Water use efficiency

Background:

Significant changes have occurred in farm systems across the Lower Murray-Darling Basin, mainly in response to changing water availability. They involve changes to pasture systems and  irrigation delivery and infrastructure systems.

New delivery technologies such as High Flow have the potential to improve forage production, to save irrigation water and labour and, hence, to increase farm profit. This project will build scientific understanding of the benefits/costs of high flow irrigation across a range of soil types and different pasture regimes.

Project objective:

Increased understanding of the economic viability of HI FLOW irrigation, technologies and strategies.

Project scope:

This project will undertake field studies of fast flow irrigation supported by detailed monitoring and analysis, including cost/benefit. Outputs include case studies for each site investigation, and farm flow rate guidelines farmers/advisers can use to evaluate the current systems, and identify appropriate changes.

The project will engage water supply authorities modernising district supply infrastructure and Government bodies currently providing funding for farm irrigation efficiency.

Outcomes/benefits:

Assist farmers (and service providers) assess whether new irrigation technologies such as High Flow Surface Irrigation are likely to improve the resilience and profitability of their farming system, in their irrigation region.

The results will be highly relevant to the irrigated dairy industry in the Lower Murray Darling Basin region, as well as other dairy regions.

More information:

For more information, please contact Cathy Phelps, Dairy Australia Natural Resource Management Program Manager.