In June 2023, the Bureau of Meteorology upgraded its El Niño outlook from WATCH to ALERT, indicating a 70% likelihood of an El Niño event. This will probably bring drier conditions – and an increased chance of drought – to South Australia.
But what does ‘70%’ mean? And even if an El Niño arrives, drought isn’t inevitable. So how do producers deal with these uncertainties in a way that prepares their business for dry times, without leaving themselves in trouble if good rains do arrive? In short, you give yourself multiple options and take a longer-term view beyond a single season.
In this episode of the SA Drought Hub podcast series, Dr Peter Hayman, Principal Scientist, Climate Applications at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), and Dr Chris Preston, Professor of Agricultural Science at the University of Adelaide, explore what this means in practical terms.
Peter examines what the Bureau forecast entails – what might be coming, the potential impacts, and how to use the data to your advantage – while Chris runs through the potential impacts of drier conditions on cropping and what growers can do to prepare.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.