A pilot program by Agriculture Victoria into irrigation water availability has been hailed a success, providing a valuable tool for farmers to reduce uncertainty around irrigation and assisting with farm management decisions.
The Upcoming Irrigation Water Availability (UIWA) service for southern Basin irrigators was piloted from May to October last year with 650 subscribers and consisted of tailored weekly water updates.
"In the world of water there is so much information to wade your way through," Agriculture Victoria Senior Irrigation Officer, Robert O'Connor said.
"The pilot service sought to cherry pick the bits that mattered most to regional irrigators at a time when they were having to make important decisions for their businesses," he said.
The regular updates included information about upper-catchment rainfall, streamflow response, upper catchment moisture status and southern Basin irrigation water availability.
Survey feedback found the service reduced uncertainty about upcoming irrigation water availability and assisted with earlier and more informed farm management decisions.
Irrigators said the UIWA Updates helped with decisions about water allocation trading, farm water resource management, the farm forage mix, stocking rates, fodder conservation, feed management, and contracts.
"In recent times irrigators have become more skilled at managing variable water supplies. They appreciated having information about upcoming water availability presented in one place and in an irrigation context, to inform their decision making," Mr O'Connor said.
"Readily accessible and user-friendly information is valued because irrigation water availability is the key driver of water prices. Affordable water is the lifeblood of irrigated farms and wider communities," he said.
He said based on the positive feedback and obvious need, the service would continue in 2022.
Project collaborators include the Bureau of Meteorology, the Murray Darling Basin Authority, Goulburn-Murray Water, Lower-Murray Water, WaterNSW, SA Department of Environment and Water, Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, Northern Victorian Catchment Management Authorities, and Agriculture Victoria.
You can subscribe online through the Agriculture Victoria Irrigation Team's Irrigating Agriculture webpage.
