It is uncertain what the coming winter will hold. Forecasts are for a 50 percent chance of above or below average rainfall while there is an 80 percent probability that winter will be warmer than normal. If the accuracy of past trends assessed by the Department of Agriculture and Food are anything to go by then long term the forecasts have been more or less on track.

For horse owners there is some assistance on the way. Register with the climate change action planning initiative for horse owners to get assistance with preparing your property plan.

There are 1,511 farm businesses in the Perth NRM region which is 12 percent of theWA total. There are 19,764 rural small landholders in the region which is 36.5 percent of the WA total (Source: Department of Agriculture and Food WA, 2007).

Depletion of life giving carbon from soils is an increasingly important issue. Recently over 200 people attended the Talking Soil Health conference in Northam to uncover some of the latest research on what is being done to manage soils. Even if you weren't able to attend please peruse the information hub library to find out more. In the meantime here are some new resources we have added to the informaton hub which will be of assistance:

Carbon farming resources

Reducing Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Total organic carbon

How much carbon can soil store

Soil Groups of Western Australia: edition 4