The Lachlan Irrigation Research and Advisory Council Inc. (LIRAC)

Region

Lachlan Valley irrigation areas.

Main cities and towns

Forbes, Jemalong.

Membership

All Lachlan Valley licensed irrigators are automatically members of the organisation.

Natural Resource Base

280,000 ML (1999 - 2000).
Jemalong Irrigation (2001-02): 80,000 ML(av.); 96,000 ha; 119 shareholders.

Main Farming Enterprises

Rice.
Winter cereals (wheat, barley, triticale, oats).
Faba beans.
Canola.
Meat (prime lambs, beef).
Maize (grain, silage).
Fodder (lucerne, pasture).
Soybeans.
Fruit and viticulture.
Rapid expansion in the cotton industry in the mid and lower valley.

Formal Structure

Incorporated. Executive Committee meets regularly, with representatives from water user groups, government agencies and agribusiness. See Affiliated Organisations.

Main Activities

Co-ordination of relevant irrigation R&D projects in the Lachlan Valley, eg. irrigation efficiency, best management practices, sodic soil amelioration.
General irrigation extension.

Affiliated Organisations

NSW Dept Primary Industry, Upper Lachlan Water Users Assoc., Belubula Landholders Assoc., Jemalong Irrigation, Mid Lachlan Water Users Assoc., Hillston District Water Users, Willandra Creek Water User Group, Dept. of Land & Water Conservation, Local Government, ICF.

Other General Information

LIRAC was formed in 1984/5 to assist Lachlan irrigators gain better access to information from the latest irrigated agricultural research. It was formed as an association of co-operating parties aiming to improve the irrigation industry of the Lachlan Valley. Its plan includes collaboration with the ICF.

Vision - Lachlan irrigators achieving profitable, sustainable production systems through:

• Information Transfer
• Applied Research
• Industry Development
• Community Partnerships

Mission - To develop productive, profitable and sustainable irrigated enterprises in the Lachlan Valley.

LIRAC’s charter is predominantly about helping farmers improve their irrigated enterprises to reach their full potential. It is the main body to identify and promote possible future research and development in the Lachlan. It is aligned with similar bodies in other irrigation areas, so that collaboration can occur on broader issues.

The LIRAC Research Farm - LIRAC has a crown lease over a 141 ha Irrigation Research farm located just East of Condobolin. The farm is used as a local trial and demonstrate site to promote Best Management Practices and innovation. In the past the farm has been used for Soybean Variety research, soil amelioration research and the development of the maize industry in the Lachlan Valley. Presently (2002), there are trials investigating early applications of fertiliser in Maize, as well as a long-term maize sustainability trial. In the forthcoming summer cropping season, soybean varieties will be screened. Other areas of interest are Controlled Traffic Farming under Irrigation and new crops and varieties for local conditions. A Farm Committee oversees management of the farm as an integrated farming system, under local conditions. Collaboration with agribusiness is encouraged.

Irrigation Water Provider

Jemalong Irrigation
Dept. of Land and Water Conservation.

Current Agronomic Trials & Land Dedicated for R&D

Area - 200 Ha
Water - 500 ML
Main Crops & Issues - 8 t/Ha wheat crops (yield + protein), Clover seed production, Variety trials (cereals, lucerne), Alternative crops (maize, rice, soybeans), Irrigation management, Alternative irrigation systems.

Committed Personnel

10 farmer board members.
Executive officer (part time).
10 NSW Dept Primary Industry extension and research staff (part time).

Gross Value of Production for Irrigation Regions (all commodities $million)

< $50 million (from Australian Irrigation Water Provider - Benchmarking Report for 1999 - 2000)