e-News edition #18

Date: 10-Dec-2023

Hot Topics

1. CEO Message

2. Member and Stakeholder Christmas Message 

3. Irrigation Australia Perth attend Vegies WA Event

4. AgTrade Apprenticeship Project - Survey Open for Feedback

5. New Research Centres to Tackle Methane Emissions and Plastic Pollution 

6. Irrigation Australia Conference & Exhibition - 2024 Prospectus!

7. Irrigation Australia Conference & Exhibition - 2024 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS!

8. Your Pathway to Irrigation Excellence - 2024 Courses Now Available!

9. Check out our Jobs Board 

1. CEO Message

(a) Irrigation Futures – your opportunity to help shape to our work

For the last few months, we’ve been tripping about with a prospectus, talking to existing sponsors and seeking some new investment and commitment to our new strategic approach for Irrigation Australia. We’d always like to be further progressed than we are, but the reception has been very positive to date. Next steps for us are to convert the prospectus into a high- level business plan, and start rolling out the mechanisms to get members involved from early 2024 to build our activities under the plan.

I’d like to acknowledge the huge support of all of our returning sponsors:

Bermad

Brown Brothers

Davey

Hunter

Iplex

Motion/ AIP/ Powell

Nelson

Netafim

Philmac

Toro

Valley

Vinidex

and welcome Grundfos as a Platinum sponsor.

I’m also pleased to recognise Irrigear, Think Water and Nutrien as supporting sponsors. 

We are in discussions with a number of other companies.

The desire from these organisations to support the Association and broader industry is amazing, and during 2024 we will be working hard to ensure that these partnerships are exploited to their full potential. All contribute significantly to the Association in a number of ways, including helping us ensure that students get to use the best contemporary gear as part of their training programs, provide subject matter experts and other resources.

From late February we hope to convene a series of working groups to support each Irrigation Futures program area starting with the two detailed below. 

Irrigation Futures is “committed to building a sustainable Australian irrigation industry through application of the best research, high quality skills and careers development, and balanced policy advice.”

Program 1 – Irrigation industry profile and industry policy

In brief, we want to build our industry profile, reputation, sustainability messaging and recognition of our critical role in food and fibre production as well as urban open spaces. The program aims to:

• Increase our influence on government and others for the benefit of members and the broader industry
• Target government investment on a range of fronts – employment incentives, skilling, business support
• Promote positive messages and take a direct and more active role in representation to government, along with other collaborators
• Build the industry profile with other major end users – supermarkets, growers, local governments etc.

Proposed year 1 goals include firming up partnerships through revised MOUs, communications platforms, industry position papers and the establishment of a functional steering group. 

If you are a current Irrigation Australia member and have an interest in this space, please reach out to me at dave.cameron@irrigation.org.au by 26 January. For those who stick their hands up, the commitment would only be a couple of hours every 6 months for an online meeting, then dependent on your interest and availability to participate in specific activities. The first meeting will help us get set up with a refined terms of reference and start capturing some ideas and developing actions.

Program 2 – Adoption of best practice, including research and development

We want to build better linkages between the best and brightest in applied research, manufacturing, management and so on and look at ways of brokering activities which grow the industry and improve the way smart stuff is adopted.

In year 1 we will again aim to firm up existing MOUs and our role in the OneBasin CRC, aim to develop at least funding application to support an industry-led research activity, and look at models to enable brokering of applied research. Again, please email dave.cameron@irrigation.org.au by 26 January if interested.

Our other two Irrigation Futures programs relate to industry skilling and industry careers. More to come on them a bit later. I’m always keen to get feedback and ideas so again feel free to reach out if there is a topic you’re particularly keen on that you think we’re missing. Obviously, there is a limit to resources but the point of all of this is to build a business model which can effectively support what members expect their Association to be able to deliver. We have a board strategy day scheduled for mid-February as well so it’s a great time to throw things into the mix.

(b) Membership review and pricing

Our board is in the process of a significant membership review covering all aspects of membership and other services. Some changes are gradually being implemented, and some may quite some time to realise due to system limitations.

Our Association published a financial loss for last financial year. While our mid-year position has improved dramatically, we are not yet in surplus territory. Faced with this reality, our board has approved a membership fee increase from 1 January 2024 of 10%.

