Now is the time to plan for your on-farm water needs

“Water is a necessity but is often overlooked when it comes to farm planning,” said Mr Simpson.

“We are working with local organisations to deliver a series of workshops over the next 12-18 months, as part of our Farm Water Management Planning project. The project aims to assist landholders across southern NSW to actively reduce the impact of drought by preparing and implementing on-farm water management plans - now, when seasons have been favourable, is the time to plan and prepare.”

“As Kerrie Wise, a landholder attending a recent workshop commented, ‘When the drought comes, it’s too late!’,” he added.

An on-farm water management plan determines water needs (stock and domestic) and the capacity to meet these needs (dam, tank, bore), and how to get the water to where you need it on the farm.

Workshop presenter Peter Smith from Sapphire Irrigation said he wants farmers to understand the basic principles of a Farm Water Management Plan, and that is the water budget.

“The program will help you determine how much water you will need for stock and domestic use versus what storage capacity you have when streams or springs dry up, as happened in the last drought,” he said.

Farm water security has multiple benefits including stock health and production, environmental and biodiversity improvements, and importantly, peace of mind by being prepared in a time of drought.

These and many other aspects of farm water management are covered in the workshops including a farm water budget, storage options, reticulation and troughing, and how to improve water quality. In addition, demonstration sites are being established to provide landholders with practical ideas on how to set up their own properties to be better prepared for drought.

Geoff Minchin, Senior Advisor Drought and Adoption with the Southern Innovation Hub said setting up a reticulation system of good quality water not only serves in drought times but improves a landholder’s capacity to effectively manage grazing and pastures.

“This leads to improved production, and also the protection of the grazing asset – soils and pastures,” he said.

“The preparation of a Farm Water Management Plan can also greatly assist in applications for farm finance for drought infrastructure said Sue Riley from the Rural Finance Counselling Service. “

Murray Local Land Services is leading the collaborative project with grower groups including Holbrook Landcare Network, West Hume and Corowa Landcare Groups, Riverine Plains, Rice Growers Association of Australia, and the Western Murray Land Improvement Group.

Farm water management planning workshops will be held by the grower groups across the Murray region starting in April. The workshops and associated field days will be covering all aspects of stock and domestic water planning, including how farmers can access financial assistance for on-farm water infrastructure. A recent workshop attendee, Bill Wearne commented, “I was more comfortable before the workshop, [but] if you’re not informed you don’t know how much trouble you’re in.”

More information can be found www.lls.nsw.gov.au/murray-fwmpp which also lists grower group contacts or by contacting Paul Simpson at paul.simpson@lls.nsw.gov.au or 0439 384 749.

The project is supported by the Southern Innovation Hub and funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.