SMART IRRIGATION FEATURE Irrigators recognised for sustainable irrigation practices SNAPSHOT • Lindsay announced the four Australian finalists, two from Victoria and two from Tasmania, in its inaugural Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards • Applicants judged on practising sustainable irrigation management, irrigation-driven improvements, waterway protection and environmental stewardship • Irrigators are looking for technology that helps them get the right amount of water in the right place
In July, Lindsay announced the four Australian finalists in its inaugural Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards. James Craft from Lindsay said the awards are designed to recognise irrigators who are implementing best practice and leading the way in responsible irrigation water management. “It’s is a way of sharing the stories of these farmers who doing the right thing and showing that investing in best practice improves profitability,” he explained. The Australian finalists in the awards, which are open to irrigation farmers in Australia and New Zealand, are:
Finalists in the Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards - Nicholas, Stephen and Bryton Eyles from Selbourne in Tasmania. The family irrigates 250 ha of mixed crops.
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• Evan Ryan from Yarrawonga in Victoria, who irrigates 586 ha of broadacre winter and summer grain, hay and fibre crops • Stephen Eyles from Selbourne in Tasmania, who irrigates 250 ha of mixed crops • Rob and Eliza Tole from Cressy in Tasmania who irrigate 350 ha on their mixed cropping and livestock operation • Brendan Watson from Lake Boga in Victoria, who runs a large irrigated cropping enterprise with 3730 ha under irrigation.
APPLICANTS DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY Applicants were shortlisted and assessed by a judging panel of irrigation and industry professionals who undertook an indepth review of the four assessment categories - practising sustainable irrigation management, adopting new technology to improve irrigation efficiency, minimising the impact of irrigation on waterways, and providing leadership to the irrigation community. Independent judge Dr Pat Hulme said the finalists provided evidence that they were delivering results in all these fields. “The common feature of irrigation practices adopted by most entrants was that they were applying the right amount of water to the whole of the area they irrigated.
