4 Conclusions
- A significant majority of farmers perceive they have few problems with deciding when to irrigate, how much water to apply, and which crops to irrigated.
- Most farmers appear to recognise the need to base operational irrigation management decisions on soil moisture and crop conditions.
- While most farmers claim to monitor soil moisture or evapotranspiration, only a small proportion base their decisions on measured data (probably less than 10 percent).
- Few farmers know how much water they are using.
- The most frequently stated irrigation problem was an insufficient water supply. This is due to either insufficient on-farm capacity or water supply restrictions when river flows or ground water levels are too low.
- The most frequently stated concern was continued access to water for irrigation, under the RMA and in the face of urban needs and opinions.
- The most frequently stated constraint on overcoming irrigation problems was cost, or insufficient profitability.
- The issue uppermost in the minds of most farmers who irrigate is the effectiveness of irrigation, not the efficiency. This is driven by the desire to maximise production and achieve financial viability.
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