The fourth generation Kaniva farmer, who runs merino ewes and a mixed cropping operation, had his produce decimated by two one-in-100-year frost events, in consecutive years, 1996 and 1997.

"That sort of got me thinking I was really lucky because I wouldn't have another frost for the next 300 years, or perhaps the weather patterns had changed," he said.

"I also noticed a greater frequency of droughts, and our springs were becoming less reliable."

So began a journey Mr Hobbs continues today, as a member of Farmers for Climate Action, a not-for-profit public company founded in 2015 that aims to upskill farmers in climate science and policy.

He started by studying his rainfall data to check for evidence of a shift in weather patterns.

"Once we started looking at the data and the likelihoods of receiving above or below average rainfall, I started to get a picture that the springs were becoming less reliable, and more likely than not we would get a frost," he said.

Opinion: Farmers on the front line of changing climate

"I've had a weather station on farm for the last six years, and in that time our frost season has gone from 90 days from first frost to last, out to 132 days on average. Frosts are now coming into spring."

For Mr Hobbs, this has meant lower crop yield despite spending the same amount of money at the start of each season. He said he started to run more sheep in response to this phenomenon.

The 51-year-old said his on-farm practices had benefited from his association with the group.

"Something I've just committed to is an emission reductions fund project to store carbon in my soil through plants," he said.

"I'm exploring use of crops with large tubers, where you leave the tubers in the soil to decompose and improve the food for microbes who create nutrients for the soil."

Mr Hobbs' role also includes giving his opinions on where he believes government policy on climate should head. He said following the election, he hoped both sides of politics could agree on a policy that responded to the changes in climate being observed.

"I'm looking forward to working with newly elected representative: in the last few weeks of promises, the Coalition signalled it was keen to have a meaningful dialogue, and I'm hoping they're genuine on that commitment, because we're not going to get anywhere until we get some national policies in place," he said.

"If we're getting less rain and more of that is out of season, we need to make more effective use of it.

"Support for struggling farmers is happening more and more with a one-off payment or special grant, and we've put people onto Centrelink with the Farm Household Allowance, which is very reactive. We're better off to look at circumstances and say we are getting a greater frequency of frost and we need to put mechanisms in place that help people to deal with it. Farm Management Deposits are a good tool, but they could be built on."

Mr Hobbs said it was not always easy to convince other farmers of the need for climate action, given each farm was affected differently by changing weather patterns.

"If you're comfortable and making a fine living there is no need to change, what you're doing is right for you," he said.

"For me, I have had a need to change because it's really got tough - the bank account doesn't look healthy. So it all comes down to personal experience: In my experience I either change what I'm doing or quit farming, it's as simple as that."

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