Do you want to be a more efficient irrigator? Do you want more crop for your drop?

Irrigation management can be improved through irrigation scheduling and monitoring. Improving irrigation efficiency involves managing an irrigation system in such a way as to achieve maximum production potential while minimising adverse impacts on the regions soils and water resources. It can also assist in mitigating issues relating to reductions in irrigators’ groundwater allocations.

The South East Natural Resources Management (SE NRM) Board encourages irrigation efficiency and is pleased to present the next series of workshops which form an important part of the “Irrigation for Profit” program, an element of their broader Irrigation Efficiency Project. This program assists in improving water use efficiency and management by irrigators in the South East of South Australia. 

Training packages arose out of a series of introductory workshops, attracting 92 attendees, and were held across the region in 2004. Irrigators were given the opportunity to identify the issues and topics which were considered important in terms of improved understandings and management practices. Consequently, training workshops were conducted across the South East, commencing with the Irrigated Soils and Pumps sessions in the Upper South East in 2005 and then moving down through the Mid and Lower South East in subsequent seasons. As part of the 2008-09 series, workshops on Irrigation Scheduling, Soil Water Interpretation and Surface Irrigation Systems will be presented. 

The new training workshops have been developed by PIRSA Rural Solutions – Irrigated Crop Management Service, in conjunction with the SE NRM Board, and are open to landholders and irrigation industry members. Mark Skewes, South Australian Research and Development Institute will present on Irrigation Scheduling and Soil Water Interpretation and Michael Zerk, Surface Irrigation Officer, PIRSA will present Surface Irrigation 
Technical presentations include:

Irrigation Scheduling
Gain an understanding of features relating to the various available soil moisture monitoring devices, how to monitor soil moisture and where to position equipment, and the required applied volumes and timings of irrigation events.

Soil Water Interpretation
Receive detailed interpretation of data provided by soil moisture monitoring devices, including full and refill points

Surface Irrigation
Learn about issues which affect the water use efficiency of surface irrigation, and the findings of investigations carried out on several South Eastern case study sites over the past four seasons,

Workshops are $25 each which includes morning tea and lunch. Workshop attendees will receive a course manual and Certificate of Attendance. For more information please contact Rob Palamountain at the SE NRM Board on 8724 6014 or register your attendance with Reception of the SE NRM Board on 8724 6000.