Automated Irrigation Trial Yields Strong Results

A trial conducted by Wilmar Sugar and Renewables on a 130ha cane farm in the Burdekin region has yielded promising outcomes through its complete automation in irrigation, implemented since the farm's early planting last year on Stockham Road.

Agricultural Productivity Manager Peter Larsen said the first-year results showed the volume of water applied was reduced by one-third compared to traditional irrigation methods, and there was a significant reduction in nitrate runoff and losses to groundwater.

Importantly, cane yield was 136t/ha – the same as what was achieved on the areas under traditional irrigation.

“These are very good results for the first year of the trial and we’re keen to see if they can be repeated in future years of the crop cycle,” he said.

The automated irrigation system was installed as a joint project with Sugar Research Australia (SRA) and other industry partners, and is known as the Burdekin Irrigation Project.

“It uses state-of-the-art technology to automate turning pumps on and off, and opening and closing valves – tasks that would typically be carried out by a farmer or farmhand,” Mr Larsen said.

“This means irrigation sets can be changed automatically, anytime of the day or night, without someone having to drive down to the farm to open and close valves. Instead, they can control the irrigation schedule remotely, from a computer, a smartphone or a tablet.”

Wilmar Farmhand Robert McArdle, who oversees the irrigation at the Stockham Road farm, said the technology was easy to use and created greater efficiencies.

“With this system, we can change water in shorter sets, manually or automatically, using an iPad. You can control the irrigation from anywhere in Australia or the world. As long as you’ve got internet, you can do it.”

SRA Burdekin District Manager Terry Granshaw said the Wilmar farm was an ideal trial site because it had even row lengths and similar soils across the whole farm.

“We’ve set this farm up as a demonstration site, with the aim of creating a greater understanding of how technology such as this can benefit the sugar industry through improved irrigation efficiencies, reduced run-off and deep drainage to groundwater,” Mr Granshaw said.

“By working closely with the Wilmar Farms team to analyse the results of the trial over the five-

year crop cycle, we will collect good, commercial-scale data to share with other farmers.”

Wilmar’s General Manager Agriculture Ian Davies said the use of technological innovation underpinned Wilmar’s drive towards more efficient and sustainable farming operations.

He said Wilmar Farms was extremely happy with the results so far and was developing a capital program to roll out automated irrigation across its Burdekin operations.

Work is currently under way to install automatic irrigation on two more farm blocks, totalling 250ha, next year.

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Wilmar Farmhand Robert McArdle says the technology is easy to use and creates greater efficiencies

The irrigation schedule can be controlled from a tablet

Automation has reduced water applied by one-third in the first year of the trial. There has also been a significant reduction in nitrate runoff and losses to groundwater