Managing Climate Variability
One Hundred Per Cent Business - the Odds of Success in Outback South Australia

 

Tony Boyd
Kalamurina Station, outback South Australia

  • 142mm average rainfall
  • 700,000 hectares
  • Producing beef cattle

In 1994, after analysing the odds for its success, including the climate outlook, Tony Boyd bought into the 700,000 hectare cattle station.

A veteran advisor to the casino industry, he predicted that over a 10-year timeframe, he could expect four very good years, two average years, two poor years and two years of extreme drought.

Conditions turned out to be kinder than he had predicted. Tony monitored the amount of feed available using satellite vegetation readings and feed maps from Queensland's Department of Primary Industries. From 1,000 kilometres away, he was able to calculate how much stock the station could carry.

Nine years later, Tony sold out due to the increasing unpredictability of the climate for the area.

Tony Boyd on his property in South Australia


Climate Management Tools Used

  • Study of the SOI to predict flooding in the river.
  • Tracking Indian Ocean sea surface temperatures and weather patterns off the coasts of India and South Africa.
  • Satellite feed maps plus onground calculations to work out available feed.
  • Participation in the QLD DPI Aussie GRASS project to spatially map and track Australian grazing lands.
  • Decision to sell the property when the odds of success showed it to be potentially unviable.

Complete 2004 Story (pdf 117 Kb)

Complete 1999 Story