Linear irrigator a water efficiency boon

First for Evan and June Baillie of Glenfarne Investments Pty Ltd was the difficulty in recycling water.

"Our linear irrigator is right at the end of the line and next to a creek," Mr Baillie said.

A 250 megalitre (10 hectare) water storage tank with returnable water channels completed two years ago helped solved that problem.

However, the installation of a T-L linear irrigator running along one good channel for some 1130 metres, irrigating controlled rainfall across 65 hectares has been a water use efficiency boon.

One of the first in the Condobolin area to grow cotton with flood irrigation in the late 1980s, Mr Baillie said the Jemalong Irrigation Scheme and on-property water catchment had secured his property's water requirements even after selling back 400mL to the Commonwealth.

"We have really only used the whole restructured system this summer," he said.

The dam filled by the end of last autumn from Jemalong and run-off from just over 500ha of their property, "Glencoe", located in the Fairholme district.

Back when the Baillies first irrigated, only one side of the main channel was used.

However, the self-propelled linear took up both sides and converted the flood to spray irrigation of 550m widths on each side.

The system is growing grit corn at present with another 140ha of corn being flood irrigated.

The crop of three varieties (Pacific Seeds 607TT and Pioneer Seeds P1813 TT and P55) were planted at 75,000 to 80,000 seeds per ha at the end of last September/early October and will be due for harvest by the end of March/early April.

A first-time mungbean crop of Jade variety was planted at the end of last November at 250,000 to 300,000 seeds/ha.

A normal winter dryland cropping program entails canola and wheat grown in 2000ha, however options for the coming winter are still being assessed.

The flood-irrigated corn will require some eight to nine megalitres made up of six to seven mL recycled water.

Property manager Mick Cantwell said watering of the 270ha was being undertaken by Mr and Mrs Baillie and himself.

"However, I don't think we could have physically done it if it was all flood irrigation," he said.

The liner irrigator had taken out a big chunk of the labour factor.

"It's set and forget technology and we can monitor it 24/7."

Currently the irrigator is applying 38 millimetres of rain across the 65ha in a 72-hour period.

Water depth sensors are strategically placed within the fields to a one metre depth and 10 centimetre levels.

Viewing is via mobile phone and any adjustments can be made if and when required at the computer box on the linear.

Mr Cantwell said other efficiency savings include spraying the crop with additives or biological applications for such pests as heliothis through the watering system.

"That has saved the costs of aerial or mechanical sprays," he said.

Agronomy consultancy for more than a decade has come from Matt Shepherd of Imag, Dubbo.

Mr Cantwell said the wrap-up from last year's 10t/ha corn harvest was quite a good result.

"Input costs totalled $1500/ha to realise gross income average of $2813.40/ha to net a $1313.40/ha return.

"Efficiencies from our on-farm water reforms and low labour utilisation has given the additional edge to returns and profitability."