Talking Water - Tuesday 12 August 2025
This week's contents
Sustainability Product
- EOI closes tomorrow
Operations
- Seasonal Outlook Briefings - RSVPs now open
- Apply to remove Deemed Usage
- Talking Water data
Business
- 30th Anniversary Dinner
- Australian Rice Conference
Industry
- Western Murray Land Improvement Group workshop - Barham
- RGA Landcare Farming for Yield and Nature Tour - Deniliquin
- GRDC Grains Research Update - Katamatite
Reminder - Sustainability Product EOI closes tomorrow
Murray Irrigation's Sustainability Product EOI closes tomorrow (Wednesday 13 August) at 5.00pm.
As in previous seasons, when the Sustainability Product is oversubscribed, the volume offered to each customer is a percentage of the Permanent Delivery Entitlements (DEs) they hold.
In this regard, we wish to advise that the Sustainability Product is oversubscribed and, therefore, offers will be made on the following calculation:
80,000 ML divided by the total number of DEs in the EOI = ML offered per DE (up to the maximum ML requested).
As at 11.30am today, the current ratio is 0.56ML per DE. This ratio will change as more DEs enter the pool prior to the EOI closing tomorrow (13 August) at 5.00pm.
Please note customers can still submit an EOI up until the above closing date.
Pro rata offers will be available on the Customer Portal on 14 August 2025.
An SMS notification will be sent to customers who have applied when offers are available to accept.
We will be sharing more information regarding the results of the Sustainability Product following completion of the EOI process.
More information on Murray Irrigation's WaterWell suite of products, including the Sustainability Product, is available on our webpage below.
Operational Update
Murray Irrigation Season Outlook Briefings
As announced in our Customer Update last Friday, Murray Irrigation is hosting three Season Outlook Briefings during September.
These events are designed to equip you with valuable insights and resources from industry experts, enabling you to make well-informed decisions for the season ahead.
With forecasts indicating a drier season than in previous years, the information provided will be particularly relevant and timely.
Our guest speaker line-up includes:
- Marianne Graham - a Water Trade and Brokerage Specialist at RuralCo Water, who will share her expertise on navigating water markets.
- Shahadat Chowdhury and Priyantha Jayakody - from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, who will provide a timely forecast on water allocations.
- Eric Snodgrass, Principal Atmospheric Scientist at Nutrien - who will remotely provide a weather forecast specifically focused on the Murray Irrigation footprint.
Murray Irrigation’s Senior Manager Customer Experience, Josh Bode, will also be on hand to deliver a seasonal overview and discuss Murray Irrigation's new Water Solutions initiative, launched in July 2025.
Details of these three sessions, including dates, locations and times, can be found below. Register for your preferred session by selecting the link in the relevant 'RSVP here' column.
Further information on Murray Irrigation's Season Outlook Briefings, including program and speakers, can be found on our company website below.
Apply to remove Deemed Usage
If you are not planning to use your Stock & Domestic pipe outlet this season, you can apply to reverse the 2 ML of usage. Click on the button below to download an application form.
The fee is $74.27 per pipe, and applications are due by 5.00pm on Friday 26 September 2025.
Please note that Murray Irrigation conducts an audit during the season to confirm the pipe is not used.
Talking Water data 12/08/2025
All the detailed data for Murray Irrigation delivery, channel flow, Water Exchange temporary trade and DCCEEW water allocations is available on our company web page below.
To see the latest data for Murray system storages and rivers, including dam heights, visit the Murray Darling Basin Authority's River data page.
Additional resources
MDBA weekly report
NSW Water allocation statements
Rainfall and evaporation
Barmah Choke trade balance
The information and data provided in Talking Water is for general reference purposes only. We take best endeavours to ensure accuracy.
Business News
30th Anniversary Dinner
Murray Irrigation inaugural CEO, George Warne, and inaugural Chair, Kel Baxter, pictured at Saturday's 30th Anniversary Dinner.
