Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 06/19/2008 9:34:16 PM PDT by Coffee200am
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) wants the Federal Government's drought policy to help prepare farmers for climate change.
Yesterday, the Federal Government announced the detail of how it will review the policy, which has previously defined drought as a once in 20 or 25 year event.
Exceptional Circumstances (EC) support and farm exit packages will be reviewed as part of an economic assessment of drought policy.
The Government has also announced a panel will look at the social effect of drought, and the weather bureau and CSIRO will report on climate change.
VFF president Simon Ramsay says farms need to be ready for more volatile weather.
"We want to make sure that first there is an assistance that's required for urgent needs, and also longer term, how we can better prepare farmers to make those adjustments to what we see as significant change in weather patterns," he said.
Mr Ramsay says he has been assured the Government will not change EC eligibility rules or support while the current drought persists.
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