ON FARM NATIONAL CLIMATE VARIABILTY Meeting extremes head‑on B uilding a business “In the 30-odd years we’ve She uses technologies SNAPSHOT: which can been here, we’ve only had such as Google Earth for Nina, Ashley and adaptto climate to completely destock once infrastructure planning extremes is a due to drought.” and recently invested Margaret House, guiding principle for Hands-on research in a new Gallagher TSi2 Aramac, Queensland Nina House. Through her role as chair of weighing system. Thefamily is keen to automate l Nina (pictured below) runs a the Western Queensland further, but any new system breeding enterprise with her Regional Beef Research must demonstrate a parents Ashley and Margaret Committee, Nina was invited business benefit. in Queensland’s Desert to join a producer reference Uplands bioregion. group for the Bureau “Because we have of Meteorology (BOM) such a variable The family has worked in the Forewarned is Forearmed challenging environment, project, managed by MLA climate, we have to with its spinifex, open (see story page 18). be smart in how we Area: 38,751ha eucalyptus country and ancient, low-phosphorus Along with other producers, spend our money. Enterprise: soils, since the early 1980s. she’s assessing the usability Commercial and stud cattle of a range of BOM forecasting “We’ve identified that we Land management has tools under development. need to improve animal Livestock: evolved with regionally production – inthe current 800 Red Brahman and focused research and new “Thetools being developed Brahman-cross commercial farming practices, but the couldeason tpotentially have s his means ensuring breeders, 60 Red Brahman climate remains a challenge significanteffects on adequate feed and water, stud females for producers. producers’ management so this is our focus for decisions,”Nina said the moment.” ■ Pasture: . “We’ve always had drought Spinifex, desert Mitchell, buffel – generally, every decade “If we know up to three LESSONS there’s a seriously dry year, months in advance what LEARNED Soil: followed by a couple of temperatures could be and Red and light sand to light clay average years, then maybe what rain could fall, we can one good wet year,” Nina said. plan ahead if mustering > Plan for difficult times, Rainfall:400mm needs to be done sooner as they will come. The family has adapted to the before it gets too hot, or if > Have off-farm assets Nina House conditions by developing the we sell cattle now because and resources to E: nina.house@ property, increasing watering there is no rain coming. spread risk and harboursat.com.au points, improving pastures provide funds to bring and using sstrategie such as “There are limited resources MLA feed budget and earlyweaning and targeted to undertake research, so back into the business rotation planner supplementaryfeeding it needs to be relevant, if needed. mla.com.au/feedbudget . easy to implement and > Build good networks as Profitable Grazing In particular, strategic improve profitability. a source of information Systems grazing has paved the way and support. mla.com.au/pgs fora resilient business “The group who knows . this best is the end users: RCS – Grazing for Profit The family completed a RCS the producers.” rcsaustralia.com.au Grazing for Profit course, which was a catalyst for other Well-stocked toolbox changes in management When the BOM products such as implementing are released publicly, they’ll rotational grazing and wet form part of Nina’s carefully season spelling. selected business toolbox. 20