As Australia grapples with scorching heatwaves, farmers are implementing innovative strategies to protect their precious livestock and produce from the extreme temperatures. While humans and their pets can seek refuge indoors with air conditioning and cool drinks, the nation’s agricultural sector faces a unique challenge in safeguarding its valuable assets. From applying “sunscreen” to grapes to deploying sprinklers for chickens and even conducting livestock sales under the cover of darkness, agricultural operations are adapting to ensure survival and minimise losses.
The recent spell of intense heat, with temperatures frequently reaching the low to mid-40s Celsius across many regions, has prompted urgent action. The Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed record-breaking highs in several parts of the country’s southeast, underscoring the severity of the situation. Farmers, the frontline responders to these environmental pressures, are stepping in to provide the necessary protection where their animals and crops simply cannot fend for themselves.
Protecting Produce: A Sunscreen for Grapes
It’s a well-known fact that fruits and vegetables are susceptible to damage from intense heat. However, an unusual solution is being employed to shield delicate grapevines: a clay-based protective coating. This week’s extreme heatwave forced a halt to the wine grape harvest in the NSW Riverina region, with growers receiving specific advice to apply this novel form of “sunscreen” to their fruit.
Darren Owers, a senior winemaker at Berton Vineyards, explained the rationale behind this unusual measure. “We’re actively trying to protect our fruit, and we have requested some of our growers to apply clay-based sunscreen,” he stated. This protective layer acts by reflecting infrared and ultraviolet radiation, effectively reducing the temperature of both the grape canopy and the berries themselves.
Mr. Owers highlighted the critical temperature threshold for grapevines. “Once temperatures reach around 40 degrees Celsius, vines can shut down photosynthesis,” he noted. This physiological response can delay ripening, potentially pushing back the harvest of red grape varieties by as much as a week. The impact is most pronounced in vineyards with less dense canopies, leaving more fruit exposed to the harsh sun.
Keeping Poultry Cool: Sprinklers and Strategic Watering
In the Central West of NSW, near Gulgong, a free-range egg producer has adopted a more direct approach to combatting heat stress in his flock. Farmer Ian Littleton explained that while chickens can generally tolerate temperatures up to 40°C, anything exceeding this requires intervention.
“We use our fire trailer, and we spray water over the sheds, over the shade cloth, and around the shed areas,” Mr. Littleton described. “That really does a lot to alleviate the heat stress on the birds.” This proactive measure is crucial for preventing mortality due to heatstroke.
Fortunately, cooler evenings and mornings have provided some respite for the birds, allowing them to feed adequately and replenish their energy reserves for the hotter parts of the day. Mr. Littleton acknowledged the escalating challenge posed by climate change. “We’re realising as the years go by, we’re going to get even worse temperatures,” he said. “So we’re just trying to work with it and keep ahead of the game.”
Midnight Hustle: Saleyards Adapt to Extreme Heat
Across the state, livestock saleyards have been forced to make significant adjustments to their operations to protect animals. Many have either moved sales forward to earlier hours or cancelled them altogether. In Wagga Wagga, the saleyard implemented its first-ever 6 am start for a sale, meaning agents and contractors were on duty from midnight.
Peter Cabot, Nutrien Wagga Wagga’s livestock manager, confirmed that the Wagga Wagga Associated Agents made this decision with animal welfare as the paramount concern. “Animal welfare is taken very seriously,” he stated. “Everything from water access to penning density is about keeping the stock as comfortable as possible.”
Despite the challenging conditions, approximately 40,000 head of sheep and lambs still made it to the early morning sale. Shade and readily available water remained critical priorities on sale days, according to Mr. Cabot. He noted the remarkable resilience of sheep. “They’re funny animals; when it’s minus 5°C they can handle it, and also at 45°C, they’re very resilient,” he observed.
The heatwave also had an impact on prices. Lambs saw an increase of up to $20 per head, and sheep prices rose by $10, partly attributed to a reduction of 20,000 head compared to the previous week. The cancellation of the Griffith sheep and lamb sale due to predicted temperatures of 45°C further contributed to the market dynamics.
Similarly, the Forbes Central West Livestock Exchange also rescheduled its sale times. Pip Milford, the Livestock Exchange operator, described the past few days as challenging. “Most of the stock for the sheep sale came in either first thing in the morning or they came in overnight,” she explained. Given that the sheep selling pens lack troughs and are largely uncovered, it was imperative to move the animals off the hot concrete as quickly as possible. “We made sure they were onto water before they were loaded onto the trucks,” Ms. Milford added.
