Gisborne farmers learn climate lessons well
East Coast farmers have improved their resilience to climate extremes, according to new research.
The findings were outlined at the New Zealand Meteorological Society conference in Wellington today by Dr Jim Salinger of NIWA.
'The climate in the district has changed since the 1980s,' Dr Salinger said. 'Winters are becoming gradually warmer, with fewer frosts and lower rainfall, while summers are becoming wetter, with more cyclones.'
Researchers from AgResearch and NIWA surveyed two groups of farmers representative of single-owner and multiply-owned land. They worked with the groups to develop a timeline of recent climate extremes on the East Coast, including the drought of 1982/83, and Cyclone Bola in March 1988. Then the researchers analysed how the farmers had adapted to these extremes.
Dr Salinger told the conference that Gisborne farmers have moved from reactive farm management in the early 1980s to highly proactive, flexible pastoral agricultural farming strategies. 'Stocking systems have become flexible to allow earlier lambing. Pastures have improved with the introduction of drought resistant species. Farmers have improved their subdivision of paddocks to make best use of water supplies. They've implemented better strategies to prevent overgrazing, and installed more dams in paddocks and water systems on flats. We found that Gisborne farmers are now using well-planned animal health and production systems, detailed monitoring of pests and diseases, and use of climate forecasts.'
While climate forecasts did not predict the timing of floods and droughts, Dr Salinger said they were useful scene-setters that helped farmers to plan contingencies for both typical and unexpected weather conditions. 'In the longer term, we expect to see more severe droughts on the East Coast with climate change. The changes farmers have already made should help improve farm resilience to such extremes.'
This work was funded by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science & Technology.
