31,893 Australian businesses reported barriers to changing irrigation practices in 2006-07

(proof version) Nationally, 31,893 businesses reported barriers to changing irrigation practices. The most common barrier reported was lack of financial resources, reported by 56.1per cent of all agricultural businesses in Australia reporting barriers to change.

In 2006-07, irrigation water use decreased by 29pc from the previous year to 7,636 gigalitres: rice down more than 81pc

    (proof version)  On August 27, 2008 the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported Irrigation water was use down by over one-quarter in 2006-07:; irrigation water use decreased by 29pc from the previous year to 7,636 gigalitres: rice down more than 81pc.

3,998 Australian agricultural businesses bought 655 gigalitres of extra water on a temporary basis at a cost of $122 million in 2006-07

    (proof version) There was also 74 gigalitres purchased on a permanent basis at a cost of $93 million.

Murray-Darling Basin: Who got the on-farm water savings grants

(proof version) About two-thirds of irrigators in the MDB changed their water management practices during 2004-05 after programs of grants were offered The ABS reported In August 2008, in 2004-05, the most common changes to irrigation practices in the MDB (as a proportion of total MDB irrigated farms) were:

It appears NSW rice-growers are rich; Murray Darling Basin rich and poor shown in ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage reveals water rich-list

    (proof version) The map lighter shading show where the poor live; and the while darker  areas where richer folks lived in 2006 in the Murray Darling Basin.

Murray-Darling Basin irrigation-farm intensity

(proof version) Irrigation management practices are the subject of strong interest for policy makers and water resource managers in the MDB. This map shows the intensity of irrigation in the Murray-Darling Basin.

ABS finds groundwater and surface water an elastic resource in the Murray Darling

   (proof version) The volume of groundwater extracted by farmers decreased from almost 950 GL (25per cent of total water consumption) in 2004-05 to 810 GL (or 17per cent) in 2005-06.

Pennies from heaven: Half of Australia gets paid, when the rain does not fall

 (proof version) Money was now paid to areas across half of Australia, when it did not rain.

Flow to South Australia half normal entitlement flow for August 2008

(proof version) Flow to South Australia has been reduced from 2 200 to 2000 ML/day, which is well below the normal entitlement flow for August of 4000 ML/day.

MDBC plan: Yarrawonga Weir airspace to capture peak flows from the Ovens and Kiewa Rivers

Flow through the mid-Murray and Sunraysia district is rising as the higher August flows from Yarrawonga Weir arrive.

 (proof edition) Stevens Weir on the Edward River has now been partially refilled and is steady at around 3.3 m. A small volume of Stock and Domestic water is now being supplied along the Wakool Canal.

Releases from the Mt Beauty power station on the Kiewa River increase Murray flows