Burdekin Irrigation Project

The Burdekin region of Queensland has 80,000 hectares of land under sugarcane. It typically produces 8,300,000 tonnes of cane annually, farmed by approximately 530 growers on 927 farms.

This high yielding sugarcane results from high solar radiation and the availability of a reliable irrigation supply.

Due to excess run-off from low efficiency furrow irrigation systems, the region has been identified as a priority catchment for nitrogen (N) and pesticide loads entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Research shows it is possible to reduce N losses through improved irrigation with no impact to yields.

Led by Sugar Research Australia the Burdekin Irrigation Project aims to maximise industry profitability through smarter irrigation practices which will also improve environmental outcomes.

It will do this by supporting growers transition to scalable, sustainable, and technologically assisted practices in irrigation management.

A nine-step ‘Improved Irrigation Efficiency Pathway’ was collaboratively designed and endorsed by a consortium of key extension stakeholders in the region. The process provides the framework to address industry priorities and water quality targets simultaneously.

Through participation in the project, Burdekin growers will achieve best management irrigation practices so they can attain high yields, reduce electricity and water costs, and deliver improved water quality outcomes.

To capitalise on improved irrigation, a whole of farming systems approach will be implemented. Solutions will be delivered not just for irrigation but also for weeds, pests, diseases, and nutrient management.

Project Number 2020/805
Burdekin irrigation: Increasing industry productivity and profitability through transformational, whole of systems sugarcane apporaches that deliver water quality benefits

Chief Investigator: Dr Simon Clarke, Sugar Research Australia

End date: 30/06/2024

Objectives:

  • Transition growers to proven world class scalable, sustainable and technologically advanced practices in irrigation management
  • Take a whole-of-systems approach that includes water quality monitoring to ensure other priority issues such as improving nutrient and pesticide management are captured
  • Maximise industry profitability through smarter irrigation practices
  • Standardise the process of grower engagement, to a powerful, multi-partnered and cooperative approach that will deliver more value to growers, investors and industry stakeholders
  • Work across organisations to maximise outcomes from strategic coordination, collaborative linkages and consistent messaging.

Expected outputs:

  • Easily accessible and adoptable best management practice guidelines for farmers
  • Demonstratable environmental stewardship program
  • Farmers trained in smart irrigation management.

Expected outcomes:

  • Improved industry adoption of smart irrigation leading to improved irrigation use efficiency, minimised input losses and input costsFarmers embracing digital agriculture
  • Improvements in water quality contributing to the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan.

The Burdekin Irrigation Project is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation with support from Sugar Research Australia, Farmacist, Agritech Solutions, Burdekin Productivity Services, Burdekin Bowen Irrigated Floodplain Management Advisory Committee, NQ Dry Tropics, James Cook University and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Burdekin Irrigation Project is a collaborative initiative of Burdekin extension organisations including AgriTech Solutions, Burdekin Bowen Integrated Floodplain Management Advisory Committee, Burdekin Productivity Services, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Farmacist, James Cook University and Sugar Research Australia.

Cane Matters – Autumn 2024 pages 12-15: ‘Burdekin bus tour of smart irrigation technologies’

Cane Matters – Autumn 2024 pages 16-17: ‘Lasting legacy of the BIP in the lower Burdekin’

Cane Matters – Autumn 2024 pages 18: ‘Good timing for the BIP for rocks farming’

Cane Matters – Autumn 2023  pages 26-27  ‘The Burdekin Irrigation Project: Reducing water and energy costs’

Cane Matters -Winter 2022  pages 30-31 ‘Automated irrigation saving time and money’

Australian Cane Grower – November 2023 pages 20 – 21 ‘Smarter irrigation solutions’

The team from Australian Cane Farms share their experience with the Burdekin Irrigation Project – August 2022

BIP growers contributed to a blog entry on the GBRF website (link below).

The irrigation innovation making waves for farmers and the Reef

Queensland farmers are harnessing innovative technology to better manage water, time and resources, all while helping improve water quality on the Great Barrier Reef.

12 June 2023

Article about the BIP published in Irrigation Australia magazine (link below)

Technology benefits canegrowers and the environment – the Burdekin Irrigation Project

SRA staff assisted with an article about the BIP published in Irrigation Australia (pp. 20 – 22).

Autumn 2023

BIP bus tour April 2023

A BIP bus tour showcasing ways to improve irrigation practices on Burdekin farms was hosted by SRA in April 2023.

The tour included a follow-up article on the SRA website.

If you would like to know more about the activities of the Burdekin Irrigation Project contact:

SRA Manager Burdekin, Terry Granshaw
email tgranshaw@sugarresearch.com.au

or

SRA Project Officer Irrigation, Armin Wessel
email awessel@sugarresearch.com.au