Planning Certainty A challenge for Investment April 2014

1. Planning Certainty A challenge for Investment April 2014 • Tom Chesson – CEO Australian national Irrigators Council • Murray Smith – Principal Engineer, Agriculture and Regional Water (GHD)

2. Planning certainty • Similarities and differences between New Zealand and Australia • Irrigation Corporations • Water security – balance between water for consumptive use and the environment • Vegetation management • Nutrient management (emerging focus in AUS)

3. Land Use changes • Australia’s geological history and climatic condition (low rainfall and high evaporation) has created a unique very flat continent accumulated with enormous amounts of salts in the soil – saline lakes/streams is a natural part of the Australian landscape and native vegetation has adapted to these conditions. • Salinity - 2.5 M ha (potential to increase to 12 M ha); Acidity – 90 M ha (Williams, J & Saunders, D 2003, CSIRO) • Land use change to agricultural land after European settlement has resulted in clearing of native vegetation and changes in landscape hydrology. • Increase the need for water supply and fertilizer input to support increased pasture and crop production. • The system has now become vulnerable to leakage of sediments, nutrients and water beyond root zone.

4. Nutrient Loss Risk factors • Nutrient loss from farms can be costly and has potential to cause degradation of waterways, groundwater and add to greenhouse gases. • The major nutrients that cause environmental pollution are: • Nitrogen • Phosphorus

5. Farm Nutrient Loss Index To assess the risk of nitrogen and phosphorus loss for the Australian grazing industries • Industry standard to guide farm advisors on identifying risky nutrient practices. • Four nutrient loss pathways

6. Farm Nutrient Loss Index • Key factors of FNLI that cause nutrient loss are: • source of nutrients • factors of nutrient transport • “where there is a source of nutrient, there is a potential source for nutrient movement off-farm”

7. Best Management Practices for Nitrogen Application General guidelines for N management Nitrate leaching and denitrification Avoid the following practices: Over application – Nitrate leaching High rates of N on waterlogged soils – Denitrification Application to soil at high temperature - Volatalisation Free draining soils - avoid application before heavy rainfall and for at least 2 to 5 days after heavy rains. Avoid pugging by heavy stocking intensity during high rainfall periods, as this will result in either increased drainage or surface run-off loss of N. • Reduced stocking rates and stocking intensity to minimise N losses from urinary deposition. • Only apply N when pasture is actively growing and can utilise the N. • Avoid applying N fertiliser near streams/riparian zones and over drainage lines in a paddock. • Light N application is the best practice - 50 to 60 kg N/ha in any single application, 21 to 28 days apart.

8. Reef Rescue Water Quality R&D Program: Overview of research projects • Grazing industry • Improving grazing management practices to enhance ground cover and reduce sediment loads • Runoff Nitrogen generation rates from pasture legumes – an enhancement to reef catchment modelling • Sugarcane Industry • Evaluating and improving A‐Class practices to control nutrient losses from sugarcane • Advanced drip and optimised furrow irrigation to minimise sediment, nutrient and pesticide losses to the environment through deep drainage and runoff from sugarcane and banana industries • Horticulture Industry • Minimising off‐farm movement of nitrogen in the north Queensland banana industry • Dairy Industry • Validating the cost/benefits of improved fertiliser practices and quantifying nutrient loads and pathways from irrigated dairy pastures