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Stress at one point in a season may have indirect consequences on fibre quality
Water remains the major limiting factor for the Australian agricultural industry, so growing ‘more crop per drop’ is vital for continued success.
The Cotton Catchment Communities CRC (Cotton CRC) has received funding from the National Water Commission to improve the water efficiency of on-farm storages across all cotton growing valleys in Australia, reaching from Emerald in Queensland’s north to Griffith in the south of NSW.
The aim of the project is to measure and monitor the evaporation and seepage losses from 135 on-farm storages across the Australian cotton industry.
Philip Armytage, CEO with the Cotton CRC said the new project provides a fantastic opportunity to raise industry awareness of the quantum of losses, causes of problems and ways to measure and ameliorate losses from on-farm water storages.
“Our objective is to firstly measure what is happening and then develop cost-effective strategies to reduce losses”.
“The Cotton CRC, its partners and growers along with National Water Commission are spending millions of dollars to improve on-farm water management”.
Commercial consultants will be tendered to undertake storage measurements using the latest measurement equipment now available in Australia, identifying the characteristics of efficient and inefficient storages and the extent of losses occurring. This will increase the capacity within the industry to measure and ameliorate losses from storages.
“Water savings could be substantial. A 10% reduction in water loss from on the 1000 cotton farms in NSW and Queensland could save the industry up to $21.4 million per year”, said Mr Armytage.
“This project adds to the Cotton CRC’s existing $17m investment in collaborative water research. We are starting to develop water knowledge and solutions at a field level right through to whole of catchment”.
Information and results from this water use efficiency project over the next three years will be delivered regularly to the industry through BMP and specialist regional information and extension personnel charged with knowledge implementation and adoption.
He said the Cotton CRC website (www.cottoncrc.org.au) will provide an on-going update on research progress, as will regional extension staff, and CSIRO, Queensland DPI&F and NSW DPI personnel.
For more information or interview please contact Philip Armytage on 02 6799 1509 or 0488 263 585
