'Hotter, harder' times for our farmers - Prof Eckard

Richard Eckard - he predicts 'hotter, harder'
times for farmers as climate changes.

Australia's agricultural sector faces profound challenges from climate change over coming decades forcing the migration of some crops and the use of new varieties of others, a new report by the University of Melbourne researchers.

A report by Peter Hannam in today’s Melbourne Age - “Hotter, harder times forecast for the farm as climate changes food production” – illustrates the unfolding dilemma facing our primary producers.

“A warming, largely drying climate for a range of foods from almonds to zuchinis has been identified by the The Appetite for Change study, finding few likely winners,” the story reports.

"Food production in Australia will need to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change," said Richard Eckard, an associate professor. "But there are limits to the temperatures and extreme weather events that farmers will be able to adapt to."