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Excellence In Irrigation Recognition

NRE Officers Les Kewming and Alistair Christie present John Barnett with his 'Excellence in Irrigation' sign

A 'Water Week' initiative of the Macalister Irrigation District Nutrient Reduction Plan

By Rachel Dawkins - 17th October 2002 - Back to News

Colourful signs promoting Excellence in Irrigation have been erected on a number of farm fences and gates around the Macalister Irrigation District this week. The signs, which are being launched during Water Week, are an initiative of the Macalister Irrigation District Nutrient Reduction Plan, a program managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE).

The signs recognise that farmers in the area are working towards excellent irrigation, dairy waste and fertiliser management practices on their farms to achieve higher productivity whilst at the same time minimising their impact on local rivers and the Gippsland Lakes.

The Macalister Irrigation District Nutrient Reduction Plan identified the installation of irrigation re-use systems and conversion of flood to spray irrigation as key measures that will dramatically improve water-use efficiency on district farms and keep nutrients out of the Gippsland Lakes.

Irrigation re-use systems catch the run-off water from flood irrigated land for recycling, preventing it from running to waste down a district drain. If the majority of a property drains to a well-designed and constructed re-use system, water-use efficiency on the farm will be improved by around 20 per cent. Lifestyle and other benefits are also obtained.

Spray irrigation is particularly suited to the more permeable soils that occur widely in the Macalister Irrigation District. Converting to spray irrigation on these soils may halve water use through reduced deep drainage and run-off. Many farmers consider that they also grow more and better pasture with a change to spray irrigation, giving a double benefit.

John Barnett, dairy farmer at Nambrok, has installed two reuse systems on his farm using Irrigation Incentives Scheme funding and has found that they make an enormous difference not only to his water use efficiency, but to his overall lifestyle and peace of mind.

"You don’t realise how much water runs off your farm that can be saved with a reuse system," he said. "I’ve done three waterings and have caught and reused 18 megalitres so far already."

"I sleep better at night knowing that the water is not running to waste down the drain."

Mr Barnett was presented with an "Excellence in Irrigation" sign by Alistair Christie, Team Leader for NRE’ Sustainable Agriculture and Land management program in recognition of his efforts in reducing run off and increasing water use efficiency on his farm.

District farmers who are implementing a Whole Farm Plan to improve their irrigation, fertiliser and dairy waste management may apply for a sign for their fence or gate by contacting Ken Slee or Gavan Lamb at Natural Resources and Environment in Maffra on 51470800.

Source: http://east.gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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