Another big blow for arable farmers

Press, 25 September 1987, Page 14

Another big blow for arable farmers

The announced rise in water charges for the Waiau Irrigation Scheme has come as another blow to Peter and Dawne Gallagher, who have 144 ha under spray irrigation. Their water charges are estimated to rise to $6700 a year, up from $1355. The rise will come on top of two disastrous years for arable farmers who have been confronted with poor prices for crops and high input costs. The Gallaghers grow more than 50ha of cereals and peas on the terraces on the south bank of the

Waiau river, as well as grass seed crops and run sheep. With water charges at last year’s rates, the farm had been budgeted to make a small deficit this season. The budget would probably have been able to sustain a rise in water charges if crop rices had risen also — but Peter Gallagher said prices had virtually gone backwards. Expected increases- in power charges for two spray irrigators will put further strain on the farm budget.

The Gallaghers started irrigating in 1980, increasing their cropping area to about 50 per cent of the 161 ha farm. Irrigation was a whole new ball game, and looking back, Mr Gallagher feels he would have liked to have had some experience under his belt before tackling irrigated farming. The Gallagher’s farm adviser had indicated they had performed as well as they could have in view of the severe financial pressures facing farmers, particularly those jn the arable sector.