Despite the Federal Government announcing an extra $46 in funds for climate change research for agriculture, nothing can be spared for measuring soil carbon on Australian farms.
The Government will dedicate $46.2m over five years to research that will help reduce greenhouse pollution from agriculture, improve soil management and adapt to climate change.
Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said specific projects could include research to reduce methane emissions from livestock.
But despite significant holes in the measurement of soil carbon holding back the farm sector from being part of an emissions trading scheme, Mr Burke said the research money would not go towards measuring soil sequestration.
The National Farmers Federation has welcomed the research boost, and hopes there will be a significant focus on the carbon "life-cycle" of agriculture and its role not just as an emitter or polluter, but also recognise the potential contribution agriculture can make to reducing Australia's emissions.
Greens Senator, Rachel Siewert, who is heading up a Senate Inquiry into the effects of climate change on agriculture, said this week that the capacity of regional communities to adapt to climate change was being undermined by the Federal Government.
"With drought and drier periods becoming the norm rather the exception we urgently need new ways to assist farmers to deal with climate variability and manage seasonal risk," Senator Siewert said.
She said evidence to the Senate Inquiry into Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change last week highlighted that we would need to deal with the impacts of climate change of agriculture at a regional level, and that regional capacity would be fundamental to our ability to adapt.
She said Environment Minister, Peter Garrett was undermining Australia's ability to respond by slashing funding to regional NRM groups and Landcare networks through Caring for Our Country.
"There are some real success stories out there of farmers and researchers developing profitable systems that are more resilient to climate variability – but unless we maintain and extend our regional networks we won't have the capacity to get the message out and make these systems work at a local level."
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