Australian CliMate – a Decision Support Tool for Agricultural Decision Makers

Australian agriculture managers deal with climates that are characterised by high var-iability and unpredictability. A simple framework for decision making is used to structure weather related enquiries using recent and long-term climate data to better inform de-cisions based on current conditions and future expectations. This paper describes the rationale, design philosophy, and development journey of Australian CliMate (CliMate), a contemporary climate analysis tool built to consolidate and modernise functionality of earlier DSTs. CliMate aimed to be simple, transparent, and user-driven, supporting tactical and strategic agricultural decisions. Ten core analyses were included from previous DSTs. With over 20,000 registered users and widespread adoption among farmers, consultants, and other professionals over a decade, CliMate demonstrates the enduring demand for accessible, mobile climate analysis tools. We reflect on lessons learned in the development process, advocating for minimalism, iteration with users, and integration of transparent data sources. This experience underscores the necessity for long-term support and evaluation to sustain the value of agricultural DSTs.