Climate change poses a serious risk to the profitability and viability of a free range piggery.  The risks of climate change to the viability of the business can be examined through a risk assessment model. 

The risk assessment model includes an analysis of climate scenarios from the Bureau of Meteorology. Within the analysis climate thresholds relevant to the business can be assigned.  For a piggery these include  temperature above 30 degrees, an increase in the number of hot days in a row and increased temperature variability.  The impacts of these climate thresholds are real – including increased piglet mortality, sow death, reduction in fertility. The risks identified will have a serious and real impact on the profitability of the business.

Baring these risks in mind, options and strategies for adaptation are explored and factored into a business planning model.  This includes asking questions such as when does the business start to adapt, how and what are the costs of these options?.        

From a NRM Planner perspective the risk analysis model highlights the opportunity for industry groups and planners to work together. There is a need to ensure that industry groups and farmers have access to climate information that is easily assessable,  useable and can be incorporated into the risk assessment process. This can then facilitate real discussions on adaptation options that can be incorporated at a business planning level.