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At this year’s Agfest, Tasmanian farmers can take part in a hands-on, practical demonstration covering centre-pivot maintenance and data-driven irrigation scheduling.
The free event on Friday, 2 May is being delivered by Pinion Advisory as part of the TAS Farm Innovation Hub’s Water Use Efficiency Project, funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Presented by Dave McLaren, Senior Consultant for Water Resource Development at Pinion Advisory, and facilitated by Georgia McCarthy, Consultant in Ag Production and Adoption, this session will give farmers the opportunity to enhance their irrigation skills, ask questions, and explore solutions to save water and cut costs.
“This is a great chance for farmers to discuss practical, low-cost solutions that can make a big difference in how water is managed on their properties,” said Pinion Advisory Lead Consultant, Ag Production & Adoption, Jo Jones.
“The demonstration will include centre-pivot system maintenance, learning how to conduct basic performance checks, perform a live pressure test, and troubleshoot common issues to avoid problems like underwatering, nutrient leaching, and unnecessary labour costs.
“We will also discuss data-driven irrigation scheduling to gain insights into tailoring irrigation strategies based on soil types and using data to increase water efficiency.”
Attendees will also receive free take-home resources, including fact sheets, how-to guides, and checklists to support best-practice irrigation on-farm.
“The current dry conditions around the state are a reminder of why we need to be as efficient as possible with the water resources we do have, and make sure we’re making every drop count,” said Hannah Lewis, Project Manager at the TAS Farm Innovation Hub.
“The Water Use Efficiency project has been shaped with industry collaboration, and importantly, with input from farmers across Tasmania, so the resources being developed are tailored to on-farm needs.
“The TAS Farm Innovation Hub is committed to making access to information on best-practice water use easily accessible, and providing opportunities for farmers to adopt management practices that not only make their farms more resilient to drought and climatic shocks, but also more productive and profitable.”
Since its launch in July 2024, the Water Use Efficiency Project has delivered valuable tools and resources on topics such as dam construction, water licensing, soil moisture monitoring, and irrigation scheduling.
Over the next six months, the project will roll out further resources focused on irrigation system design, investment decisions, and a short course for new irrigators. More information can be found on the TAS Farm Innovation Hub website here: https://www.tasfarmhub.com.au/water-use-efficiency-project/
Event Details – Agfest 2025
Members of the media and the public are invited to attend the following event as part of Agfest 2025:
When: Friday, 2 May 2025
Time: 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
Where: Blackley Pipelines & Irrigation Stand – Corner of Main and Fourth Ave (Sites M34 and M36)
The Hub is one of eight across Australia and is based at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) at the University of Tasmania, working in partnership with industry and the community to support farm resilience and sustainability.
