SFF Project Summary

Demonstration of Sustainable Irrigation Practices

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Website: www.agfirst.co.nz/projects

Objectives of the Project

  1. To demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits of using the "Best management guidelines for sustainable irrigated agriculture" 
  2. To obtain useful data for writing up as case studies to be used for the future
  3. To encourage the uptake of the "Best management guidelines for sustainable irrigated agriculture"

Background

Over the past 3 years various trials have been funded by MAF & MfE to determine and test "Best Management Guidelines" for Sustainable Irrigation. Now these have been confirmed there is a need to get this management tool out to farmers.

During the testing stage, one of the farmers noted how much interest there was in his property, once people knew what trials were in place. Every time he or his wife was out in the community, other farmers were always asking him when he was irrigating next. Another comment he made was "During the season he was not irrigating for 100 days when others around him were". He had the information and trusted it, others around him were not so confident. At a cost for irrigation of $200/day, this saved him about $20,000.

Benefits

  1. Community benefit
    Approx 400,000 ha of land in Canterbury is irrigated. Spreading the demonstration sites throughout the region, will maximise the uptake of the management tool. Results will be published in the regional paper weekly during the season on the farming page. Field days run for farmers to give them a hands on introduction. 
  2. Commitment
    Farmers will contribute to the cost of some of the monitoring equipment and read data on a weekly or more frequent basis depending on the season. 
  3. Existing strategies
    This project would be an incremental step towards Part I of a strategy discussed by the regional council and irrigators to establish a telemetry and internet based programme for monitoring soil moisture and making this available to all. 
  4. Sustainability
    Improved irrigation practise has many benefits; less water used, less labour used, less electricity, less fertiliser, healthier soils, and better production. So is good economically and good for the environment. 
  5. Alignment with Government initiatives
    Farming and irrigation are very important to the region. The trial projects to date have determined the right tool. Unless the tool is used by farmers, the investment to date is wasted. Also the project indirectly contributes to the drive towards reducing greenhouse emissions, through efficient use of electricity. The project will encourage efficient use of energy. 
  6. Value for money
    The geographic spread will make it easy for farmers to access the management tool. The same system could eventually be extended throughout NZ. Canterbury is the irrigation centre of NZ. This project is extremely good value for money given the high level of money contributed from farm and industry sources.

How the Project will be carried out

There are three clear phases to this project:

Stage 1: Establishment and background monitoring, Jan 2001 - June 2001

Stage 2: Implementation of best irrigation practices, July 2001 - June 2002

Stage 3: Background monitoring to verify success, July 2002 - Dec 2002

For more information please visit the website www.agfirst.co.nz/.