The last increase happened back in May 2022 after rates had been capped for over three years – a period which included massive CPI increases the organisation has absorbed. It is not a decision the board has taken lightly, and we will be doing everything in our power to improve other revenues to limit any future increases.

(c) Constitution and committees reviews

We have commissioned the legal firm linked to Associations Forum to commence a review of our Constitution. The last review was in 2018, we are not anticipating large changes – just a focus on some modernisation including the way new members are adopted for example. Importantly we need to ensure that membership categories and voting rights are able to be easily interpreted. You should expect to see some drafts appearing after February, changes require a 75% resolution at the AGM and it’s very important that members clearly understand the rationale.

While we aren’t quite ready to go yet, we intend to issue expressions of interest in the new year for members to be involved in a number of committees. Our various charters will also be reviewed in the next few months to simplify some eligibility requirements and otherwise make more consistent. In the mean time, thanks to various role changes amongst key members, the Queensland committee could do with an injection of interest to help sort out field days and other advocacy pieces – so if you’d like to get involved please contact me or tracy.martin@irrigation.org.au.

2023 has again been challenging for our Association at many levels, but we have a fantastic team of hard-working people embracing change and kicking some major goals and a very supportive board of industry experts. I am genuinely looking forward to 2024 with enthusiasm, and hope it becomes infectious. Keep an eye out for some announcements soon around national awards, to be presented as part of the Sydney event in September. We are still working through guidelines but hope to celebrate the achievements of members in new categories including safety, sustainability, water management, as well as training and certification programs.

Best wishes to all, particularly those dealing with the weather challenges that have again bookmarked the year, may you all stay physically and mentally safe.

2. Member and Stakeholder Christmas Message

On behalf of the Irrigation Australia board and staff we wish all our members and stakeholders a joyful festive season with family and friends. 

We take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support throughout 2023 and look forward to working with you to grow our industry in 2024. 

3. Irrigation Australia Perth attend Vegies WA Event

Irrigation Australia (WA Region) co-hosted a half day field event with Vegies WA on Thursday 7th December. The event included 2 keynote presenters:

• Dr Doris Blaesing to present briefly on water and energy efficiency considerations from a current pilot project on “input use efficiency”. This project acts as a conduit between industry researchers and growers - providing them one-on-one assistance, introducing them to new research, technologies, on-farm safety, and practices that help with farm, crop and business management. Doris has a PhD in horticulture, soil science and crop nutrition and is an Associate with RMCG Australia based in Tasmania.
• Mr Paul Willmott, Willmott Irrigation explained what the associated Irrigation Assessment covers for those applying for a Gnangara horticulture water use efficiency grants. The purpose of the Gnangara horticulture water use efficiency voucher program is to assist eligible commercial horticultural businesses to obtain written expert advice to develop a plan to implement water use efficiency measures on their property. Assistance is provided by way of a voucher that can be used to engage a professional irrigation consultant. Local growers in the defined area can access vouchers of up to $5,000 to engage qualified irrigation professionals to audit their properties, design efficient irrigation systems, and provide written advice on technologies, soil amendments and cropping strategies to improve water use efficiency within their enterprise.

Irrigation Australia invited manufacturing members attend and exhibit products related to irrigation, soil, water and crop monitoring hardware, software, and new technologies. 5 companies took up the opportunity:

• Sentek
• Toro
• Cropx-X
• Wildeye
• Swan Systems

Check out the field walk video to find out more about cucumbers!

4. AgTrade Apprenticeship Project - Survey Open for Feedback

Skills Insight is currently undertaking research into what a trade apprenticeship in agriculture might look like. 

Over October and November, Skills Insight have hosted 10 in person consultation workshops around the country, as well as three online workshops. 

They encourage stakeholders to engage in a brief survey to share your insights on the potential benefits of such a program, as well as to consider the dynamics at play that must be addressed for long-term success. The survey will be available on their website from 15 December 2023 to 28 January 2024. 

Trainers, employers, employees or potential learners are all encouraged to participate. 

An example of a qualification that could be delivered as an apprenticeship is also available for review and comment.