Murray Irrigation Board Directors and Executives past and present gathered at the Deniliquin Town Hall on Saturday night to celebrate 30 years since the company was privatised.
More than 80 guests turned out for the special anniversary event to honour the courage and persistence of those who fought tirelessly to achieve privatisation, as well as acknowledge and thank all the Directors and staff who have been involved in the company's journey ever since.
It was a happy, nostalgic evening, enabling friends and colleagues to catch up across the years, share stories, and reflect on the legacy left by those who are no longer with us.
Thank you to all who joined us and made this event so special.
Released on the evening was a short film capturing significant moments in Murray Irrigation's history.
We will be sharing this film in the coming weeks, so please watch this space.
Past Directors are pictured with the family members of Directors who are no longer with us.
Murray Irrigation inaugural and current CEOs George Warne (far left) and Ron McCalman (far right) are pictured with current Chair Phil Snowden (second from left) and inaugural Chair Kel Baxter (second from right).
Australian Rice Conference
Customer Experience team members Ellen Ryan, Nathan Webber, Lauren Noonan and Jayne Crompton at last week's conference.
Members of Murray Irrigation's Customer Experience team were on the ground at the 2025 Australian Rice Conference last week, enjoying some great conversations with customers and industry representatives about what's happening in the business as well as across the rice sector.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by our exhibitor booth for a chat.
It was also fantastic to see a number of growers in the footprint feature on the Rice Industry Awards winners list, including Noorong farmers Michael and Felicia Chalmers, who took home the SunRice Grower of the Year Award; John Lolicato, who received the Grower Industry Contribution Award; and Neill Bull, who was presented a Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA) Honorary Councillor Award.
Regional Highest Yield accolades were awarded to the Martin Family and to Martin Morona, while Specialist Grain Yield Awards were presented to the Strong Family (Opus variety) and to Josh Small (Sherpa variety).
Congratulations to the Ricegrowers' Association of Australia, SunRice and AgriFutures Australia on hosting yet another fantastic conference.
Industry News
Discovering Your High Value Natural Assets and the 5 Opportunity Pools
Your farm could hold untapped potential beyond traditional production.
Join this Western Murray Land Improvement Group workshop to discover how your natural assets may open doors to five distinct opportunity pools for diversified income, capital gains, savings, grants, premiums, and collaborations you may not have heard of yet!
Date: Wednesday 27 August
Time: 9.30am - 2.00pm
Location: Barham Golf Club
Farming for Yield and Nature Tour - Deniliquin
Join RGA Landcare tomorrow, 13 August, for this hands-on field tour exploring how revegetation and natural capital principles can be integrated into a productive farm.
Date: Wednesday 13 August
Time: 10.00am - 2.30pm
Location: Michael & Belinda Pisasale’s farm, Deniliquin
This events is free, with morning tea and lunch provided. Please register to help with catering.
Please contact Local Landcare Coordinator Andrea Mitchell if you have any questions: 0474 725 719 or anmitchell@rga.org.au
GRDC Grains Research Update - Katamatite
This free event is designed specifically for agronomists, consultants, researchers, and growers, providing an excellent opportunity for attendees to engage with the latest advancements in agricultural research.
Participants will have the chance to see and discuss new findings that are relevant to modern farming systems, ensuring that they stay informed about the best practices and innovations in the field.
Date: Thursday 14 August
Time: 9.00am - 1.00pm
Location: Katamatite Recreation Reserve
Topics include:
- Interpreting seasonal forecasts, what to look for with Dale Grey, Agriculture Victoria
- Trade-off and tensions: the complex path to higher faba bean yields with James Manson, CSIRO
- Keeping grain clean: smarter phosphine use on farm with Chris Warrick, Primary Business
- Alternative weed control, options for the future with Michael Walsh, Charles Sturt University
- Deeper understanding of nitrogen cycling and enhanced efficiency fertilisers with Helen Suter, University of Melbourne.
Check out the flyer for more information.
