Most Aussie farmers say climate change is the single greatest threat to their business, according to Farmers for Climate Action’s online survey on the Net Zero Sector Plan for Agriculture and Land.

Farmers for Climate Action created the survey to make sure farmers, many of whom are very busy at this time of year with harvest, could easily have their say as part of the Federal Government’s Sector Plan consultations.

The survey was shared with 60 agriculture groups across Australia including via the National Farmers Federation’s social media, and hand-delivered to Agriculture Minister, Murray Watt, in Parliament House on Monday, December 11.

Key results

Key results from the survey, filled out by 708 farmers and people working across the agriculture industry, included:

• 89 per cent of farmers have experienced “very unusual” or “somewhat unusual” climate change related events including rainfall events, unpredictable growing seasons and storms in the past three years.
• 71 per cent of farmers have already invested their own money into emissions reduction, including solar panels and batteries, electrifying farm equipment, tree planting and such.
• 64 per cent are planning to invest in future or additional emissions reduction measures.

Greatest threat

When asked what they thought was the single greatest threat to the future of farming in Australia: 55 per cent said climate change, 15 per cent said bureaucracy and red tape, 9 per cent said water security, 8 per cent said increasing costs of insurance, fertiliser and other farm expenses, 1 per cent said transmission lines on farmland, and 1 per cent big renewable energy projects.

Farmers for Climate Action chairman, Brett Hall, said the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures revealed the cross-section of farmers filling out the survey had very closely reflected a proportionate slice of Australia’s farming community by state and commodity.

“Farm sizes ranged from one hectare to 430,000 ha, with the number of farm employees ranging from 0 to 420,” Mr Hall said.

“Farmers are telling us climate change is here and hurting them right now, and they’ve shown agriculture is leading the way on reducing pollution.

Barriers

“Farmers told us they have three clear barriers to reducing their emissions on farm: a lack of clear government policies or incentives, the high upfront cost and limited access to finance to invest in new technology, and challenges in measuring and validating emissions changes on farm.

“A Net Zero Sector Plan for Agriculture and Land needs to act on these challenges.”

Asked to consider the best ways to reduce emissions and build carbon stores on farms:

• 65 per cent said promoting biodiversity with mixed-species pastures and agroforestry systems.
• 60 per cent said rehabilitating degraded land and reforesting areas not suited for agriculture.
• 57 per cent said implementing rotational grazing to enhance pasture health and carbon uptake.
• 53 per cent switching to renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, for farming operations.

Farmers for Climate Action represents more than 8,000 farmers across all farming systems right across Australia.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 15 December 2023.