; land tenure, governance and gender; and migration, conflict and human security. https://global-land-outlook.squarespace.com/

SUSTAINABILITY

New network to tackle complex issues in agricultural areas The Birchip Cropping Group Community Network is a new initiative to identify complex challenges faced by rural communities and growers such as adapting to climate change, declining rural populations, human health, environmental diversity, the growing rural/urban divide and the narrowing yield gap, all without clear solution. These issues are often interconnected and can have large scale effects on huge areas, populations and economies. Current opportunities to collaborate on wider regional and rural issues are not possible with existing funding models, which have traditionally only had scope for a single discipline. http://www.bcg.org.au/bcg-community-network-solving-the-big-issues-in-agriculture/

New book on regenerative farming Regenerative farmer Charles Massy has written ‘Call of the reed warbler’, based on his own experiences farming on the Monaro. Subtitled ‘A new agriculture, a new earth’, his book explores transformative and regenerative agriculture and the vital connection between our soil and our health. “I

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believe one cannot gain true ecological literacy without a great empathy with, and understanding of, nature and how it functions. Thus one’s heart also needs to be involved.” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/23/farmer-wants-a-revolution-how-is-this-not-genocide

Special issue on holistic planned grazing The balance of papers in a special issue of the African Journal of Range & Forage Science on Holistic Planned Grazing show that how HPG is managed and where it is used impacts the efficacy of the approach. “While we will do well to develop more mechanistic models that can identify these thresholds and test them in real-life situations, it is certain that broad generalisations will not do. We can neither dismiss Holistic Planned Grazing out of hand nor claim that it will work anywhere. Both land-users and scientists should consider the evidence at hand along with their management goals (production, conservation or restoration) before deciding what livestock management approach is appropriate.” http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tarf20/34/2

The new economy of excrement A growing band of entrepreneurs is addressing one of the biggest challenges in public health, poor sanitation, to make a profit. Using excrement to make fertiliser or fuel are the most obvious strategies, but researchers are also investigating its use in growing plants, breeding catfish, incorporating it into building materials such as cement and bricks, and producing bioplastics, industrial oils and animal food. http://www.nature.com/news/the-new-economy-of-excrement-1.22591

The meat crisis: Sustainable and ethical production The second edition of this book explores the impacts of the global growth in the production and consumption of meat and dairy, including cultural and health factors, and the implications of the likely intensification of farming for both small-scale producers and for animals. Several chapters explore the related environmental issues, from resource use of water, cereals and soya, to the impact of livestock production on global warming and issues concerning biodiversity, land use and the impacts of different farming systems on the environment. A final group of chapters addresses ethical and policy implications for the future of food and livestock production and consumption. https://www.routledge.com/p/book/9781138673298

EVENTS October 16-19 NSW weeds conference, Armidale

http://conferencecompany.com.au/weedsconference/

October 18-20 National private land conservation conference, Hobart http://plc-conference.org.au/

October 25-27 NSW Landcare and Local Land Services conference, Albury http://nswlandcareconference.com.au/

June 2018 Adaptation futures 2018, Cape Town, South Africa http://adaptationfutures2018.capetown/

SUBSCRIBE NRM on Farms is a monthly newsletter summarising recent information about climate and natural resource management relevant to agriculture, and is freely available to anyone interested or involved in agriculture or NRM. To subscribe to future editions, email Rebecca Lines-Kelly at nrmonfarms@iprimus.com.au