Changing Irrigation Systems and Management in the Harvey Irrigation Area

Product Information

The Harvey Water Irrigation Area (HWIA) is Western Australia’s prime irrigated dairying area supplying Perth and the south west with more than 40 per cent of its milk. Irrigated agriculture commenced in Harvey with the establishment of a weir in 1916. Since that time, pastures have been watered through surface irrigation of paddocks which over time have been leveled and divided into irrigation bays.

When this project was envisaged in 2001, there were no centre pivots being used for the irrigation of pasture in the Irrigation Area. Discussions between south west agricultural water management company, Rob Kuzich & Co., and Harvey dairy farmer, Dale Hanks, on the need to substantially increase pasture yields and milk production per hectare highlighted the case for more efficient and effective irrigation methods. The urgency of exploring ways to improve productivity and farm profits was heightened by the deregulation of the dairy industry and a resulting cost-price ‘squeeze’.

However, purchase of a centre pivot irrigator was seen as a large investment for a relatively small dairy farm and required more information, understanding of how to manage the pivot and assessment of its performance. At that time, there was no local information available on the performance of centre pivot irrigation for pasture production.