Yes, agriculture will adapt and modify techniques and processes to alleviate climate change affects on yield and productivity. Water use in broadacre terms is reliant on natural rainfed systems, therefore by using moisture retention methods and the right cropping rotation crops will endure the climate.
lambsy
Tags: litfuse0208
February 8, 2008 at 2:56 am
I agree. Agriculture will adapt. Will the current crop of farmers and bureaucrats?
February 8, 2008 at 3:27 am
Howdy new blogger! Do you think that gm crops bred for drier conditions will find their way onto our continent?
February 8, 2008 at 6:07 am
Drought tolerant wheats are being developed as a GM seed. the problem with take up by the farming community is the cost of purchasing the new seed and the paybacks of growing it.
February 9, 2008 at 3:37 am
[...] Lambsy thinks the type of broadacre farming prevalent here in South Australia is sustainable because there is scope to adapt. [...]
February 11, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I have just listened to a great podcast about the future of rainfed agriculture verus irrigated crops. You might like to listen. It is the the 2007 Birdsall-Dreiss Lecture from Dr Bridget Scanlon, presenting an address on the:
‘Impacts of Changing Land Use on Subsurface Water Resources in Semi-arid Regions’.
http://www.icewarm.com.au/page.php?pId=257
Bridget makes some interesting comments about the long term benefits see after once off deep ripping.
February 12, 2008 at 8:38 am
Hi also, new to blogging, I think the public acceptance of new GM cereals crops will also take time.