Irrigation practices on north-east Victorian dairy farms: a survey

Abstract

The north-east region of Victoria is an important water-harvesting catchment for gravity-fed irrigators downstream of Lake Mulwala. Dairy farmers are significant users of irrigation water in north-east Victoria but little was known about their irrigation practices and attitudes. A survey undertaken in 2000 collected data on irrigation practices and attitudes from 92% of the irrigating dairy farmers in the region. It found diversity in many aspects of irrigation amongst the region’s irrigated dairy farms, ranging from the proportion of the farm irrigated to the irrigation system used, and identified areas where improvements to irrigation practices could be made. More than 8 different irrigation systems were used in the region, and flood irrigation was the most commonly used. However, a large proportion (37%) of flood irrigators were contemplating changing to spray irrigation, mostly to long lateral hand move sprinkler irrigation, in an effort to improve water use efficiency. More than 50% of respondents did not meter irrigation water use, and 83% pumped water directly from rivers or creeks, with dams and dragline holes the next most common sources. Irrigation scheduling (when to start irrigating and the frequency of irrigation thereafter) and the amount of water to apply were generally based on knowledge and experience rather than on soil moisture monitoring equipment or use of evaporation rates. Most survey respondents recognised that their irrigation practices could improve and said that they would be interested in information to help them make more informed decisions about irrigation practices.