Climate decision-support tools

Transcription

1 August 2008 Climate decision-support tools Australian Rainman Description: A seasonal climate analysis tool containing monthly and daily rainfall for 3800 Australian locations, monthly rainfall and streamflow for 400 Australian locations, and monthly rainfall records for 9500 locations worldwide. Users can analyse records for seasonal, monthly and daily patterns, and forecast seasonal rainfall based on the Southern Oscillation Index and sea surface temperatures. The package also provides basic information and reference material about seasonal climate forecasting. The current version (Rainman Streamflow 4.3) provides the capability for analysing both rainfall and streamflow. Format / Access: CD-ROM software package purchased from Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water Contact: Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water, Phone: , qcca@dpi.qld.gov.au AussieGRASS Description: A spatial simulation model with the capability for assessing current pasture conditions relative to the last 115 years. Output provides estimates of current ground cover, soil moisture, and pasture utilisation, and forecasts the probability of exceeding median pasture growth and runoff in the next three months. Outputs provide decision support for medium-term management operations such as manipulating stocking rates to avoid land degradation. Format / Access: Internet-based tool, with password-protected access. Go to Some components of model output are publicly available as maps. Contact: Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water Phone: Yield Prophet Description: Yield Prophet was developed as a risk-management tool for dryland farming systems Australia-wide. It forecasts crop growth and yield potential based on paddock-specific inputs of soil type, pre-sowing soil water and nitrogen, rainfall, irrigation and nitrogen fertiliser applications, and climate data. Users can determine the impact on yield of decisions relating to variety, sowing time, fertiliser and irrigation. Format / Access: Internet-based tool; subscription can be purchased from website. Go to Contact: Birchip Cropping Group, Phone: , yieldprophet@bcg.org.au

2 Whopper Cropper Description: A database of simulations combining typical management inputs that influence crop production, capable of simulating the effects of interacting resources and agronomic inputs. Climate forecasting capability can be used to examine the extent to which the current Southern Oscillation Index phase may result in a shift of yield and gross margin probabilities. Format / Access: CD-ROM software purchased from Nutrient Management Systems Contact: Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Phone: and Nutrient Management Systems, Phone: , info@nutrientms.com.au (Qld) or Phone: , nutrientmswa@optusnet.com.au (WA) Crop Mate Description: An interactive tool that collates all region-specific climate, weather, soil, crop and economic information available for grain growers into an accessible, accurate and interactive interface. It aims to filter the overabundance of weather and climate information from the internet and other sources, while making full use of relevant data and information freely available online. Crop Mate addresses short, medium, and long-term decisions, depending on the current cropping phase. Format / Access: Spreadsheet-based tool available on request from New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Contact: New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Phone: , nsw.agriculture@dpi.nsw.gov.au Climate Calculator Description: A generic calculator to deal with any climate parameter, including rainfall, temperature, and humidity. It is used primarily to track the progress of the season and to calculate probabilities of user-defined climate events. Format / Access: CD-ROM software package available from Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia. PYCAL Description: A potential-yield calculator that uses daily rainfall and climatic data to determine plant-available water and potential yield for a range of cereal, legume and oilseed crops. Potential yield can be forecast at any time during the growing season using daily rainfall data. Format / Access: CD-ROM software package available for purchase from DAFWA. STIN (STress INdex model) Description: A stress index model for use in Australian wheat-growing regions, forecasting soil moisture and wheat yield. Format / Access: CD-ROM software package available for purchase from DAFWA. Module 19 Climate decision-support tools 2

