ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to assess the possible effects of climatic changes on agricultural potential have followed two broad, and complementary, approaches. One has sought to estimate the possible spatial shift in climatic resources for agriculture, and the consequent shift of land use and farming types. The other has considered possible changes in yields of crops and livestock. In reality patterns of cropping and livestock production throughout the world are the result of the intersection of similar functions. Impacts on potential yields vary greatly according to types of climatic change and types of agriculture. The carrying capacity of livestock can thus fall by 10 to 40 per cent and milk yields to zero. Loss of the Mediterranean-type climatic zones of Victoria and Western Australia, which are the current principal lamb and wool producing areas, together with increased heat stress of both cattle and sheep, could mean that livestock productivity would decrease.
