Young Queensland woolgrowers recruited for climate challenges on-farm

With two young keen wool and sheep growers newly appointed to the Climate Champion program, the Queensland town of Longreach is the newest hub for confronting questions about managing climate variability and change on-farm.

James Hegarty and James Walker, supported by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), are passionate about wool and sheep production - but they’re also keen to bring climate research to the paddock and are telling researchers what farmers need to know in the future.

They join another new Climate Champion woolgrower from NSW, Kathleen Allan, and 34 other farmers from around Australia from various industries.

For Hegarty, who runs sheep for wool and meat and agistment cattle on 12,000 hectares, it’s all about sustainability.

“The more we understand about climate change and weather prediction, the better we can implement that knowledge into planning ahead in our property management,” Hegarty said.

“I want to learn more about technologies and tools to understand seasonal climate and weather in our area, and help get that knowledge out.”

Walker runs 15,000 sheep, as well as running cattle and baling hay, and he is excited about working at getting practical research results out to other producers.

“We need to be able to use science practically - it’s about getting that information transfer between science and farming,” Walker said.

“Better results on-farm for everyone isn’t just about climate change, but about the whole farming system and building more sustainable enterprises. And it comes back to farm profitability.”

Cattle grazier Peter Whip completes the trifecta of Climate Champion participants in Longreach.

For AWI, the Climate Champion program is another way to communicate about climate research, particularly the risks and opportunities of climate change, forecasting tools and on-farm adaptations for woolgrowers.

“We look forward to passing onto researchers the feedback that the Climate Champion participants gather about what growers need to better manage climate risk,” said Jane Littlejohn, AWI’s head of On-Farm Research and Development.

Farmers in the program have direct access to the latest climate research findings, contribute to the development of new climate management tools and technologies, and showcase their own farming systems to other farmers.

For more information about the program, visit www.climatekelpie.com.au/ask-a-farmer/climate-champion-program.