CLIMATE change debate still rages across the country on how big a challenge it will be to farming, but the science community believes farmers must be on the front foot to cope with the changes it may bring.
While scepticism towards the phenomenon still exists in the farming comnmunity, there is also the underlying belief that farmers do need to put some processes in place now to enable them to adapt to climate change in the future.
The Rural Media Association of WA, in conjunction with the CSIRO, hosted a climate change breakfast last week where Agriculture Department agricultural systems research manager David Bowran presented a discussion paper on the measures that may needed to lessen the impact on agriculture.
Dr Bowran said it is expected the southwest of WA will continue to experience less rainfall and temperature increases.
"At current rates we will see significant variations in 40-50 years," Dr Bowran said.
"These variations will have human, financial, social, natural and physical implications for Australia and our ability to adapt to these variations will be a challenge going forward.
"When assessing our vulnerability to climate change we need to consider exposure and sensitivity and its potential impact combined with our adaptive capacity. That will measure our vulnerability.
"Both incremental and transformational change will be needed to deal with the variation.
"Incrementally we will be largely maintaining existing activities and building on existing technologies, while transformationally we will see major changes in enterprises, land use and human and social capital.
This will need to be largely proactive and strategic."
Dr Bowran said agricultural will need to accept uncertainty and build up its adaptive capacity.
"This can be done through increased efforts in breeding and selection, assessing benefits and costs of alternative land uses, managing and supporting transitions and providing growers with access to climate data suitably scaled for on-farm decision making," he said.
"We will need to monitor ongoing adaption efforts and learn from them.
"A review of industry and government policies and programs is required to promote and support this adaption process."
Dr Bowran said all sectors of agriculture, from grains through to viticulture could feel the affects of climate change.
He said priorities and options to adapt may need to be put into place.