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March 15, 2020
On-farm Understanding for Farmers: Mitigating methane emissions from ruminants – the current
Summary of NZ research underway to better understand what happens in livestock rumen that leads to methane production, and how animal breeding, diet- and rumen-manipulation might help to reduce enteric methane emissions without increasing emissions of other greenhouse gases.
Read time: 5 min
Pdf, 641 KB
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March 12, 2020
Case study 9, in Adapting to Climate Change in Eastern
Marlborough sheep and beef farmers, Kevin and Carol Loe, have evolved a more ecological approach to farming by identifying and working within the limits of their land and a dry, windy climate. This case study documents the steps they have taken to manage water and wind erosion in particular.
Read time: 15 min
Pdf, 833 KB
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March 12, 2020
Climate variability will affect dairy farming in New
Advice from MPI on the expected general impacts – both positive and negative – of climate change on the dairy sector. Impacts will vary from region to region.
Read time: 3 min
Pdf, 3.4 MB
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March 12, 2020
Climate variability will affect sheep, beef and arable farming in New
Advice from MPI on the expected general impacts – both positive and negative – of climate change on the sheep and beef and arable sectors. Impacts will vary from region to region.
Read time: 3 min
Pdf, 3.2 MB
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March 11, 2020
Case study 10, in Adapting to Climate Change in Eastern
Over a 30-year period, Alan Totty has invested considerably in his 284-hectare sheep and beef farm near Ashburton to ensure it can cope with the increasingly extreme Canterbury climate. This case study documents measures he has taken to build resilience against drought, wind and snow.
Read time: 15 min
Pdf, 765 KB
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January 1, 2018
Facing up to pest, weed and disease incursions as the world
Summary of threats to New Zealand’s biosecurity from pests, weeds and diseases, including changing import pathways, border management and host suitability, as the climate warms. Findings identified by a 2015 study led by CRIs and Lincoln University.
Read time: 4 min
Pdf, 456 KB
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January 1, 2018
Methane inhibitors – helping to nip a problem greenhouse gas in the
Summary of the research pipeline, efficacy, progress, challenges and pathway to commercialisation of methane inhibitors – a promising tool for reducing the amount of methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) belched out by ruminant animals.
Read time: 4 min
Pdf, 598 KB
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January 1, 2018
Sizing up the emissions footprint on low and high input dairy
Overview of multi-season studies involving SLMACC, NZAGRC, AgResearch, Lincoln University and DairyNZ investigating the practicality, economic returns and impacts on water and greenhouse gas emissions of increased-efficiency dairy systems in Canterbury.
Read time: 4 min
Pdf, 819 KB
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January 1, 2018
Tapping into a tradition of adaptation in a warming
Summary of results of a 2009 study (published in a 2012 report) by CRIs and DairyNZ into ways in which the primary sector can adapt to climate variability and uncertainty by building resilience and reducing vulnerability.
Read time: 4 min
Pdf, 393 KB
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May 1, 2012
Climate change will affect planted forests in New
Advice from SCION on the expected general impacts – both positive and negative – of climate change on the forestry sector. Impacts will vary from region to region.
Read time: 3 min
Pdf, 1.4 MB
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May 1, 2012
Forests and Climate Change: Wind
Information from SCION on the expected increase in risk to forests from severe windstorms as the climate changes. Summarises knowledge and strategies that foresters will need in order to manage such risk.
Read time: 4 min
Pdf, 256 KB
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May 1, 2012
Forests and climate change: High intensity
Summary of practices recommend by SCION to address the impacts of intense rainfall events on forestry. Such events are predicted to become more frequent in New Zealand. Potentially damaging impacts include erosion, flooding and sediment/debris flows.
Read time: 4 min
Pdf, 290 KB
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May 1, 2012
Forests and climate change: Pests, diseases and
Information from SCION on the expected increase in risk to planted forests from pests, diseases and weeds as the climate changes. Outlines the steps foresters will need to take to manage such risks.
Read time: 4 min
Pdf, 236 KB
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November 1, 2011
Rural Fire Research Update: Future fire
Overview of a 2011 study by the SCION Rural Fire Research Group that aimed to improve estimates of the effects of climate change on fire danger in New Zealand in the 2040s and 2090s. Results of the study indicate that fire climate severity is likely to rise significantly in many parts of the country.
