MIA irrigators know themselves water is their most valuable resource and in turn they treat it as such.
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In the region this month was the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) Jody Swirepik, who visited the MIA to see firsthand how efficient and innovative irrigators are in making use of every last drop of water.
Then Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) chairman Frank Sergi, who has since been succeeded by vice-chairman Nayce Dalton, said it was an opportunity to showcase the region to the CEWH.
It wasn't all about touring the region's farms to see what's growing however, the best way for all parties to work together to ensure water was used in the best way possible was high on the agenda.
“We are proud to be part of the most productive irrigation area in the nation, delivering water to more customers than any other irrigation company in Australia,” Mr Sergi said.
“Jody was shown our off-farm modernisation works, which are helping us to deliver water in the most efficient way possible, as well as the on farm works our irrigators have completed to make the best possible use out of every drop.”
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Mr Sergi said the CEWH was impressed at the agricultural diversity of the region, growing everything from walnuts, almonds and prunes through to rice, cotton, citrus and grapes, and everything in between.
“The MIA is a progressive and changing landscape, with a range of farming enterprises, a diversity of crops types and a dynamic processing sector,” he said.
“I certainly think we opened their eyes up to just how innovative our irrigators are in adapting to whatever mother nature throws at them.”
Murrumbidgee Irrigation also delivers environmental flows to several sites across the MIA, and Ms Swirepik stopped by to inspect Tuckerbil Swamp and the Ramsar-listed Fivebough swamp in Leeton.
With reduced rice plantings this season those environmental flows play an important role in supporting the Australasian bittern breeding.
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