Darling Downs farmers converged on Kulpi cattle property ‘Samarai’ on Saturday, January 20, to share concerns over the impacts of climate change on Queensland agriculture. Participants came from as far as Inverell.
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Organised by farmer and award-winning climate educator, Sid Plant with support from Farmers for Climate Action, the event provided an opportunity for over 30 farmers to improve their understanding of climate change.
“I’ve been educating other farmers on climate change for over 30 years’ said Mr Plant. ‘During that time, we’ve unfortunately seen a lack of clear policy direction from politicians and significant confusion among farmers over the scientific realities.”
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“Understanding climate has given me an edge as a farmer and I’m keen to share that knowledge with other farmers. It’s in the best interests of our industry to stand up for action on climate change and protect our kids and grandkids future.”
“Our current climate trajectory and failure to decisively act on climate change has dire consequences for our industry,” said Mr Plant.
The event, which also included a viewing of Al Gore’s new film ‘An Inconvenient Sequel-Truth to Power’ was attended by farmers from across the Darling Downs and as far away as Inverell, NSW.
“I came to the Downs to share my experience of the extreme heat waves that are happening right now at home,” said Inverell cattle producer Glenn Morris.
“The warming trend caused by climate change means we are experiencing more extreme heat events. That’s when the damage to our industry really accelerates”
Darling Downs dairy farmers Noel Wieck and David Vonhoff also attended and both were ready to share their concerns.
“I believe in climate change 100%”, said Mr Vonhoff.
“It’s real and it’s happening now,” Noel Wieck whose family has been farming the Downs since 1921 said “The change in weather patterns is obvious to me, there is a lot of the Downs that can’t be farmed the way it used to be, the rain just isn’t there when you need it.”
Queensland Coordinator for Farmers for Climate Action, Michael Kane said the event received overwhelming interest from local farmers with the venue at full capacity.
“We stopped taking RSVP’s on the first day of publishing the date; there is a lot of concern about climate change in rural Queensland and farmers are hungry for information”
“2017 was Queensland’s hottest year on record and two thirds of our state is suffering through a historic six year drought. Business as usual is no longer an option and now is the time for strong and decisive action on climate change,” said Mr Kane.
“Farmers are on the front-line of climate change and are determined to be front and center in creating climate solutions. Farmers for Climate Action is supporting farmers and graziers to convene gatherings like this all across the country, overcoming the political quagmire and taking our future into our own hands,” said Mr Kane.
