Irrigators prepare for multiple challenges

The effects of climate change and the prospect of greater regulation over water use will mean irrigators need update their knowledge so they can make the right decisions now and to plan for the future.

Workshops and on-line resources, will be available later this year. Prepared by the Curtin University of Technology with support from the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation and the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia. The workshops and on-line resources are a crucial first step to increase knowledge and resilience in the face of new and multiple challenges.

The extension program location

The program will cover irrigation districts from the Swan Valley to Great Southern and content and structure is being varied according to the irrigation enterprises (which span vegetable, fruit, dairy and viticulture), regional characteristics and water sources. Apart from the 1500 or more primary producers who irrigate in this section of WA, audiences will include local government bodies, state authorities involved in water regulation, and natural resource management groups.

Grape grower Keith Scott, who has 22 hectares of vines at Margaret River and is assisting with preparation of information to be used in the extension program. Keith has witnessed increasing attention to water as drier seasons, and in some cases restricted access to water, begin to affect management and income. He also identifies a link between the increasing “water awareness” and a growing appreciation of the role irrigation technologies play in improving yields, quality and profits.

“In Great Southern, for instance, there has always been a need to have an eye on groundwater quality and techniques like roaded catchments are part of regional practice,” he said.

“This has also been Australia’s first agricultural region to feel significant effects of climate change."

“Moving north a shorter history of concern for water availability and water use efficiency is found. But while water was once seen as plentiful and not something warranting a lot of planning, it is now foremost in the minds of primary producers facing resource, climatic and economic pressures.”

Program support

When Curtin University of Technology’s chair of Viticulture and Oenology, Mark Gibberd, successfully applied for National Program for Sustainable Irrigation funding to help address these pressures, he gained support from grower bodies like the Wine Industry Association of WA and Vegetables WA as well as the South West Regional Development Commission.

Steve Harrison of Curtin University of Technology is assisting Mark Gibberd with much of the science that needs to go into the project and is mindful that while such things as plant physiology and soil water holding characteristics are important, what really matters is how they connect with current or looming management questions.

“Content is therefore being compiled in consultation with industry so that it is relevant in terms of management and practice change considerations,” he said.

“Modules will include obvious topics like crop water use factors, calculation and monitoring of water requirements, ways of improving water use efficiency, and storage options.

“It is also necessary, however, to see the bigger picture. This includes characteristics of the south west of Western Australia, which has restricted summer water availability and high evapotranspiration from September to March. Variation in the south west is another characteristic, with some parts having significant groundwater and others not having this option, then there are the different crop demands with many vineyards for instance using irrigation only as a supplement to rainfall and summer vegetable crops and dairy pastures having relatively high water demand.”

The area is an extremely important contributor to the economy of the state and irrigation is a key driver of production. Policy-makers are aware of this and are also aware of the importance of environmental flows and sustainability of aquifers. This is why Steve Harrison believes it is important to have at least a fundamental understanding of every part of the total picture.

“At the plant level (whatever the crop) it is useful to know something about how the plant might function under the effects of changing patterns of rainfall, irrigation water scarcity and increasing temperature. And there are the risks or resilience associated with different varieties of crop grown and various soil types, and the appropriate management options,” he said.

“At the whole farm business level producers need to consider questions posed by a changing environment, new regulations and future developments that could include water trading.

“Business options and viability can be affected, too, by catchment level efficiencies and regulatory change. This is why information is not simply being tailored for primary producers but will be presented in workshop and electronic formats for policy-makers and regulators to enhance their understanding of irrigated industries.”

Caption: Researcher Steve Harrison from the Curtin University of Technology (right) is pictured with grape grower Keith Scott who is assisting with preparation of information to assist irrigators to make decisions in the face of a changing climate and regulatory framework.

Citation

Land & Water Australia. 2010. Irrigators prepare for multiple challenges. [Online] (Updated May 17th, 2010)
Available at: http://lwa.gov.au/node/3748 [Accessed Tuesday 12th of March 2013 02:22:13 PM ].