Climate & weather

Enabling farm businesses to better manage the increasing seasonal variability is critical for the success of the Western Australian agrifood sector. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is enabling farm businesses to make more informed planning and financial decisions on weather and climate risks. These decisions range from short-term tactical decisions, through to managing strategic planning for climatic futures. The development of improved weather data and seasonal forecasting tools are designed to assist you to better manage and take full advantage of the opportunities related to seasonal variability and climate change.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has launched a new website; emergency.wa.gov.au. This website will replace the existing alerts and warnings websites from DFES and Parks and Wildlife, enabling people to get critical public information during fire, flood, storm, earthquake, tsunami and emergencies involving hazardous materials.

Articles

  • Frost damage to braocacre crops is a significant annual production constraint for localised parts of the Western Australian wheatbelt.

  • Harvesting a frosted crop brings another layer of complexity to an already busy time of year.

  • FlowerPower is an online tool to predict cereal flowering dates (or cutting dates for oats) in your location.

  • Image 1: Frost damage at booting vs healthy head

    All winter grains susceptible to frost. Wheat is more susceptible then barley at flowering, but it is not known if barley and wheat have different frost susceptibilities during grain fill.

  • In September 2017, six department research officers presented at the biennial Australian Agronomy Conference in Ballarat, Victoria.

  • Mottled pods

    Of the pulses, field peas are more vulerable to frost due to thin pod walls and exposure of flowers to frost. 

  • Young pods abort or are poorly filled

    Canola is most susceptible to frost damage from flowering to the clear watery stage (approximately 60% moisture). Plants frequently recover from frost at early flowering by producing more flowers.

  • Growing oaten hay on frost-prone paddocks minimises the frost risk as it is cut soon after flowering, avoiding the frost-sensitive period.

  • Plants affected at flowering develop wilted upper foliage

    Narrow-leafed lupins tolerate frost in early growth stages but are susceptible when growing rapidly from flowering to early pod fill.

  • The avocado tree, while quite adaptable to a range of climatic conditions, is considered to be sensitive to frost.