The Murray Research and Development Council (MRDC)

Region

NSW Murray Valley irrigation areas.

Main cities and towns

Deniliquin, Moulamein, Finley, Berrigan.

Membership

• Farmers who run irrigated farms and affiliated organisations (see below).
• Murray Irrigation Ltd. supplies irrigation water to 1,600 farm businesses and 2,400 irrigation properties (2001).

Natural Resource Base

1,500,000 ML water used (total 1997)
500,000 ML water used (non-rice 1997 est.)
(Not including river and groundwater pumpers).

Main Farming Enterprises

Rice.
Winter cereals (wheat, barley, triticale, oats).
Faba beans.
Canola.
Meat (prime lambs, beef).
Maize (grain, silage).
Fodder (lucerne, pasture).
Soybeans.

Formal Structure

Incorporated. Nine member executive.

Main Activities

Annual GRDC Update Seminars and displays.
Crop R&D at the Falkiner Memorial Field Station, including irrigated wheat trials with CSIRO and an annual field day.
Co-ordinating some wheat trials for NSW Dept Primary Industry and demonstration sites for agribusiness.
Promoting innovation for local development, eg. making pulp from locally produced crop stubbles, local demonstrations of alternative pulse crops.
Industry representation and referral.

Affiliated Organisations

NSW Dept Primary Industry, Falkiner Memorial Field Station Committee, agribusiness, Land & Water Management Groups, Murray Irrigation and Local Government, Deniboota Landholders Assoc., Denimein Landholders Assoc., Wakool Landholders Assoc., Berriquin Irrigators Central Council, Southern Riverina Irrigation Districts Council, ICF.

Other General Information

Brief history - The Agronomic Sub-committee of the Falkiner Memorial Field Station decided to revive the objectives of an old local body named the Murray Research and Extension Committee. This was done by forming the MRDC as a constituent group of the ICF. A strategic plan was formulated by 35 members and stakeholders at a meeting in Deniliquin in August 2000.

Vision - To prove to be economically, environmentally and socially sustainable throughout the Murray Valley irrigation districts.

Mission - To co-ordinate research and development within the Murray Valley area, which encourages the use of best management practises in the irrigation industry, leading to economic, environmental and social sustainability.

Irrigation Water Provider

Murray Irrigation Ltd.

Current Agronomic Trials & Land Dedicated for R&D

Area - 200 Ha
Water - 400 ML
Main Crops & Issues - 8 t/Ha wheat yields (yield + protein), Alternative rotational farming systems, Alternative cereal break crops, Irrigation timing, Salinity.

Committed Personnel

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

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

$315 million (from Australian Irrigation Water Provider - Benchmarking Report for 1999 - 2000)