smart farms newsletter - nsw department of industry · 2015. 3. 6. · smart farms newsletter ....
TRANSCRIPT
In this issue:
Smart Farms Newsletter Issue 4: November 2010
The Hawkesbury-Nepean River Recovery Program is funded by the Australian Government through the Water for the Future program. Supplementary funding for the WaterSmart Farms project has been provided by the NSW Government through its Climate Change Fund.
NSF Grants for Fertiliser Spreaders
Case Study: Water and Labour Savings
Achieved!
Greenhouse Industry Update
Case Study: Effluent Management System
Upgrade at Camden Park
WaterSmart Farms Case Study:
Water and Labour Savings Achieved!
A mixed use rural property in the Hawkesbury region has completed stage one of a WaterSmart Farms grant funded project and has achieved significant labour savings as well as water savings. The project converted the old travelling irrigators to a solid set irrigation system with a new PVC delivery line and sprinklers spaced at 20m. The new system allows 17mm to be applied to each paddock in under 4 hours - a process that previously took all night and used twice as much water! Property manager Garry Jones is extremely pleased with the new system. “Irrigating is as easy as turning on a tap now, and we now have more time to do other farm operations, instead of spending all day moving travellers,” he said. Mr Jones is also interested in automating the irrigation system in the future, which will allow further labour and water savings.
The Smart Farms projects (NutrientSmart Farms &
WaterSmart Farms) are working with landholders in the
lower Hawkesbury Nepean region to improve nutrient
management and water use efficiency. Fully subsidised
workshops and grants for on-ground works are available
to eligible landholders. Phone the Smart Farms
Information Line - (02) 4588 2118
The new pop-up sprinklers, funded through WaterSmart Farms, in operation.
NSF Grants for Fertiliser Spreaders
In NutrientSmart Farms, three vegetable farmers have
received grants for banded fertiliser spreaders that
allow them to more accurately place nutrients in the
root zone. The technique suits most of their crops and
the annual reduction in fertiliser use is around one-quarter.
Fertigation, where fertiliser is applied via irrigation, is
another technique that allows reduced fertiliser rates
through more targeted application. NSF has also
funded projects that involve fertigation.
If you are planning to
upgrade or purchase
new equipment to
apply fertilisers, you
are welcome to
contact NutrientSmart
Farms to see if we can
provide a grant to
partly fund this work -
please use the contact
details overleaf.
Left: Fertigation units can be funded through NutrientSmart Farms
Photo: Bill Yiasoumi
Photo: Damien Doyle
grant funds approved:
$5,639,076 through WaterSmart Farms & NutrientSmart Farms (GST inc.)
Be Nutrient & Water Smart—it’s worth it!
Smart Farms Contact Details
Smart Farms Administration & Information Officer
Industry & Investment NSW
Locked Bag 4, Richmond NSW 2753
Smart Farms Information Line – 4588 2118
Fax – 4588 2159
Email – [email protected]
Web: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/resources/smartfarms
© State of New South Wales through Department of Industry and Investment (Industry & Investment NSW) 2010. You may copy, distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute Industry & Investment NSW as the owner. Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (October 2010). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of Industry & Investment NSW or the user’s independent adviser.
NutrientSmart Farms Case Study:
Effluent Management System Upgrade at Camden Park
The 250 dairy cows at Camden Park generate a lot of nutrient, close to the Nepean River. An upgrade to this historic farm’s effluent management system was partly funded by NutrientSmart Farms. The work is complete and will be on display at a field day for dairy farmers on 19 November 2010. For further information please use the contact details below.
River water licence purchase Interested sellers for all or parts of entitlements in the Hawkesbury Nepean can phone Rachel at DECCW
for information - (02) 6229 7144
Greenhouse Industry Update
The greenhouse industry is a key sector that the Smart Farms projects hope to work with, and a well-attended field day in late 2009 indicated a strong desire from industry to become involved. 74 expressions of interest for WaterSmart Farms grant funding were received prior to the closing date, of which 70 have received site visits from Smart Farms officers and 30 have received independent irrigation system assessments so far. Three greenhouse projects have been approved for Smart Farms funding with a total grant value of nearly $100,000. Works include upgrades to irrigation systems and infrastructure for water capture, treatment and reuse. Five greenhouse demonstration farms are also in the final stages of development. The farms will showcase various types of water treatment and recycling systems and will host field days in the coming months.
Greenhouse tomato production.
number of meters installed:
446 through the HN River Recovery Program “Improving
Hawkesbury Nepean Water Balance Accounting” project
Photo: Jeremy Badgery-Parker
Team Leader NSF, Ashley Senn, turning on the new system that triples the area available to irrigate the liquid effluent
(above); testing the newly-installed irrigation system with river water (below)
Photo: John Stanham
Photo: Ashley Senn