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| SA Drought E-News, 31st July 2008 |
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| Land management update |
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Strong winds in June and July caused soil erosion problems and damage to emerging crops in some areas of the State, particularly Eyre Peninsula, and also in parts of the Northern and Yorke and SA Murray Darling Basin regions.
Recent land condition surveys conducted in June by the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) show that 68% of the cleared agricultural land across SA was adequately protected from wind erosion, the same as in June 2007 and similar to the June average of 66%.
However, on Eyre Peninsula only about 50% of agricultural land was adequately protected, due to the impacts of the drought in 2007 and the dry start to the 2008 season. This is the lowest proportion of land protected from wind erosion in June for Eyre Peninsula since monitoring began in 2000.
Further information...
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| Rain outlook for next three months |
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The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest Seasonal Outlook for August to October indicates that most southern cropping areas of SA have a near normal chance of receiving median rainfall amounts between August to October. However, areas further north have a higher likelihood of drier than normal conditions in that period. These areas have only a 30 to 40% chance of exceeding the median rainfall for the August to October period and include the Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, Mid North, Murraylands, Riverland and parts of adjacent forecast districts.
The likelihood of exceeding median maximum and minimum temperatures from August to October is raised for all of SA.
Detailed rainfall outlook
Detailed seasonal outlook
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| River Murray water update |
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The Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation River Murray Water Resources Report for 24 July 2008 indicates that June River Murray system inflows remained at extremely low levels and a flow of 95 GL was recorded.
In other observations:
- During July the inflows have improved into the River Murray system as a result of increased rainfall across the Ovens, Hume and Dartmouth Catchments;
- The volume of water in storage is currently 2 150 GL (23% capacity); and
- Irrigation allocations in South Australia remain at 2% and access to 50% of their approved carry-over water.
The full report is available on the DWLBC website.
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| Early start to Murray cod closure |
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Fishers are reminded of an earlier start to this year’s annual closed season for Murray cod. The closed season, designed to protect Murray cod during their breeding season, will now start on 1 August (previously 1 September) and continue until 31 December each year.
SARDI Research has highlighted the lack of significant recruitment of Murray cod in the SA section of the River Murray. In addition to low flows affecting recruitment, the ongoing impact of the drought, such as reduced turbidity and low water levels are also making the fish more vulnerable to recreational fishing pressure.
More information and changes to bag, boat and size limits: www.pir.sa.gov.au/fishing
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| Super greenhouse plant centre announced |
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A $26 million facility to be known as The Plant Accelerator will be the national flagship of the new Australian Plant Phenomics Facility to be built at the University of Adelaide’s Waite Campus.
The facility will play a leading international role in achieving more sustainable agriculture, enhancing biodiversity and improving the yield and quality of crops that can tolerate drought, raised salinity levels and disease.
The Plant Accelerator was announced by Premier Mike Rann and the Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science & Research, Kim Carr.
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| SA navel crop takes a hit |
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The SA Citrus Board’s newsletter reports that the 2008 South Australian Navel crop is now looking to be one of the lightest for a number of years, but with exceptional quality and taste.
The current Navel harvest to date, according to the South Australian Industry Development Board’s (SACIDB) figures, is about the 30,000 tonnes mark. Last year’s crop came in at 77,000 tonnes and with the Summer Navel crop expected to be very light it was felt that the current Navel Harvest should be revised downwards to just 50,000 tonnes.
This is forecast to be made up of 35,000 tonnes of Winter Navels and 15,000 tonnes of Summer Navels.
There is no doubt that low water allocations have impacted on this year’s harvest. Growers have taken management options including severe hedging, pruning and topping to help cope with the low water allocations which has left the trees with little canopy to grow a crop.
Adverse weather conditions including extreme heat in March has also impacted, in that fruit stopped growing and therefore tonnage is also down as a result of this.
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| Free science forums for MDB |
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A series of free community Science Forums will be held across the Murray-Darling Basin region during Science Week from 19-22 August.
Amongst the diverse range of topics to be covered are several relating to drought, including water in the Adelaide Hills, acid sulphate soils, climate change, the changing state of the Lower Lakes, environmental flows, irrigation and salinity management.
A full range of topics and forum locations at Mount Barker, Tailem Bend, Renmark and Burra, can be viewed at www.samdbnrm.sa.gov.au. See upcoming events on the home page. Seats are limited and can be booked through Miranda Leckie 08 8532 1432.
The forums are being organised by the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board.
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| River Murray drought public meetings |
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A reminder that a series of River Murray drought public meetings will be held next week 4-7 August to provide River Murray communities with the latest information about the drought and water security measures. They will be held at:
- Goolwa, Monday 4 August, 7pm-9pm, Centennary Hall, Cadell Street;
- Murray Bridge, Tuesday 5 August, 9.30am-11.30am, Murray Bridge Racing Club, Maurice Road;
- Langhorne Creek, Tuesday 5 August, 2pm-4pm, Football Clubrooms;
- Meningie, Wednesday 6 August, 11am-1pm, Meningie Bowling Club;
- Waikerie, Thursday 7 August, 10am-12pm, Waikerie Club, Crush Terrace;
- Renmark, Thursday 7 August, 2.30pm-4.30pm (as part of the Riverland Development Corporation’s Climate Change Forum), Renmark Sport Club, Paringa Street.
More information: SA Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board. Telephone: 8532 1432.
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Access and equity
The information in this publication can be provided on request to those who need it in an alternative format or another language. Contact PIRSA Communications and Marketing. Telephone (08) 8226 0539.
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