New England Climate and its Problems for Producers

Abstract

While the temperatures and total annual rainfall experienced on the Northern Tablelands are somewhat similar to those on the Southern Tablelands, the seasonal pattern and reliability of rainfall is quite different. This difference means the seasonal growth pattern of pastures on the New England can be very different to that experienced in the south. The challenge for Northern Tablelands graziers is to benefit from the erratic higher summer rainfall whilst also maintaining sufficient winter-green perennials to provide adequate nutrition to animals during the relatively cold and often dry winter period which is so often called the winter feed 'gap'. Recent decades have seen a decline in the amount of rain received, especially over winter. This, together with relatively frequent dry autumns and springs, provides enormous challenges to grazing enterprises. Calculations using the Decision Support Tool GrassGro from 1957 to 2005 show that the past five years have resulted in plant available water being at or below the median conditions experienced over the past 48 years. Graziers require a good understanding of the limitations imposed by the climate if they are to develop sufficiently flexible, tactical and proactive management strategies in order to carry on their enterprises in a profitable and sustainable fashion.