Our study shows that, for a wheat crop at Hamilton
(higher rainfall site), there is a significant advancement in median
flowering date for 2030, 2060, and 2090 of 10, 18, and 29 days respectively
with a significant 0.50% grain yield changes for each
percentage change in rainfall compared to significant 0.90% grain
yield changes in Cunderdin (lower rainfall sites). Field peas are more
sensitive to changes in climate, 12% to 45% declines in yield between
current and future climates, than cereals or canola. Overall, the
impact of climate change on broadacre crops will be negative (3 to
20% yield loss) in the short term (2030), but increasingly detrimental
with time (potential yield losses reaching 42% for some crops
by 2090). Given this impact of declining projected rainfall and higher
temperatures in the future, it is important that policies and adaptation
strategies are aimed at dealing with these climatic shifts.
Depending on crop species, climate impact assessment suggest adaptation
strategies that covers advances in agronomy, soil moisture
conservation, seasonal climate forecast and breeding to combat the
negative consequences of predicted climate change at these
locations.