NFF puts farmers' climate voice to the fore

It comes at a time when the National Farmers Federation has turned to its members, to show how they are reducing agricultural emissions and improving environmental sustainability.

The NFF has launched its Telling our Story campaign, which features farmers making and sharing videos on social media.

The NFF has set a target of net zero emissions for the sector, by 2050.

Research commissioned by the NFF measured community sentiment towards agriculture, climate change and sustainability.

Of those surveyed, 21 per cent of Australians strongly believed farmers were committed to improving their environmental performance and adapting to a warmer, drier climate; while 44pc somewhat agreed and 17pc were neutral.

Chief executive Tony Mahar said the survey results indicated the community recognised farmers were on the frontline of the climate solution and wanted to learn more about what action farmers were taking.

"Farmers are on a journey and there is more work to do," Mr Mahar said.

"Through new science and technologies, like feed additives that drastically reduce livestock emissions, agriculture is poised to continue being part of the climate solution."

It follows confusion over climate policy, within the federal government.

The social media campaign reflects research by Monash University's School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment.

Senior lecturer Ailie Gallant said there was some evidence that conditions in the Wimmera and Mallee had not recovered, since the Millenium Drought.

"Those drying trends we experienced during the Millenium Drought, from 2000-2010, were considerable," she said.

"With respect to autumn and winter rainfall, into the future, we expect climate models do show us that drying trend is likely to continue - we are reasonably confident about that.

"The factors contributing to rainfall are really complex and we haven't quite nailed down, in climate models, exactly why it is getting drier yet.

"It's one of those things climate scientists are still working on."

She said the research would focus on what type of weather systems were "disappearing".

"During the Millenium Drought, we saw those big low-pressure systems, that bring the soaking autumn break rains drop right off.

"My research team is trying to work out whether they ever came back."

Dr Gallant said determining what was causing the reduction in rainfall was coming from was really important.

"Whether it's soaking rains, or rainfall days that are just drizzle, that's going to be really important

"What we are finding is the the drying conditions are resulting from the absence of those soaking rains, rather than just drizzle."

She said farmers were a "very adaptable bunch".

"But this is going to throw in another thing into the mix - climate change on top of variability."

She said there would be still years of really good rainfall and decades that were reasonable, but others would be very dry.

"The wet years might not be so wet, the dry years might be drier."

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At the other end of the state, Jindivik, Gippsland, share farmer and veterinarian, Tess Butler is featured in the Australian Farms: Where REAL climate action happens campaign.

She share-farms 900 Jersey cows with partner Ben, and three-year old son Will.

Ms Butler said it was an important message to get out to the public.

She said the Benalli Jersey herd now produced more milk, with lower methane emissions, due to changes in pasture management.

"In West Gippsland, we have had two very wet seasons and an abundance of feed, so we are very lucky - but we are seeing we are losing definition, between the seasons," she said.

"They are not as predictable as they used to be, which makes farming a little bit harder."

Adverse weather events also seemed to be more severe, than they used to be.

"Rotational grazing and permanent pasture makes the cows milk more efficiently," she said.

"Another thing is that breeding up a healthy, robust herd, that is high producing, and cows with longevity, really makes a difference."

The farm owners had installed a "really good" effluent system.

"That's something we can work on to pop nutrients, water and carbon back into the soil instead of it going to waste, or into the atmosphere."

She said she felt farmers had a responsibility to address climate change, as the sector generated a substantial amount of greenhouse emissions.

Producers had a social responsibility to reduce emissions.

Ms Butler said it good to see the red meat sector and NFF setting targets.

"We should all be doing more and setting a target you can work towards is going to make you do more," she said.

'I assume as the other sectors are starting to do that, the dairy sector will have to follow."