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Murray Irrigation Limited
Murray Irrigation Limited provides irrigation water to over 2400 farms, including many rice farms in southern NSW.
Murray Irrigation Limited has a rice growing policy aimed at reducing accessions to the watertable, increasing water use efficiency and encouraging best management practices. A component of this policy is a soil suitability criterion to select soils that minimise leakage to the watertable from irrigation of the rice crop. Rice cannot be grown on a field unless it has been tested and approved by Murray Irrigation as suitable for rice growing.
Salinity remains a serious threat to the environment and agricultural production of the region. High watertables were first recorded in the western areas of the region during the 1950s, and again in the mid 1970s. High watertables and the salinity associated with them can adversely affect agricultural production, biodiversity, river health and infrastructure.
In 1997 Murray Irrigation introduced a Total Farm Water Balance (TFWB) policy as a result of concern about watertable rise and the associated salinity. The TFWB Policy aims to reduce accessions to the watertable, increase water use efficiency and encourage adoption of best management practices across the area of operations. The policy is based on research by CSIRO for the Murray Valley, indicating that the maximum water use intensity to achieve a farm water balance is between 1.5ML/ha and 5ML/ha depending on depth to watertable, soil type, land use and rainfall. The policy generally limits irrigation intensity to 4ML/ha. If certain 'best management practice' works have been implemented the limit may be increased up to 6ML/ha.
Murray Irrigation Limited has a rice growing policy aimed at reducing accessions to the watertable, increasing water use efficiency and encouraging best management practices. A component of this policy is a soil suitability criterion to select soils that minimise leakage to the watertable from irrigation of the rice crop. Rice cannot be grown on a field unless it has been tested and approved by Murray Irrigation as suitable for rice growing.
Salinity remains a serious threat to the environment and agricultural production of the region. High watertables were first recorded in the western areas of the region during the 1950s, and again in the mid 1970s. High watertables and the salinity associated with them can adversely affect agricultural production, biodiversity, river health and infrastructure.
In 1997 Murray Irrigation introduced a Total Farm Water Balance (TFWB) policy as a result of concern about watertable rise and the associated salinity. The TFWB Policy aims to reduce accessions to the watertable, increase water use efficiency and encourage adoption of best management practices across the area of operations. The policy is based on research by CSIRO for the Murray Valley, indicating that the maximum water use intensity to achieve a farm water balance is between 1.5ML/ha and 5ML/ha depending on depth to watertable, soil type, land use and rainfall. The policy generally limits irrigation intensity to 4ML/ha. If certain 'best management practice' works have been implemented the limit may be increased up to 6ML/ha.