Managing Climate Variability
Getting Sweet With Climate Technology

Doug and Antonietta Lee
Proserpine, Queensland

  • 1,800mm average rainfall
  • 283 hectares
  • Producing sugar cane.

Doug Lee is a keen supporter of predictive climate technology, monitoring the Southern Oscillation Index, the Madden-Julian Oscillation (the 40 day wave) and the Bureau of Meteorology website for indicators of rainfall.

When the indicators are unclear, he relies on on-ground technologies to increase water efficiency in his farming system, making the best use of the available water.

Doug has converted from furrow to overhead irrigation and rosters his paddocks for irrigation. For years now he has been trash blanketing-instead of burning the cane before harvesting, he cuts it green and leaves the stubble to cover the soil, making major savings in water use.

As the local irrigation system coordinator Doug uses Australian Rainman to help him manage water allocations for 10 neighbouring farmers.

doug-lee-200-pix.jpg


Climate Management Tools Used

  • Trash blankets (retained stubble) used to keep water in the soil.
  • Applying technology to improve farm system efficiency.
  • A water efficiency program involving overhead irrigation, readings of soil moisture and prioritising paddocks for irrigation when water is scarce.
  • Use of Rainman software and keeping track of SOI readings.
  • Four day weather outlook used for managing the irrigation system and minimising wastage.

Complete 2004 Story (pdf 127 Kb)

Complete 1999 Story