Managing Climate Variability
Staying Positive When the Dust is Blowing

Tom and Margaret Porter
Hay, New South Wales

  • 350mm average rainfall
  • 5,500 hectares
  • Producing first cross merino lambs and cattle.

Most of the soil on the Porters' property was blown away by fearsome winds in the 2002 drought. Investing in a bore, Tom Porter was able to irrigate enough millet to feed his merino sheep before the drought broke.

Having sold all his cattle, he reviewed past records and closely watched the Southern Oscillation Index to try and predict the end of the drought.

Buying in Angus heifers in April 2003, just before it rained, Tom made a handsome profit when he sold them again in December at more than twice the price.

Tom Porter on his property

Climate Management Tools Used

  • Invested in an irrigation bore to grow millet for drought feed.
  • Tracking the Southern Oscillation Index SOI, particularly through winter.
  • Comparison of current SOI values with 100 years of SOI values to find similar years.
  • Buying and selling cattle based on SOI data.
  • Daily tracking of five and ten day forecasts.

Complete 2004 Story (pdf 120 Kb)

Complete 1999 Story