Get reliable rangeland science

The AussieGRASS model has been run operationally for Australia since 199 5, with modelling outputs of current conditions and forecasts provided each month to the Long Paddock website – and is considered an 'environmental calculator ' rather than just a model of pasture growth. AussieGRASS was initially built to help quantify current conditions 'relative to history ' to assist with drought and seasonal conditions assessment but has since been used for many additional purposes. There have been many challenges to building and maintaining 'the operational system ' – some of these challenges are summarised in this paper with regard to : input data sets (historical and current climate, climate forecasts, tree density mapping, grazing pressure, land use etc) ; calibration and validation (integrating field and satellite observational data sets); computation (high performance computing and storage) ; extension (Long Paddock web site) ; and human capital (staff, collaborators, and management).