Local Gwydir Valley Agronomist Kate Lumber has been selected as one of two showgirl finalists at the zone four final on the weekend. Kate will represent Moree at The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl competition next month. For more information see the Moree Champion article following.
The Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association (GVIA) together with Stahmann Farms hosted the new Federal Agriculture Minister, David Littleproud on Monday, 29 January 2018 at “Trawalla” east of Moree. The visit was organised by local Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton and the opportunity was used to showcase the innovative work of our local agricultural industries.
We have a 99ML parcel of Lower Gwydir groundwater allocation for trade. Please provide a bid in dollar/megaltire and the volume required to the GVIA office before 5pm, Wednesday 31st Janaury.
We have 330ML of Gwydir general security allocation for tender until 5pm Sunday, 21st January 2018. You can enter a bid in price per megaltire before the closing date and time, for more details on process and requirements, click the link.
A reminder we have a number of tenders for Gwydir general security and Lower Gwydir groundwater allocation currently open.
The GVIA have two new water tenders open; 19ML of Lower Gwydir Groundwater allocation and 200MLof Regulated general security allocation with bids due 5pm Friday, 19th January 2018.
We have a total of four tenders currently open and are updating our water market information daily.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is due to make a formal announcement on the environmental water tender results. We understand there are 2 successful applicants, which have been contacted. We continue to be in discussion with them regarding future options and feedback but to our knowledge there are no plans for further tenders at this stage.
CottonInfo will be hosting a weather webinar on Wednesday 10th January at 12.30pm.
There will be detailed discussion around the La Nina we are having, when we are not having a La Nina and also, what is the Madden-Julian Oscillation system and its impact on the second half of January.
You will need to register via the CottonInfo website.
The recording will be posted onto the website afterwards.
Our tender of 300ML (in two 150ML parcels) closed at 5pm, Tuesday 9th January with a winning bid of $388.20/ML. We've elected to provide this figure as it is unlikely to be available on the register prior to the closure of the CEWH tender.
Reminder, that the CEWH tender opened at 10am, Tuesday 9th January and you can lodge electronic bids up to 2pm on Thursday, 11th January. You need to visit the CEWH water trade website to access the documentation.
We also have a 20ML parcel of Lower Gwydir groundwater allocation for trade, all bids need to be received before 5pm on Thursday, 11th January.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) today has announced it will tender up to 5GL (5,000 megalitres) of unused Gwydir General Security allocation in the Gwydir Valley.
Optimising Irrigation and Nitrogen is the theme of the 2018 Gwydir Valley field day to be held at Keytah. This season the Keytah system comparison site has been upgraded to included automation of siphons, bankless channel, lateral move and drip. The aim is to identify options which are suitable for growers looking to automate irrigation on a large scale.
In the last week the team from the University of Southern Qld have been at the Keytah System Comparison trial taking measurements in the siphon automation field.
The Keytah irrigation comparison drip system is undergoing significant updates with the installation of new filters. The updates are being supported by Netafim, with installation by WaterQuip and Keytah.
The Dryland Cotton Research Association Field Day provided growers the opportunity to inspect the cover cropping trial which has been running since early 2015.
There has been a strong turnout to the Gwydir Valley CGA Silverleaf Whitefly workshops this week. The workshops were made possible through a CRDC Grassroots Grant. Thank You to our presenters Dave Parlato, Iain MacPherson, Arthur Spellson and Brad Anderson.
The final round of filming is underway for the regional growth marketing and promotional project being funded by the NSW Government Department of Premier and Cabinet.
From 10:30am there with be a cover cropping field day at “Belvedere” 2619 Mt Jerrybang Rd. This will be followed at 2:00pm by a dryland Cotton Variety Trial Field walk at Alice Downs, Mt Jerrybang Rd.
The Gwydir Valley CGA will be hosting Silver Leaf Whitefly workshops in the Gwydir on Wednesday 6th at 4:30pm at Telleraga and on Thursday 7th December at 7:30am at Auscott.
The 8th and 9th of November saw good turn outs for the first incrop Area Wide Management meetings in the Gwydir. This was a great opportunity to hear form other growers and consultants about planting, establishment and insect pressure.
The 2017 Smarter Irrigation Automation Trial at Keytah is underway. The site has been upgraded with the installation of new doors in the bankless channel and smart siphons in the siphon field.
Irrigation in the Gwydir is in full swing which brings a range of water birds to the region; a family of Pink-eared Ducks recently spotted west of Moree. For more information on birds on cotton farms visit the link following.
Last week the GVIA started filming for the NSW government Regional Growth Promotional Fund. The first interview was with Irrigation and Pump Specialist Ryan Hunt from WaterQuip Moree.
Fiona Norrie was awarded the Gwydir Valley Young Achiever of the year in 2016, and last month was awarded the 2017 Cotton Industry Young Achiever. Congratulations Fiona.
Irrigators and farmers in the Gwydir Valley will tonight at 5pm launch a video campaign to highlight the negative impact that cold water pollution has on our river system and others across the Murray-Darling Basin.
Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association (GVIA) Executive Officer Zara Lowien, who was also the Executive Producer on the film, says the ‘Cold Fish’ video has been launched ahead of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s determination on the Northern Basin Review – due this week.