3 Drought Plan Description: A compilation of software, workshop material, case-study reports and management calculators aimed at providing support for financial and stock management decisions in a variable climate. Format / Access: CD-ROM software package available free of charge Contact: Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Phone How Much? Description: Uses rainfall records to estimate crop yields from crop water use efficiency and the plant-available water capacity of soil. Format / Access: Available for download from the Australian Production Systems Research Unit (APSRU) website. Go to and follow link to Products. Contact: APSRU, christopher.murphy@dpi.qld.gov.au How Wet? Description: Uses rainfall records to estimate how much plant-available water has been stored in the soil and the amount of organic nitrogen that has been converted to an available form during a fallow period. Tracks daily evaporation, runoff and soil moisture, using estimates of weather conditions and rainfall entered by the user. Format / Access: Available for download from the Australian Production Systems Research Unit (APSRU) website. Go to and follow link to Products. Contact: APSRU, christopher.murphy@dpi.qld.gov.au AusVit Description: Vineyard management system designed to help viticulturists achieve target levels of efficiency, yield and fruit quality with respect to climate, while reducing risk of crop loss and minimising inputs. Format / Access: Software available for purchase Contact: CRCV Technologies, Phone: SoWhat Description: A decision-support tool for dryland cereal farmers in areas of South Australia receiving less than 350 mm average annual rainfall. Users can use their own farm records to forecast the effects of early season rainfall on final wheat yields, and the probability of producing an above average or profitable wheat crop. Understanding the effect of early season rainfall allows more informed decision making with regard to total crop area, sowing density, application of nitrogen and future rotations. Requires at least 25 years historical rainfall records and average wheat yields for each year. Format / Access: Software available from the SARDI Climate Applications Unit Contact: South Australia Research & Development Corporation Climate Applications Unit, Phone: , rebbeck.melissa@saugov.sa.gov.au Module 19 Climate decision-support tools 3

4 Flowering Calculator Description: A model to calculate flowering time for a selection of crops and varieties to ensure optimum flowering time and, ultimately, grain yield. It relates this flowering time to frost risk and occurrence of critical temperatures for pod set, and high temperature events during pod development. Format / Access: CD-ROM software package available from DAFWA Rainforecaster Description: Used to compute the chance of rainfall (or rain days) based on phases of the Southern Oscillation Index. Format / Access: Spreadsheet available on request from James Cook University Contact: James Cook University, yvette.everingham@jcu.edu.au SPLaT (Season Protein Likelihoods and Tradeoffs) Description: An aid for making wheat variety and nitrogen fertiliser decisions. SPLaT provides estimates of yield and protein levels under differing scenarios relating to fertiliser use, variety choice, sowing time and soil type. Format / Access: Password protected access available by contacting DAFWA Tact Description: Assesses rainfall and temperature-dependant risks such as sowing opportunities / rain during haymaking or shearing, frost risk, and high-temperature risk. Tact assesses impact of wheat-sowing strategies on yield prospects given soil type and season-to-date rainfall. Format / Access: Password protected access available by contacting DAFWA Rainfall to Pasture Growth Outlook Tool Description: Helps users to make pasture and grazing management decisions by estimating pasture growth in relation to rainfall, soil moisture and other climatic conditions. It provides an outlook of up to three months in advance, using data from more than 3300 weather stations in southern Australia. Format / Access: Free access via Meat & Livestock Australia website. Go to Contact: Meat & Livestock Australia, info@mla.com.au Module 19 Climate decision-support tools 4

5 Climate decision-support tools at a glance Decision-support tool Scale Industry Region Australian Rainman Region Generic Nationwide AussieGRASS Region Grazing Grazing regions Yield Prophet Paddock Wheat, Barley, Canola, Sorghum Dryland & irrigated cropping regions Whopper Cropper Paddock Grains Major cropping regions PYCAL Farm Cereals, legumes, oilseeds Nationwide STIN District Wheat Wheat growing regions Crop Mate Property Grain New South Wales Climate Calculator Region & farm Grain Western Australia Drought Plan Paddock Grazing Queensland How Much? Paddock Cropping Nationwide How Wet? Paddock Cropping Queensland & New South Wales AusVit Vineyard Grape & wine Grape-growing regions SoWhat Property Dryland Cereal South Australia (with <350 mm average annual rainfall) Flowering Calculator Farm / Shire Grain Western Australia Rainforecaster Region Sugar Queensland / northern New South Wales SPLaT Paddock Wheat Western Australia, South Australia Tact Paddock Generic Nationwide Rainfall to Pasture Growth Outlook Tool Paddock Beef and sheep Southern Australia Further Information This information is sourced and adapted from: Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, 2008, Tools to Assist Decision Making, Perth, Land & Water Australia 2008, NRMtoolbar Decision support tools, Canberra, Managing Climate Variability 2005, A stocktake of seasonal climate forecasting applications in Australia, draft report prepared by Rohan Nelson, Managing Climate Variability, Canberra. Rebbeck, M and Egan, J 2007, Climate Risk Management Resource Manual, version 3 January 2007, South Australian Research & Development Institute Climate Applications Unit, Adelaide. Module 19 Climate decision-support tools 5