Read time: 8 min
Pdf, 465 KB
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December 1, 2010
Energy efficiency: Work platforms aid intensive apple orchard
Describes how Richard and Sue Hoddy of Nelson are preparing their apple orchard for the challenges of climate change. They are employing a range of strategies to adjust to a predicted longer growing season with fewer frosts, as well as more frequent droughts, heatwaves and storms.
Read time: 8 min
Pdf, 208 KB
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December 1, 2010
Reducing risk: Combining complementary farming blocks in different climatic
Describes how Oamaru beef and sheep farmers, Ross and Jackie Beckingsale, use twin blocks of land in close proximity but different climate zones to provide flexibility and resilience. By working the blocks as a complementary system, business risks and local climatic challenges are better managed.
Read time: 8 min
Pdf, 268 KB
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November 1, 2010
Central Otago orchard: Maintaining a competitive
Describes how Central Otago mixed-crop orchardist, Harry Roberts, is adapting his business in anticipation of climatic changes and to maintain a late-season market niche. Harry’s actions are informed by experiences in similar Southern Hemisphere late-season horticultural regions.
Read time: 5 min
Pdf, 298 KB
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November 1, 2010
Cropping: Managing in a changing
Overview of the general impacts – some positive, some negative – that a warming climate will have on arable cropping in New Zealand.
Read time: 5 min
Pdf, 192 KB
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November 1, 2010
Drought: Learning from the
Outlines a study conducted in 2008 by AgResearch on how farming communities in North Otago and South Canterbury adapted to and coped with severe droughts that occurred in 1988-89 and 1997-99. Includes preparation and coping strategies for future droughts.
Read time: 4 min
Pdf, 162 KB
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November 1, 2010
Focus on sustainability: A Hawke’s Bay hill country
Study of how the owners of a Hawkes Bay beef and sheep farm have invested in a low cost/low input farm system, with reduced profitability, to build resilience and sustainability in a changing climate. Changes were in response to a 2007 drought, which had severe financial impacts on the farm.
Read time: 8 min
Pdf, 495 KB
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November 1, 2010
Hawkes Bay cropping farm: Optimising irrigation in a drought-prone
Describes how Hawkes Bay mixed-cropping farmer, Hugh Ritchie, is using a range of energy, water-use and soil- and crop-management strategies to prepare for a predicted rise in regional temperatures and reduction in rainfall – particularly in winter and spring.
Read time: 8 min
Pdf, 319 KB
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November 1, 2010
Managing climate change: Farming in the high
Haldon Station is a large, commercially-diverse high-country sheep, beef and deer farm in the Mackenzie Country, where the climate is extreme and variable. This case study describes how the manager has diversified and intensified the business to reduce risk and ensure sustainability.
Read time: 10 min
Pdf, 295 KB
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November 1, 2010
Monitoring and planning: Maintaining production in a changing
Waikato dairy farmer, Hamish Putt, monitors soil moisture, soil temperature and pasture growth to ensure he can respond effectively to variable weather and a changing climate. This case study describes the range of management strategies he uses to maintain production.
Read time: 5 min
Pdf, 180 KB
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November 1, 2010
Plantation forests: Risk management within a changing
Forestry is subject to a unique set of risks associated with weather and climate: fire, wind damage and incursions from pests and diseases. These risks are likely to change as the climate changes. This document outlines prevention and response strategies developed by Timberlands in 2010.
Read time: 10 min
Pdf, 375 KB
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August 1, 2009
Climate change: A guide for land managers 1 - The theory, the history, the
An overview of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) knowledge about climate change, including a summary of the science and its development, the contribution of human activities to climate change, possible responses, and sources of more information.
Read time: 10 min
Pdf, 2.8 MB
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May 1, 2009
Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchard: Balancing climate concerns with market
Outlines how profitability and environmental concerns, particularly climate change, are reflected in the balance of organic and conventional production practices used on Peter and Gwen Ombler’s kiwifruit and plum orchard at Welcome Bay, Tauranga.
Read time: 8 min
Pdf, 5.9 MB
