BACK in 2007 the Federal Government's Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics released a report on the projected impacts of climate change on Australian agriculture.
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It wasn't comfortable reading, but it was consistent with many scientific and academic reports about climate change and the specific risks Australia faced from a warming planet.
The government bureau warned that "Australia is projected to be one of the most adversely affected regions from future changes in climate in terms of reductions in agricultural production and exports".
Bureau analysis predicted Australian productivity and economic activity in key commodities such as wheat, beef, dairy and sugar would decline by up to 10 per cent by 2030, and up to 19 per cent by 2050.
The direct consequences of those declines included dramatic declines in key export commodities of up to 63 per cent by 2030 and up to 79 per cent by 2050.
There was a need for research in climate change adaptation and mitigation technologies, the bureau said 13 years ago.
"There is a continuing need for the agriculture sector to maintain strong productivity growth in order to cope with the potential pressures emerging from climate change," the bureau said.
This week the Hunter is experiencing what the bureau warned about more than a decade ago.
A catastrophic bushfire season that has blanketed the region in smoke on and off for months has left two of the Hunter's best known winemakers reluctantly announcing there will be either no vintage in 2020, or a severely reduced one.
Bruce Tyrrell, (pictured), said there would be no flagship Vat 1 semillon, Vat 9 shiraz and Vat 47 this year, and grapes from affected vineyards would be used as mulch and feed for cattle on Tyrrell properties.
McWilliam's Mount Pleasant followed several days later by announcing it would write off the 2020 vintage.
Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said smoke-tainted wineries in the Hunter, Cowra, Mudgee and other areas should be eligible for Federal Government for bushfire grants. If approved those costs can be added to the extraordinary final bill Australians will pay for this tragic fire season, which in length and intensity is consistent with climate change warnings from years ago.
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