DairySA R&D Projects

1. Meningie Water use efficiency (Funded by Dairy Australia and the SAMDBNRM Board)

Since the commencement of this project the MDB drought has reduced water availability to farmers in the Meningie area resulting in the cessation of most irrigation in the area and many farms struggling to access stock water. The original project set out to investigate the offsite impacts of farms seeking high production from irrigated pastures through the use of fertilisers and recycled effluent. A research program was to be undertaken to better understand water, nutrient and salt movement in order to minimise long term risks to the environment and production, and to help optimise the production returns from the sustainable application of water and nutrients.

While the drought prevented the research from being undertaken existing water use efficiency and nutrient use data along with groundwater investigations are being analysed to gain a better understanding of the regional hydrology.

Irrigated and dryland farmers in the region have participated in the DairySAT program to review current practices and identify future on ground works that could further reduce off site impacts of dairying in the region.