ABSTRACT

Best management practices (BMP) in irrigation are being demonstrated and encouraged through the Cotton and Grains Adoption Program of the Australian State of Queensland's Rural Water Use Efficiency Initiative (RWUEI). The RWUEI is a partnership between between industry and government and involves the cotton, grains, sugar, fruit and vegetable plus dairy and pasture industries. Water use efficiency (WUE) officers have established grower groups to assist in providing local input into the specific objectives of extension and demonstration activities in the five major irrigation regions in the state. The main objective is to develop better irrigation WUE, through the application of irrigation principles resulting from past research. The project benefits industries, irrigators and local communities through increased production and profit. In addition, environmental health will improve as a consequence of greatly reduced runoff of irrigation tailwater into rivers and streams. This will reduce the risk of n utrient and pesticide contamination of waterways. Activities are based around a minimum of four on-farm demonstration sites in each irrigation region where management techniques and equipment are demonstrated. The project monitors application methods and in-field management as well as water use from on-farm storages and distribution systems. This paper describes the project, its activities and successes.