Weather and climate risk is a very broad and complex subject. One of our biggest challenges is to recognise the complexity of climate science and at the same time, implement practical ways of adapting and managing the impact of weather and climate on a farm business.

This book explains daily and seasonal weather events; discusses the drivers of weather and climate and the longer term scientific models that measure and monitor our variable climate; and describes how to manage the risks that weather and climate present to your farm business.

How to use this information to guide on-farm decision-making is the point of this book. It covers three key principles:

1. All farming systems involve change and adaption.

2. Variability in weather or climate brings unpredictability, uncertainty, and even disasters. These introduce risk into our farming systems.

3. Managing this risk is a planning process. There are tools and techniques that can keep risk in perspective, as a motivator rather than a stressor.

Managing climate risk on your farm is based on the work of two previous publications from Tocal College; Weather and climate in farming, managing risks for profit (2000) Bayley, D and NBN Weather Book (2006) Bayley, D and Brouwer, D. Also used extensively in this book, A Farmer’s Guide to Managing Climate Risk, 8th edition 2008 by Michael Cashen, Advisory Officer Climatology. Recognition is given to the authors above for their important and significant contribution to this publication.

Michael Ison