Talking Water - Tuesday 6 February, 2024

This week's contents

Operations

• Mid-season water delivery and usage update
• Irrigation intentions for Autumn
• Talking Water data

Business

• Water carryover media coverage
• WaterWell announcement
• Message to Shareholders
  

Industry

• Irrigation field walk
• ESG Conference - Finley 
• West Berriquin LHA AGM

Community

• Free health and wellbeing community events 



Operational Update

Mid-season water delivery and usage update

In the lead up to an expected busy autumn watering period, we look back at the season so far. 

Our total water delivery to the end of January is approximately 420 GL compared to 379 GL for the same period last year. 

The graph below shows previous season comparisons for crop type. 

Above: Year to date (YTD) water usage by main crop and watering types at end of January.

Rice deliveries this year are similar to 2021/22, and make up about half of total deliveries, compared to only a third of water delivered last year. 

The storm and flooding events in October and November 2022 account for the lower deliveries in 2022/23 across all crop types and DPE’s black water prevention releases are the reason for the increase in wetland watering in 2022/23. 

The positive trend in water usage on summer, winter, and pasture crop types continues, and this data is encouraging for a large winter program. 

Irrigation intentions for Autumn 

Lately we have been contacting customers in known areas affected by restrictions to prepare for potential high autumn water demand. 

Murray Irrigation completes Irrigation Intentions surveys several times throughout the year. 

These surveys provide critical operational intelligence which helps us: 

1. Plan in-season maintenance 
2. Identify any potential restrictions hot spots 
3. Prepare for Winter Works 
4. Efficiently operate the channel system. 

Thank you to the customers we have already called. Your input is invaluable to cost effective operation of the channel system.

For everyone else, we will be in touch in the coming weeks, so please consider your autumn watering plans, including the outlets you will use, area and flow rates.   

Talking Water data 06/02/2024

All the detailed data for Murray Irrigation allocations, delivery, channel flow and Water Exchange temporary trade is available on our company web page below. 

To see the latest data for Murray system storages and rivers, 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. 

Murray Irrigation CEO, Ron McCalman, is scheduled to meet with NSW Water Minister, Rose Jackson, in early March and will also be seeking a meeting with Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, to ensure that Murray Irrigation's position is clearly stated and understood by NSW politicians. 

We hope this adequately explains and clarifies any misinformation that has circulated in relation to water distribution in those difficult years for us all. We are happy to answer any additional questions that customers may have.

WaterWell announcement

Last week MIL released a 3 percent Resource Distribution in line with the Board approved Resource Management Strategy, for customers who are within financial terms with the company.

Water was applied to customer accounts on Friday 2 February 2024.



Message to Shareholders

Please read the following message sent by MIL Chair, Phillip Snowden, to shareholders last week. 



Industry News

Riverine Plains Irrigation Field Walk 

The Grains Research & Development Corporation Irrigation Discussion Group is hosting a field walk for irrigated farmers on Thursday, 22 February at Katandra West.

Participants will visit three maize farms to see how crops have progressed over the summer and discuss the following topics:

• Maize establishment; what worked, what didn’t?
• Double cropping; what are the challenges?
• View planting machinery.
• Maize nutrition requirements; Lee Menhenett, Incitec Pivot.

This is an opportunity to learn from other farmers and agronomists about the key drivers for maize production, to see different irrigated farming systems in action and find out how different configurations of planting machinery can be used to ensure good establishment.

For more information, please contact Riverinine Plains Senior Project Officer Kate Coffey: kate@riverineplains.org.au

ESG: What's in it for me? 

Are you farming sustainably and ethically? There are opportunities for farmers who are doing so to get more in their pocket for the products they sell.

But how do you know if you are farming sustainably and ethically? And if so, how much could the extra value actually be?Welcome to the rapidly growing world of ESG, also known as Environmental, Social and Governance. This is a way to assess a farm in three key areas: the environment, people and communities, and its business and governance standards.

Learn more at the Murray Local Land Services’ ESG: What’s In it for Me? Conference, which is being held at Finley Returned Soldiers Club on 6 March from 12.00pm - 4.00pm. 

A reminder that the West Berriquin Landholders Association is hosting its AGM tomorrow evening (Wednesday, 7 February).

The meeting will be held at the Deni Ute Muster HQ, commencing at 6.00pm. 
 
Contact Mic Clark 0427 600 285 or Sharni Hood 0439 017 642.