Long Paddock revamp good news for graziers tackling drought and climate risk

Queensland farmers will have better access to climate data to help them make decisions about their properties, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development Mark Furner and Science Minister Leeanne Enoch have announced today.

Speaking from Cloncurry, Mr Furner said the popular Long Paddock website had been updated to a modern cloud computing platform as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to improve drought preparedness and climate change adaptation planning.

“The old Long Paddock website had been going for 22 years, providing critical rainfall and pasture outlooks to Queensland graziers,” Mr Furner said.

“It has long been regarded as a key source of climate advice for Queensland, and indeed Australian primary producers, with over 17,000 hits per month.

“Queensland has one of the world’s most demanding environments to undertake agriculture, with very high levels of rainfall variability, and our producers need to continually adapt when faced with drought, flood and tropical cyclones.”

Ms Enoch said the Long Paddock website, which was revamped as part of the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program (DCAP) initiative, would also encourage and support climate-smart agriculture by providing industry-relevant information for decision making.

“The new site has greatly improved functionality, making it even easier to access climate and pasture-related information,” Ms Enoch said.

“Long Paddock also includes free, online access to customised property reports with climate data, seasonal climate outlooks, simulated pasture growth, as well as satellite-derived ground cover and tree cover maps.”

AgForce CEO Michael Guerin welcomed the Queensland Government’s efforts to provide more accessible and up-to-date information to help farmers understand their climate risks and make more informed decisions in managing those risks.

“We look forward to seeing Long Paddock evolve further over coming years as climate science advances and further decision support tools become available to continually reduce the severe impacts that droughts have on our people, their businesses and the environment by proactive and adaptive decision making,” Mr Guerin said.

To access the Long Paddock website visit - www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au

Media contacts:

Minister Furner: 0427 018 178

Minister Enoch: 0437 859 987