Future of irrigation
RECENTLY Warrego Water Services invited customers on a technology irrigation field tour throughout the Jondaryan region to visit a number of recently implemented irrigation developments with various new technology from the Valley Pivot and Lateral irrigation product line.
Of major interest to the growers on the tour was the Variable Rate Irrigation Pivot being used over this year’s cotton crop at Leahaven belonging to Neil Nass.
The pivot has 164 individual control valves and sprinklers that can be controlled to apply varying applications on the pivot irrigated area.
In conjunction with a research study by the National Centre of Engineering in Agriculture – this site has reduced total water use by the pivot by nine per cent without any reductions in overall yield.
Another site visited on the field tour was Wantata on the Jondaryan Evanslea Rd.
Wantata, over the last four years, has changed dramatically from a fully flood irrigated block to one now consisting of 390 ha of overhead irrigation.
With two Valley Rainger Swing Around ditch feed laterals covering summer and winter crop rotations – flexibility, return on investment, labour saving, reduced water use and yields have all been maximised.
For this summer’s cotton crop, which will be picked in coming weeks, 30 per cent less water has been applied on the lateral irrigated country compared to the flood irrigated country with both areas looking to yield in similar numbers.
On-farm capital investment for machinery and infrastructure can be difficult to prioritise. But the decision can be helped when looking at return on investment (ROI).
Water infrastructure ROI, be it stockwater or water transfer and irrigation, is pretty simple when looking at all true costs from labour saving, energy savings, water use efficiency, yield and risk management.
With water being our most precious asset, water infrastructure should be designed to give the most efficient distribution of available water.
Warrego Water Services can design, supply and install any pumping and irrigation system you require and provide a no-obligation, free, on-site quote.
❝ On-farm capital investment for machinery and infrastructure can often be difficult to prioritise.