With the right tools, knowledge, and support, Dairy Australia believes dairy farmers can optimise water use, boost productivity, and build resilience for the seasons ahead.
The importance of making informed irrigation decisions to maximise productivity and managing risk was the topic of a recent Dairy Australia webinar.
Part of its drought support series, hosted by Dairy Australia’s soils & irrigation lead Cath Lescun, it brought together experts to share practical strategies and tools to help farmers navigate irrigation planning with confidence.
A summary of the main topics is provided below.
Start with system readiness: Before the irrigation season begins, farmers should ensure their systems are fully operational and pre-season checks are done, including pumps, sprinklers, hoses, and control units. Uniform water application and correct system pressure are essential for optimal performance. Dairy Australia offers downloadable checklists for various irrigation systemsthrough its Smarter Irrigation for Profit 2 project.
Timing is everything: Agriculture Victoria irrigation extension officer Nick O’Halloran highlighted the importance of accurate irrigation scheduling, especially during spring. Delaying irrigation can result in significant dry matter losses, with studies showing up to 60 kg/ha lost per day of delay. To avoid this, Nick encouraged farmers to monitor evapotranspiration (ET) rates. Tools like extensionAUS and Agriculture Victoria’s interactive ETo irrigation scheduling tool (also known as the ETo Map) provide location-specific data, including rainfall information, to help farmers estimate water demand and plan irrigation accordingly.
Understand farm soil’s water holding capacity: Effective irrigation scheduling relies on understanding how much water your soil can hold and how much of that water plants can actually use. This usable water is referred to as Readily Available Water (RAW). . Different soil types have varying RAW levels. By calculating RAW and tracking ET, farmers can maintain a water balance and determine when irrigation is needed. Tools like IrriPasture help automate this process.
Avoid the green drought trap: Ms Lescun shared a case study from Tasmania where poor scheduling and system performance led to a ‘green drought’ - pastures appeared healthy but were under-irrigated, resulting in a 5t/ha dry matter loss over five months. At a conservative fodder value of $250/tonne, this equated to a $125,000 opportunity cost across 100 hectares.
To access the webinar, Dairy Australia checklists and other helpful information, go to www.dairyaustralia.com.au/soils-and-water/irrigation.
11°C