Primary Production Landscapes A Regional Basis for Understanding and Planning Farming Systems in Victoria

Primary Production Landscapes Our Landscapes Victorian landscapes have diverse vegetation, terrain, soils and climate. Our Farming Systems Farming systems in Victoria over the last 50 years have become well tuned to differences in regional climate and soils. Climate Change Futures for these farming systems and the distribution of land use in Victoria are uncertain.

Key Questions How might predicted climate change affect the current distribution of land use? Will practices within a particular land use have to change? Will some land uses become less competitive or unprofitable? How will soils and soil management be affected?

e.g. We used to have too much water Tillage practices, sodicity and soil structure Flooding, nutrient runoff, water erosion WATERLOGGING Crop yellowing and losses Trafficability

Lately we have had less water and shorter seasons

Changes are not the same everywhere Extreme Small

Soil is not the same everywhere