Weather

Toroid

Founding Member
Farmers given permission to shoot kangaroos over resources.
Australia relaxes rules on shooting kangaroos during historic drought
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s most populous state was declared entirely in drought on Wednesday and struggling farmers were given new authority to shoot kangaroos that compete with livestock for sparse pasture during the most intense dry spell in more than 50 years.

Much of Australia’s southeast is struggling with drought. But the drought conditions in New South Wales state this year have been the driest and most widespread since 1965.

The state government said Wednesday that 100 percent of New South Wales’ land area of more than 800,000 square kilometers (309,000 square miles) was now in drought.

Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair said farmers were enduring one of the driest Southern Hemisphere winters on record.

“This is tough. There isn’t a person in the state that isn’t hoping to see some rain for our farmers and regional communities,” Blair said in a statement.

Farm reservoirs have dried up and crops are failing.

State and federal governments are providing financial help, but not enough for many farmers.

With dry conditions forecast to continue for the next three months, farmers had to decide whether to continue the expensive and laborious task of hand-feeding cattle and sheep or sell their livestock.

The state government on Wednesday also lifted the number of kangaroos that farmers are allowed to shoot and reduced bureaucratic red tape facing land holders applying for permission to shoot.

The requirement to tag dead kangaroos to keep a tally of the number shot across the state had been dispensed with.

“Many farmers are taking livestock off their paddocks, only to then see kangaroos move in and take whatever is left,” Blair said.

“If we don’t manage this situation, we will start to see tens of thousands of kangaroos starving and suffering, ultimately leading to a major animal welfare crisis,” he added.

But Ray Borda, president of the Kangaroo Industries Association of Australia, which represents commercial shooters who hunt kangaroos for meat and leather, raised animal welfare concerns about the regulation changes.

“Anybody on the land that will make a phone call to the Department of Environment can get permission to shoot almost whatever they want to shoot and it’s unaudited and unchecked and that’s our concern — animal welfare,” Borda told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

The government would have been better off subsidizing professional shooters to reduce kangaroo numbers more humanely, he said.

“We see this as probably the worst possible outcome for the kangaroo, but I’ve got to emphasize we do understand the plight that farmers are in,” Borda said.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
Had a good rain last night, more rain in the last 3 weeks than normal and a high today of 85 degrees...

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Toroid

Founding Member
This is the first day in weeks if not over a month that it wasn't over 100 degrees in the shade. I remember it was getting up into the 100's back in May.
a0037
 

nivek

As Above So Below
We have been getting way too much rain lately, I had to mow my property twice this week, the grass is growing so fast and tall, but the main problem is all the work I put into planting and growing 18 potato plants, they are ruined...The potatoes got too wet and soggy in the ground, they are rotting, I lost my entire crop...

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nivek

As Above So Below
Today was the hottest day in August, 91 degrees but the humidity was low so it wasn't so bad, and severe thunderstorms and hail forecast for Saturday afternoon...

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nivek

As Above So Below
We have been getting probably 40 percent more rain than normal for July and August this summer, it's raining right now and was earlier today too before noon...The temps have been lower too which is nice, but right now a torrential rain...I lost all my potatoes I was growing in the garden, 18 plants wiped out by too much rain...

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nivek

As Above So Below
It was only 94 degrees today and overcast. We haven't had any rain in months.

I have mushrooms growing in my yard again from too much rain lol...

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The shadow

The shadow knows!
the August 20 storm dumped almost 9 inches of rain. as of today some roads are still flooded. This summer was marked as one of the hottest on record. with 9 days at 100 plus and 15 days at 90 plus.
 

Sheltie

Fratty and out of touch.
I just checked on Hurricane Lane. It's dropped to a strong Cat 4. Even though it will probably encounter wind shear and diminish, there is still a good chance it could make a direct hit on Oahu and Honolulu. Even as a Cat 2, there is tremendous potential for flash floods and major oceanfront damage, possibly costing billions in repairs and lost tourism revenue.

I can't believe the lack of coverage for this event in the national media. It's scary because it's starting to look like Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico all over again.
 

Sheltie

Fratty and out of touch.
We have been getting probably 40 percent more rain than normal for July and August this summer, it's raining right now and was earlier today too before noon...The temps have been lower too which is nice, but right now a torrential rain...I lost all my potatoes I was growing in the garden, 18 plants wiped out by too much rain...
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The fully charged battery on my weed trimmer died before I could finish my tiny lawn. That's never happened before.
 

Toroid

Founding Member
Hurricane Lane and been downgraded to a cat 4.
With no place to run, people in Hawaii brace for hurricane | Daily Mail Online
Residents of Hawaii stocked up on water and food Wednesday in preparation for Hurricane Lane
  • The category 4 storm could slam into the islands Thursday with winds exceeding 100 mph
  • The National Weather Service said a hurricane warning was issued for Maui County, the Big Island and Oahu and hurricane watch was in effect for Kauai
  • Around 5pm Wednesday, Hurricane Lane weakened as it approached Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop
  • Residents were told they must stay put and make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies
  • U.S. Navy ships and submarines based in Hawaii have been instructed to leave port to avoid damage
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Toroid

Founding Member
The hurricane dropped 20 inches of rain in 24 hours.
Hurricane Lane dumps 20 inches of rain on Hawaii in 24 hours | Daily Mail Online
Hurricane Lane was downgraded to a Category 3 storm but officials warn it remains dangerous as ever
  • 'Excessive rain' will likely continue over the weekend and hurricane warnings remain in most of the island
  • Hurricane Lane's center was recorded around 260 miles south of Honolulu, with winds clocking near 125 mph
  • Oahu prepared to set off a siren warning on Thursday for those who needed to seek shelter before nightfall
  • Some airlines also began canceling flights, with United Airlines grounding planes to and from Maui on Friday
  • Two campers have become trapped in Waipio Valley on the Big Island's northern coast due to Hurricane Lane
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Rikki

High Priestess
We were hit hard by flooding as I and my husband has noted. Today we are due for more storms. Some just as bad. We have everything inside. We are preparing for more flooding.
Blessed Be
Rikki
 
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