North Western Victoria


    During the 2016-17 and 2017-18 winter crop seasons Miles Research provided agricultural "crop defence services" in North Western Victoria, Australia (NW Victoria).

    The project's objective was twofold: enhancing required rainfall (Eg May rainfall - Summary. Media rain articles: link-1, link-2. and blocking severe storm events. Graphed 2016 Client Rainfall data reveals the first year's success (recent 2018 data to follow) - link.

    Season's results now recorded, demonstrate "bumper yields" and for some "the best harvest in decades" - see various (2016-17) media articles here - link.

    Crop Defence Demonstrator Program

    Miles Research provided a private network of NW Victorian farmers with seven bold demonstrations of "weather threat mitigation" during September 2016. The objective was to protect client's crops from severe weather* and damaging rainfall.

    Event summary for this CAPABILITY DEMONSTRATOR PROJECT:

    1. OBJECTIVE: Mitigate Severe Weather* forecast for 8-9 Sep 2016

      TARGET: Whole of Wimmera and Mallee areas

      STATUS: RUN

      RESULT: STRONG (details + data available on request).

    2. OBJECTIVE: Mitigate Severe Weather* forecast for 13-14 Sep 2016

      TARGET: Whole of Wimmera and Mallee areas

      STATUS: RUN

      RESULT: STRONG (details + data available)

    3. OBJECTIVE: Reduce forecast rainfall (to below 5mm) forecast for 17-18 Sep 2016

      TARGET: Client defined area incl. Wimmera and Mallee

      STATUS: RUN

      RESULT: SUCCESSFUL (details + data available)

    4. OBJECTIVE: Reduce rainfall against forecast (BOM 20mm-40mm) to below 5mm for 20 Sep 2016

      TARGET: Client defined area, Victoria

      STATUS: RUN (19/9/16)

      RESULT: STRONG (Download the White Paper review) Link to ABC News article discussing the farmers avoidance further flooding - link. (Download PDF Archived copy - link.

    5. OBJECTIVE: Reduce rainfall against forecast (BOM 5mm-15mm) to below 5mm for 24 Sep 2016

      TARGET: Client defined area, Victoria

      STATUS: RUN (Friday 23/9/16)

      RESULT: AVERAGE Details: 50% clients were equal to or below 5mm of rainfall. However 100% of clients under 7mm. (details + data available)

    6. OBJECTIVE: Mitigate Severe Weather* forecast for 28 Sep 2016

      TARGET: Whole of Wimmera and Mallee areas

      STATUS: RUN

      RESULT: STRONG. (details + data available)

    7. OBJECTIVE: Mitigate Severe Weather* forecast for 2 Oct 2016 and heavy rain until 4 Oct 2016.

      TARGET: Whole of Wimmera and Mallee areas

      STATUS: RUN

      RESULT: STRONG (details + data available)

      *SEVERE WEATHER is defined as that published by Australian Bureau Of Meteorology on its website - link.

    Harvest Protection Program (executed)


    Crop Defence was further provided for a client group within North Western Victoria during the period: October 2016 through to February 2017 with dramatic results. Bureau data reveals heavy rainfall effectively blocked at Victoria's border - link.

    Expected storm damage (according to bureau forecasts) was primarily mitigated and crops protected, Graphed 2016 Rainfall data (sample Horsham Aerodrome) - link. BOM data - link.

    Various Media articles here - link. Details and references available.