Dairy farmer James Clyne cuts a different figure now to when we spoke to him last winter when the Newry pipeline was being installed. He’s got a spring in his step because modernisation is making a big difference to his quality of life. Today, he’s enjoying more time with his family and is starting to think about new goals for the future.
James owns and manages a 320-hectare high input dairy and milks around 1,000 cows in the Macalister Irrigation District. He’s one of nearly 30 farmers to benefit from improved farming efficiencies and water savings thanks to the modern pipeline we built in Newry. These works were part of Phase 2 of the Macalister Irrigation District 2030 modernisation program (MID2030).
It’s been a massive effort installing the modern irrigation infrastructure that’s replaced the old open channels on his farm, but he believes it’s worth it.
Over the 11-month project period, he’s installed 172 automated pipe and riser outlets – which almost covers the whole farm – and merged 23 outlets into seven.
He said irrigation is now more consistent, and 90 percent is fully automated on the farm. And it’s delivered other big benefits to.
“The open channels have been decommissioned so I don’t have to maintain and keep them clear of weeds anymore, and the reclaimed land will become grazing country when its recovered,” he said.
For James, the time and labour saved through modernisation is game-changing and means he can spend more time with his kids.
“In the old days, if I had to irrigate the whole farm, it took four days flat out. Now I just check it twice a day to make sure everything's running smoothly,” he said.
With automation complete on the Southern Rural Water irrigation system too James says he can order water much easier.
“I can order water with 24 hours’ notice, and as long as the system accepts it, can plug it into my automated system and I literally don't think about it again until it's done.
“Holidays in the irrigation season are now possible because I can run my automated system from my phone and easily order and cancel water with less notice online.”
James is already realising irrigation efficiencies and says the water savings will be particularly valuable in tough years.
“On the heifer and home farm blocks, usage was about 1 megalitre per hectare under the previous system. It’s now at 0.5 and 0.7 megalitres per hectare respectively.
“These savings mean that with our 100 percent high reliability water shares, we can do at least one more irrigation of the whole farm in spring or summer,” he said.
The pipeline went through the middle of his farm, and he said the good working relationship between him, Southern Rural Water and works contractor ensured a good modernisation outcome.
“The works took a significant portion of my land out of production which was challenging,” he said.
“However, we worked as partners and negotiations to find ways to help each other were always cordial and good will was shown by all parties involved.”
Productivity hasn’t increased just yet, but James is confident that it’s in the pipeline.
“Even though the works footprint was relatively small, I needed to remove whole paddocks from the rotation.
“Right now, around seven kilometres of decommissioned open irrigation channels that have been reclaimed are recovering and will be returned to grazing. When those 20 hectares are back online, I’m confident productivity will go up,” he said.
With the Newry pipeline complete, James is optimistic about the future and is starting to make plans for further investments.
“We know it’s likely to be hotter and drier in the future but I’m confident modernisation makes us more drought resilient and able to run a sustainable farm business.
“I’m now focused on automating the remaining 10 percent the farm with pipe and riser outlets and I’m starting to think about the possibility of a robotic dairy too,” he said.
James loves working in the diary sector and says continuing to modernise irrigation infrastructure in the Macalister Irrigation District is crucial to the long-term success of the region.
“Climate variability is the greatest challenge to long term viability of agriculture. We need to ensure we have the equipment and systems to save more water and deliver it to food producers as reliably and efficiently as possible,” he said.
For now, James is looking forward to the upcoming irrigation system and running a farm that delivers results and lets him take well-earned time out to relax with his family and friends.
The modernisation was jointly funded by Southern Rural Water, the Australian Government through the National Water Grid Fund, and the Victorian Government