The afternoon commenced at the Perserverence hall, 3km from Hampton with a presentation on the Topoclimate concept, Topoclimate Farm plans and progress results from the microclimates survey by Gary Hutchinson, MD of Topoclimate Services Pty Ltd.

Gary showed the group some temperature data from the microclimates study, gathered at 6.38am on the coldest morning of the 2002 Winter which showed a 16 degree temperature difference between the coldest spot in the district and the warmest spot only 2500 metres away. "Hampton has a large range of microclimates", he said "and farmers can make much more money by using the information being produced and growing the right crop in the right place"

Dave Manning Pedologist with Crows Nest Shire, presented the newly prepared soil map of the district and described the soils of the area in detail.. "Fifteen different soils have now been identified in the Hampton District where formerly only four had been identified", Dave commented , "and this information has economic value for farmers".

The party then boarded a bus and toured some key sites in the Hampton District including Hampton Orchards Avocado operation, Neville Shannon’s grazing property and Graeme Thomas’s Avocado Orchard. Participants also viewed the impact of the first wind machine installed in the District, and discussed the research project being carried out by TSPL to measure it’s effectiveness.

The Hampton farmers were impressed with the data that is being produced by the project and many are planning to develop Topoclimate Farm plans for each of their properties to work out the best crops for each site and make better use of the resource information being produced.

Shire Councillors congratulated the Hampton District on its initiative in starting the project and advised that other parts of the Darling Downs were now looking at similar projects based on Hampton’s experience.

Topoclimate Services News release