|
 |
The Victorian Irrigated Cropping Council (VICC)
Region
Goulburn Murray Irrigation Districts of northern Victoria.
Main cities and towns
Shepparton, Numurkah, Cobram, Echuca, Kerang, Swan Hill.
Membership
- Mixed farmers and croppers from the northern irrigation region of Victoria and their support industries (also affiliated with the dairy and fruit growing industries).
- 120 financial members (farming entities).
- 20 corporate financial members.
- 3 bronze sponsors.
- 1000 newsletter mailing list.
- Goulburn Murray Water supplies irrigation water to 13,000 irrigation properties (7,500 mixed farming, 1997 statistics).
Natural Resource Base
1,650,000 ML water right (high security entitlement).
2,500,000 ML water used (total 1997).
843,000 ha irrigated land (total 1997).
784,000 ML water right (mixed farming 1997).
988,000 ML water used (mixed farming 1997).
280,000 ha land (mixed farming 1997).
(Not including river and groundwater pumpers).
Main Farming Enterprises
Winter cereals (wheat, barley, triticale, oats).
Faba beans.
Canola.
Meat (prime lambs, beef).
Maize (grain, silage).
Fodder (lucerne, pasture).
Soybeans.
Tomatoes, dairy and fruit (affiliated).
Formal Structure
Incorporated association.
Board: 7 elected farmers, 3 invited.
Main Activities
Annual GRDC Update Seminars and displays.
Bi-annual newsletter.
Bi-annual technical magazine.
Sponsored on-farm research.
Trial and demonstration block.
Industry representation and referral.
Affiliated Organisations
Northern Irrigation Region Agronomy Team of the Department of Primary Industry (Victoria), TOPCROP, ICF, agribusiness, Murray Dairy, Northern Victorian Fruitgrower's Association, Victorian Farmers Federation, Food Bowl Community Alliance.
Other General Information
Brief history - VICC was initiated in 1998 through local farmers and TOPCROP groups. It was incorporated in 1999 and the first Strategic Plan was launched in 2001.
Vision - To have a commercially competitive and sustainable mixed farming sector that can confidently use the advantages of irrigation to respond flexibly and rapidly to market and community demands for product and the environment.
Mission - To improve the profitability, long-term viability and environmental outcomes of mixed farming in the irrigation areas of northern Victoria, through:
- Good Representation
- Strategic Industry Planning
- Promoting Effective R&D Outcomes
- Well Targeted and Accessible Extension, Education and Training
- Balanced Development of Best Management Practices (Production, Social, Environmental).
Irrigation Water Provider
Goulburn Murray Water.
Current Agronomic Trials & Land Dedicated for R&D
Area - 75 Ha
Water - 50 ML
Main Crops & Issues - 8 t/ha wheat yields (yield + protein), Waterlogging, Salinity, Varieties (wheat, oats, canola, faba beans, soybeans), Fungicides, Deep P applications.
Committed Personnel
8 farmer board members.
Executive officer (part time).
7 DPI extension staff (part time).
2 DPI research staff (part time).
Gross Value of Production for Irrigation Regions (all commodities $million)
$695 million
(from Australian Irrigation Water Provider - Benchmarking Report for 1999 - 2000
|
|
|
|
|
