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Agriculture Victoria’s Climate Specialist, Graeme Anderson is rounding up his ‘climate dogs’ and travelling to Orbost next week to present the first day of a two-day workshop to local farmers.

The Orbost workshop, to be held over two consecutive Thursdays starting on 7 March, will target the heightened risks for dairy businesses facing increasing climate variability and current dry seasonal conditions.

Mr Anderson leads Agriculture Victoria’s Climate & Seasonal Risk Team that aims to assist farmers in making sense of the changing seasons. He is also the creative inspiration behind the ClimateDog animations, one of the tools used to explain Victoria’s variable climate.

“The workshop will examine the key drivers of climate variability, the longer-term rainfall history over the past 100 years and look at recent trends in rainfall, temperatures, pressure patterns and sea surface temperatures,” Mr Anderson said.

“Our climate program aims to assist farmers in making sense of key issues associated with forecasting, where ultimately, the farmer knows where best to use them for decision making.”

“At the workshop I’ll share a range of forecast tools with farmers and provide tips on what forecasts can and can’t do.”

“By providing information, tools and resources to the Victorian agricultural sector we aim to assist farmers in managing business risks in the face of the modern tag team of increased seasonal variability and climate change.”

The second day of the workshop, on Thursday 14 March, will be presented by Agriculture Victoria Dairy Extension Officers Maria Rose and David Shambrook, and will cover risk mitigation and developing an action plan.

Managing your dairy business risk in a changing climate

Time: 10.30am – 2.30pm on both days with lunch provided

Location: DELWP office, 171 Nicholson St, Orbost