Primary Production Landscapes

A Regional Basis for Understanding and Planning Farming Systems in Victoria

Primary Production LandscapesOur Landscapes

Victorian landscapes have diverse vegetation, terrain, soils and climate.

Our Farming SystemsFarming systems in Victoria over the last 50 years have become well tuned to differences in regional climate and soils.

Climate ChangeFutures for these farming systems and the distribution of land use in Victoria are uncertain.

Key QuestionsHow might predicted climate change affect the current distribution of land use?

Will practices within a particular land use have to change?

Will some land uses become less competitive or unprofitable?

How will soils and soil management be affected?

e.g. We used to have too much water

Flooding, nutrient runoff, water erosion

Trafficability

Tillage practices, sodicity and soil structure

Crop yellowing and losses

WATERLOGGING

Lately we have had less water and shorter seasons

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1996 - 2008 1970 - 1995 1889 - 2008 10 driest years on record

1st May

Changes are not the same everywhere

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ExtremeSmall

Soil is not the same everywhere