For more information and to have your say, visit the Project Page

5. New Research Centres to Tackle Methane Emissions and Plastic Pollution

The Albanese Government has announced a $127 million investment in research centres to cut emissions in the agriculture sector and eliminate plastic waste.

The funding has been awarded from Round 24 of the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program, an Australian Government initiative established in 1990 which funds industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and end users.

Funding will support two new large-scale Cooperative Research Centres:

The CRC for Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture has received $87 million to further develop and scale up technologies to reduce methane emissions from grazing cattle and sheep, and to improve crop quality and production.

The Solving Plastic Waste CRC has received $40 million to transform the way plastics are designed, manufactured, used and recycled, and to develop a solution to remove microplastic pollution in soil.

These CRCs align with the National Reconstruction Fund’s priority areas, as well as the Government’s broader ambitions to achieve net zero by 2050 and tackle plastic waste.

These two CRCs will leverage more than $315 million in cash and in-kind contributions from project partners, and improve industry outcomes across the agriculture, environment, recycling and manufacturing sectors.

The CRCs will involve more than 118 project partners working across Australia, including 50 small to medium enterprises, as well as 21 university partners from 17 universities, and 14 government agencies including Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.

6. Irrigation Australia Conference & Exhibition - 2024 Prospectus!

Welcome Davey and Brown Brothers as major event sponsors!

Spots are filling quickly! The Irrigation Australia Exhibition and Sponsorship Prospectus for 2024 is now available, and it's your golden ticket to unprecedented exposure, networking, and business growth. Don't miss your chance – secure your spot today!

This event is linked to the ICID 9th Asian Regional Conference and brings together industry leaders and professionals to showcase the latest advancements and solutions in irrigation technology. With a rich history of success, the conference offers an unparalleled platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and business expansion. Take the chance to be part of this remarkable event that drives the future of irrigation!

Visit the official event website for the Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition and click here to see your Sponsorship and Exhibition opportunities available.

7. Irrigation Australia Conference & Exhibition - 2024 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS!

The Call for Abstracts is now live, and we're inviting you to submit your ideas, research results and practical case studies. This is your chance to be a thought leader, share your expertise on the grand stage, and shape our industry's direction. Don't wait; seize the opportunity and submit your submission now.

Theme: Irrigation’s role in delivering economically viable food security and sustainable urban green spaces in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

Head to https://irrigationconference2024.com.au/call-for-abstracts to review the sub-themes and a further eye on these e-news articles for other opportunities as the program evolves. 

We want the conference program for this event to be inclusive – encouraging all members and stakeholders including exhibitors with valuable learning experiences to participate. Technical or operational presentations on designs and installations for example are welcome and it doesn’t have to be “bright and shiny.” We want this to be a learning experience for all delegates and the projects from hell with what you’ve learnt or how you’ve innovated to fix problems are strongly encouraged. Please reach out to dave.cameron@irrigation.org.au if you’d like to discuss an idea or get some help in pulling an abstract together.

8. Your Pathway to Irrigation Excellence - 2024 Courses Now Available!

Registrations are now open for our comprehensive irrigation training courses that are set to commence in 2024!

VIEW UPCOMING COURSES HERE.

Our training programs are designed to equip participants with in-depth knowledge and skills across a wide range of topics that are crucial for mastering efficient irrigation practices. We provide a unique blended learning experience, with courses running both virtually and face-to-face across Australia. Our trainers have extensive experience in the irrigation industry and focus on providing a hands-on, practical learning experience in each course that we deliver. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills in this vital and ever-growing industry! 

9. Check out our Jobs Board

Discover new and exciting career opportunities on our Jobs Board, where members of Irrigation Australia can post job ads for free! Non-members are also welcome to promote any job opportunities by purchasing a listing. Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for the next step in your career or an ambitious newcomer eager to make your mark, our Jobs Board is a great place to find a position that suits you. Stay ahead of the job market and head over to our website to see what is currently on offer in the field of irrigation.

Click here to view possible career opportunities.

Click here if you are interested in becoming an Irrigation Australia Member.

Click here to view upcoming Training Courses.

Click here to view the latest Career Opportunities available within the Irrigation Industry.