Climate Change and the Economics of Farm Management in the Face of Land Degradation: Dryland Salinity in Western Australia

Early climate change research has projected declining rainfall patterns and increased periods of drought across southern Western Australia. These changes are likely to have very significant impacts on low rainfall agricultural regions already struggling with the economic demands of dryland salinity management. Potential negative impacts of climate change may include declining farm crop and pasture production, resulting in lower yields, greater yield variability, declining areas of cropping production as well as significant reductions in both farm profitability and the adoption of new practices needed to both adapt to and manage climate change and/or dryland salinisation. This analysis examines the potential impacts of climate change on a low rainfall region in the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia, including climate change impacts on farm profit and salinity management options.

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