When it comes to drought, producers know there is no one-size-fits-all definition.

That was the clear message from this weeks’ workshop held in Alice Springs, where producers from across Central Australia came together to share their experiences and help develop practical drought planning resources for northern pastoral businesses.

Facilitated by Bush Agribusiness and funded through the Northern Hub, the workshop brought together producers to discuss what drought means in Central Australia, the factors that influence drought outcomes, and the decisions that can make the biggest difference before, during and after dry times.

One of the strongest themes to emerge was that drought cannot be measured by rainfall alone. Participants agreed it is better defined as the point where conditions are no longer able to sustain normal business operations, livestock production and landscape function. The discussion highlighted that two businesses can receive similar rainfall but experience very different outcomes depending on land type, condition, preparation and management decisions.

The workshop reinforced many of the principles producers and researcher alike have talked about and published for over many years: prepare early, match stocking rates to seasonal conditions, protect land condition, maintain financial discipline and have clear decision points before conditions become critical.

These discussions have formed the basis of a draft set of Dry Time Guidelines, covering practical actions across land, livestock, people and financial capital during three stages of the drought cycle; good seasons, drought and recovery. Rather than telling producers how to run their businesses, the guidelines are intended to provide a practical framework that supports informed decision making while recognising every property and every season is different.

It was encouraging to see producers openly sharing not only the strategies that had worked well during previous droughts, but also the lessons learned from decisions that hadn’t. That willingness to share knowledge and challenge ideas is exactly what will ensure the final resource is practical, relevant and grounded in real pastoral experience.

NTCA would like to thank everyone who contributed to the workshop, particularly the producers who generously shared their knowledge and experiences. We also acknowledge Ian McLean from Bush Agribusiness for facilitating the discussion, the Northern Hub for funding the workshop, and Cam Nicholson from Nicon Rural Services, whose experience delivering similar workshops in southern Australia helped inform the workshop design.

 

The draft guidelines will now continue to be refined with industry input before being developed into a practical resource to support drought preparedness across Northern Australia.