IRRIGATION IN AUSTRALIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 141, 27 March 1948, Page 4

IRRIGATION IN AUSTRALIA

Experimental Farms v. PROBLEMS BESETTING FARMERS Experimental and research farms in Australia are dealt with by Miss Majorie Braae, winner o| the Robert Bell travelling scholarship in this, the fifth of a series of articles specially written for the “Guardian.” “The constant application of water to land which has been dry for centuries lias brought with it many problems. In the past, widespread losses and even ruin have resulted from inexperience and ignorance, and, remembering the worries and hardships that have been endured if not by themselves, by their fathers, the present-day irrigation farmers are anxious to have the help and the knowledge that science can give them. Water-logging and the presence of harmful salts, which, with the risingwater table are brought to the surface are two specific problems demanding continuous research. Record Development “The Agricultural Department has established experimental and research farms, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has set up research stations, and one of the most recent developments, which has been demanded by the farmers of the Murrumbidgee irrigation area, is the M.I.A. Irrigation Research and Extension Committee which will be dealt with separately. “To mention a few of the research establishments—the C.S.i'.R. has a research station at Merbein near Mildura to deal exclusively with problems in connection with vine growing, viz., drainage and soil problems, methods of combating disease, etc. In the early days of the vine growing in this region, water was applied indiscriminately, and, within a few years, the s;ater table had risen and harmful salts had been brought to the surface of the soil, thus killing large areas of vineyards, especially in the lower lying districts. Now, however, drainage has been installed and a careful cheek is kept on all new developments.

“This Council has established, also, a research station at Deniliquin in the Riverina, for research into the problems besetting the farmers of that district, and, indeed, it works in many other places, alone and with the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture.

“At Tatura, in Victoria, the Department of Agriculture has established a horticultural research farm which has as its main concern cultural problems rather than pest control or diseases. All problems connected with fruit for canning, improved varieties, cultivation methods, types of stocks, pruning, cool storage, to name, but a few. provide the basis of experiments and investigations in which this farm is engaged. Results from this type of work, are, of necessity, slow, as the measurements of fruit yield under different conditions, stocks and varieties can be made only once a year, and, to be of any value, must be spread over many seasons. However, immediate advice can be given on the best methods of irrigation, general layout and grading of land, the preservation of soil structure, the time employed in applying water, etc. Live-stock Husbandry “Then, there is the State Research Farm at Werribee near Melbourne, where problems relating to agriculture and .live-stock husbandry are investigated by a trained staff. The improvement of wheat and other cereals, and the improvement of pastures under irrigation are some of its main concerns. “There are other research stations and farms in Australia, all helping the farming industry by publishing pamphlets and booklets and giving advice where it is requested. Then, to all young farmers starting a Career on an irrigation farm, there is a wealth of information available to start him on the path to prosperity. Also, training in farming methods is provided by Agricultural Colleges, of which there are many in the country. “In all the irrigation areas of Australia the spirit of co-operation is most strikingly apparent. It lias been demonstrated over a period of difficult year's that in a settled .area, to Obtain the best; results for all, cooperation is essential. To begin with, in most areas, each farmer receives his water in turn, and he must organise his work accordingly.. Then, each man is entitled to receive only as much water as his neighbours, and lie must farm his land to get the maximum amount of food from his supply of water and not allow a surplus to collect in one low lying corner of his property and seep into that of liisi neighbour He has discovered that co-operation with the Agricultural Department and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research will yield results of benefit not only to himself hut perhaps to all the other farmers of the district.

Best Varieties

“In order to ensure ilif: best results for tho whole community, some industries are controlled entirely by the authorities who have discovered, through experiment, the best varieties to grow, tho times to plant them, and all details pertaining to the production of a good crop. Two notable examples are “(I) The pea canning industry in Lecton, which is controlled from the planting to the harvesting by the cannery authorities-, who, from the fund of their experience, tell each supplier who is under contract to the cannery, when to plant, what type of pea to plant, when to harvest, etc., and t hen'supply all the harvesting arrangements. Thus the cannery is assured of an even supply throughout the season and can make provision for processing it, and the farmer is assured of a certain sale for his' produce, with no waste on either side. “(2) Tho lice growing industry in the Mmrumbidgee Irrigation Area, which is controlled by Hie New South Wales Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission. This control is limited only as to the area which must be planted. Nice reciuiros a large, volume of water, the minimum being six feet per acre. and. in some cases it may require ten feet, so that it can lie seen that only that area of rice can he planted for which the supply of water is assured. The Water Con-

servation and Irrigation Commission, therefore, must approve a farmer’s application to plant a certain area in l ice and then has the responsibility of supplying the water to bring his crop to maturity. Then, when the rice is harvested, it must go to the" Rice Marketing Board which arranges for its export. None of this crop has been sold in Australia for many years, but has been exported to feed Asiatics whose rice fields were destroyed by the Japanese during the war.”