XXXX Lower Burdekin Smart Irrigation Project

Summary

The XXXX Lower Burdekin Smart Irrigation Project (LBSIP) is funded through a partnership between the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Lion Corporate. It is delivered in collaboration with the Burdekin Irrigation Project as a complementary addition to the Lower Burdekin Water Quality Program.

The project will increase adoption of smart irrigation technology and was targeted at growers who are interested in moving towards an optimised and automated irrigation system. The project also offers farmers the opportunity to trial cutting-edge technology to save water as well as energy, greenhouse gas emissions and labour.

Sugar Research Australia, Agritech Solutions, and the Burdekin Bowen Irrigated Floodplain Management Advisory Committee are delivering the project, which is coordinated by regional natural resource management organisation, NQ Dry Tropics.

Objectives

  • Support Lower Burdekin irrigators transition to more efficient irrigation systems and nutrient practices to reduce on-farm irrigation expenses, run-off and deep drainage losses, and improve productivity and profitability.
  • Use financial, agronomic and technical support to stimulate grower investment in infrastructure and equipment necessary to enable property-specific responses to irrigation and nutrient efficiency challenges.
  • Enable non-cane farming irrigation enterprises to participate in the project to save water, energy, labour and emissions while improving water quality.
  • Use a demonstration site to show growers advanced irrigation systems in action and help them identify how these practices can be applied on their own farms.
  • Support the uptake of improved farming practices and new technology to address agriculture water quality targets impacting the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Brief Summary

Cane Matters Autumn 2024

Cane Matters – Autumn 2024 pages 12-15: ‘Burdekin bus tour of smart irrigation technologies’ pages 16-17: ‘Lasting legacy of the BIP in the lower Burdekin’ oages 18: ‘Good timing for the BIP for rocks farming’

PROJECT LINK

Expected Outputs

  • Farmers up skilled in smart irrigation management.
  • Automated irrigation record-keeping.
  • An alternative crop demonstration site that shows how the Burdekin Irrigation Project environmental stewardship program can be easily adapted to irrigated crops other than sugarcane.

Expected Outcomes

  • Improved industry adoption of smart irrigation leading to improved irrigation use efficiency, minimised input losses and input costs
  • Farmers embracing digital agriculture
  • Improvements in water quality contributing to the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan.
SRA PROJECT CONTACT: Simon Clarke
RESEARCH AGENCY: Sugar Research Australia

CHIEF INVESTIGATOR: Simon Clarke

PROJECT NUMBER: 2022/801

END DATE: 01/05/2025

Acknowledgements

The XXXX Lower Burdekin Smart Irrigation Project (LBSIP) was funded through a partnership
between the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Lion Corporate. It was delivered in collaboration
with the Burdekin Irrigation Project (BIP) as a complementary addition to the Lower Burdekin
Water Quality Program.