Farmers for Climate Action, TFGA to run climate conference

FCA and the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association hope the conference will help primary producers and agribusiness representatives learn how to sustainably and profitably farm in a changing climate.

FCA Victorian and Tasmanian co-ordinator Ursula Alquier said the organisation was now starting to focussing on the southern states, after its initial emphasis on NSW and Queensland.

Ms Alquier, who farms in Gippsland, said the conference was aimed a beef breeders and finishers, prime lamb and wool producers, agribusinesses, small scale mixed and dairy farmers.

"Some farmers will already be taking on adaption and mitigation practices on their farms and might want to come along and hear about how they can improve those practices," Ms Alquier said.

"Others might just be at the beginning of that journey and are seeking to learn how to sustainably, yet profitability farm in a changing climate."

She said farmers were at the forefront of climate impacts, but there were opportunities to adapt and thrive.

"That's not going to happen if we don't have these conversations and we are not transparent about the challenges we are facing."

Ms Alquier said the challenges would look different, depending on the type of farm.

"There are some unique opportunities in Tasmania, which are probably not present anywhere else in the country."

"This issue is not going to go away by ignoring it, we need to be prepared, we need to be on the front foot and I believe farmers can be leaders in climate action.

"If we are it becomes an opportunity rather than a problem to be solved."

TFGA chief executive John McKew said farmers were on the frontline of climate change every day.

"Championing the need for continued investment into science-based research that can assist in the development of sensible, action-based climate solutions is what farmers want and need," Mr McKew said.

Partnering with Farmers for Climate Action to deliver the Climate Smart Conference would provide an important opportunity to hear, learn and interact with experts to improve farmers collective capacity, and those dependent on agriculture.

Mr McKew said it would also help champion for climate solutions on farm and to collectively advocate to influence the sector and government to implement climate policies that reduced emissions and benefitted rural communities.