Climate change

Western Australia's climate has changed over the last century, particularly over the last 50 years. Climate change is affecting Australia's natural environment and the human systems it supports. Agriculture is strongly affected by weather patterns and climate. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development continues to engage with the agricultural industry to manage the impacts of climate change.

Articles

Rangeland regeneration to sequester carbon in Western Australia

13 November 2013

Rangeland regeneration has the potential to sequester large amounts of carbon because of the large areas involved. Pastoral regeneration would also have extensive environmental benefits.
Future Sheep - Climate adaptation to ensure a sustainable WA sheep industry

12 April 2022

The project’s purpose is to help protect the profitability of WA sheep production in the face of climate change, increasing climate variability and increasing demand to mitigate greenhouse gas emis
How to calculate the carbon emissions from your own farm business

7 June 2021

Farming systems produce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily in the form of methane (mostly caused by animal digestion and respiration) and nitrous oxide (mostly from fertilisers).
Sheep reproduction and reducing methane emissions

20 November 2013

Mating ewes earlier (at 8 to 10 months of age) could enable farmers to reduce whole-farm methane production because this practice would reduce the number of adult ewes, which produce more methane.
Nutrition and feed additives to reduce methane emissions from sheep

18 October 2013

Improved grazing and feeding management of sheep can reduce methane emissions per unit of product (feed efficiency) or emissions per unit of feed intake (methane yield).
Carbon farming: reducing methane emissions from cattle using feed additives

18 October 2013

Feed additives or supplements can reduce methane emissions from ruminant livestock.
Carbon farming: managing pastures to reduce sheep methane emissions

18 October 2013

Feed intake and methane emissions are influenced by the digestibility of the pasture and the concentration of plant secondary compounds such as tannins.
Carbon farming: managing pastures to reduce methane emissions from cattle

18 October 2013

Pastures that reduce methane emissions can be categorised into high quality grasses and legumes, and plants containing secondary metabolites such as tannins.
Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils of Western Australia

13 November 2013

Nitrous oxide, a highly active greenhouse gas, is released from pastures and crops using nitrogen fertilisers.
Soil organic carbon and carbon sequestration in Western Australia

6 November 2013

A large amount of carbon is stored in soils – mostly as soil organic matter – and there is interest in sequestering more atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) in soil organic carbon (SOC) to