Drought and drought strategies : Proceedings of a seminar held at Lincoln College, 8 September 1982

Abstract

The papers printed here are the proceedings of a day long seminar held at Lincoln College in September 1982. The seminar came near the end of the critical period of one of the most severe droughts experienced in Canterbury; severe in so far as the ability of many intensive systems of farming to operate under protracted periods of drought were concerned. Many farmers were then and still are in early 1983, suffering severely from losses of production from abused pastures. At the same time there was considerable inner anguish among many farmers who watched stock lose condition, lambing percentages drop and financial commitments rise. This seminar was designed to give farm consultants and advisers the chance to discuss in some detail the production issues involved in various Canterbury dryland farming systems. It was planned that such a discussion of strategies would help consultants in their discussions with clients for the coming season. Time was given to a discussion on drought incidence and continuance with speakers from the Meteorological Service, The Australian farmers' response to droughts - a response called upon more frequently than is found in this country was also included.