Appendix II - Focus Group Workshop Notes

Thursday 27^th January, 2000
Goulburn Murray Water Training Centre, Tatura 3616

THE CONVERSION:
In America the flow of water is from:
Canal --> Laterals --> Ditches (return)

In Australia, the flow of water is from channel to delva and then back through a drainage network:
Farm channel (delva) <-- Spur <-- Channel
On Farm drain --> Community drain --> Catchment (primary) drain --> Natural stream

TOMATO INDUSTRY:

1. What are the problems relating to water use and irrigation management that your industry faces in the next 5 years?



• Was furrow irrigation but now (60-70%) drip
• Griffith likely to stay furrow
• Jerilderie reverted to furrow (1 grower)
• Expect 20-30% will stay furrow


• Erosion is not an issue
• Potential for PAM in infiltration with either furrow or drip
• Water shortages and irrigation efficiencies.


2. What do you see as the problems or questions about the use of PAM technology in your industry?



• blocking drip lines?
• Cost - may use more PAM during the season
• Will PAM alter water holding capacity of soils (mainly clay soils around here)?
• Problem:
• even emergence of seed
• Pesticide and nutrient runoff
• Water logging as a result of heavy rain
• Bio-degradation of PAM

DAIRY INDUSTRY:

1. What are the problems relating to water use and irrigation management that your industry faces in the next 5 years?



• Freshly lasered ground - fall of 1:600 and irrigating every 7 days
• Soil loss, pasture establishments, nutrient loss
• Dairy Farmers use the most water, create the most nutrients, attaches to sediment when available.
• Sediment in drains (re-use)
• Possible Water Holding Capacity in soil profile
• Cracking soils
• Water quality - ground water, effluent (waste water), channel water, re-use water
  How does PAM relate to the above?


2. What do you see as the problems or questions about the use of PAM technology in your industry?



• Where are sediments coming from?
• Applying PAM with first irrigation on freshly lasered ground
  Need to know impact on mass balance of nutrients and sediments
  Effect on pasture establishment
• Combating sediments that are generated with the drainage networks
  Rain fall events, channel scouring
• Can we increase the Water Holding Capacity and thus decrease the frequency of irrigation - effects of Water Use Efficiency.

MIXED CROPS:

1. What are the problems relating to water use and irrigation management that your industry faces in the next 5 years?



• Economic viability - $/Ml
• Poor infiltration - red brown earth
• Access to water - there is movement away from mixed crops to higher return crops.
  $100/ML for mixed crops, $300/Ml from dairying and $1000/Ml from horticulture
• Nutrients and pesticides in run off
• Irrigation efficiencies
• Transportation of pesticides with sediments/dust
• Sodicity, pH, salinity, water table


2. What do you see as the problems or questions about the use of PAM technology in your industry?



• Effects of PAM in soil/water - sodicity, salinity and pH
• Changes in irrigation practices
• Identifying soils where it will be effective
• Calcium levels in soils adequate??
• Cost and benefit analysis
• Does if effect micro nutrient availability
• Benefits to the environment - reduced nutrients in sediments
• Effect on environment - in relation to soil, fish, worms
• Breakdown products
• Organic farming certification - synthetic PAM

REGIONAL CHANNELS AND DRAINS:

1. What are the problems relating to water use and irrigation management that your industry faces in the next 5 years?



• Erosion - sediments, nutrients, salinity, chemicals, agricultural run off, cost of re-building banks
• Seepage - water conservation, high water tables, ground water quality.


2. What do you see as the problems or questions about the use of PAM technology in your industry?



• Drains:
• entrance to wetlands
• Adding PAM to hydromulch?
• Channels:
• small distribution channels - up to 20 Ml/day, high erosion rates
• Mix with channel bank material before construction?
• Or apply to batters?