Different approach to combating drought
TRICKLE tape sales are expected to triple at Agricultural Requirements Gatton ahead of the new season as Lockyer Valley farmers find a way to combat the dry weather.
Farmers are relying on the tape as an alternative form of irrigation, which uses less water by watering directly to the root of the plant.
Agricultural Requirements irrigation manager Jeff Stokes said both regular and non-regular customers were considering drastically increasing their order of trickle tape.
“Normally we would sell to 10 regular users, but roughly another 10 farmers who only use it during a drought are talking about coming on board,” Mr Stokes said.
“Eight of our regular customers have doubled the amount they will use.”
Mr Stokes said trickle tape was the most efficient way of irrigating to get the water to the root of the plant.
But efficiency comes at a price, with an acre costing farmers anywhere from $500-$1500 depending on the property.
Mr Stokes said the price varied because of pipes and infiltration requirements.
Qualipac is a regular user of trickle tape, but this season has increased its usage by eight hectares.
Qualipac supervisor Tim Rossignol said overhead sprinklers were swapped for trickle tape as a way to best utilise the water.
“It’s been a challenging season water wise because we don’t have the same availability of water to use our overhead sprinklers,” Mr Rossignol said.
“We’ve got limited water resources and trickle tape is a more efficient way to use it.”
Mr Rossignol said changing irrigation method created challenges, but farmers had to do what they could to get by during the dry weather.