The Drought and Climate Adaptation Program is the Queensland Government's 
flagship drought and climate preparedness and adaptation program. 

June 2021
 
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Have you filled out our climate variability survey to go in the draw to win a rain gauge?

Our Drought and Climate Adaptation Program (DCAP) would like to know how you manage climate variability to help shape future funding and planning. To share your experiences, please complete this 5 minute benchmarking survey by 30 June 2021.

You can choose to receive our series of rainfall poster maps, and to go in the draw to win one of three rain gauges. Contact details are not linked with survey responses and will be deleted once the posters have been sent and rain gauge winners drawn.

The winners will be notified by the end of July 2021. You can request a copy of the summary report (when available) after completing the questions.
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Major drought reform for Queensland producers

All primary producers including those involved in DCAP projects will be able to apply for new tailored training, grants and loans as part of a major reform to Queensland’s drought assistance. New measures will help Queensland primary producers improve their management of future droughts without needing a drought declaration across a broad range of agricultural industries.
 
The new drought assistance will be available for application from late 2021 through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA).

The Drought Relief Assistance Scheme (DRAS) will continue for this current drought. Drought-declared producers can continue accessing DRAS support or move to the new measures. DRAS will be phased out as local government areas come out of drought.

Keep an eye out for regional forums explaining the new drought assistance later this year. Some of the new drought assistance measures are jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
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The Australian Drought Monitor reached a major milestone

In May, it was announced that recent rainfall across Queensland improved the drought conditions in five local government areas, reducing the drought-declared area of Queensland from 67.4% to 65%.

Part of the decision to revoke the drought status of the five local government areas was based on the Combined Drought Indicator (CDI). Local Drought Committees used the 12, 24 and 36 month CDI in their assessment of drought and the CDI supported continuation of drought status in many regions.

The CDI is tailored to Australian conditions based on a mixture of four drought indices—rainfall, evaporation, soil moisture and a measure of vegetation greenness from satellites. It’s a product developed by the Northern Australia Climate Program with funding from University of Southern Queensland, the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program (DCAP) and Meat and Livestock Australia’s Donor Company.
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Rainfall burst product introduced at Beef Australia

Dr Chelsea Jarvis from the Northern Australian Climate Program (NACP) introduced the new rainfall burst product in the Rabo Bank Tech Talk Yards at Beef Week in Rockhampton, Queensland in May.

The rainfall burst product is a forecast that predicts the likelihood of 20mm, 30mm, 50mm and 70mm in three consecutive days in the next week or fortnight. It was developed based on feedback from producers who said they need to know when they will get ‘meaningful rain’ (i.e. the amount that would result in a useful pasture response or that they could plant a crop). The product will fill a major decision-making gap for producers in the future. The product is still a prototype, but NACP is working to make it publicly available within the next 12 months. For further information email Tim Cowan.
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New Mulga Lands profitability report available

A new report assessing options to improve profitability and resilience of beef cattle businesses in the Mulga Lands is now available.  Assessment of alternative beef production strategies included:
  • implementing the safe carrying capacity through a reduction in stocking rate
  • weaning, pregnancy-testing and basic vaccinations
  • increasing the age of steer turnoff from yearling steers to 18 months
  • inorganic supplements in the dry period (S, P, N) and/or growing period (S, P)
  • converting from breeding to steer turnover
  • controlled mating
  • feeding whole cottonseed to the breeder herd
  • buffel paddock development
  • destocking in response to dry periods through a) livestock sales or b) sending breeders on agistment.
In addition, the alternative investment options of rangeland goat production and carbon farming were assessed.  Economic analyses for other Queensland regions are also available.
 

For more DAF news visit our website or follow us on social media.
 
 
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