A NEW CSIRO study suggests potential to boost beef cattle production in northern Australia by as much as $200 million a year with mosaic irrigation.
The report - Mosaic Irrigation for the Northern Australian Beef Industry - assessed water and agriculture potential for the northern Australian beef industry. It found there is sufficient ground water to sustain almost twice the area of land currently irrigated in northern Australia.
The two-year mosaic irrigation project examined the opportunities for establishing and operating mosaic irrigation specifically to enhance beef production in northern Australia.
It analysed prospects at enterprise, industry and regional levels, assessing the various environmental, economic and social factors that might affect the viability of mosaic irrigation developments. Mosaic irrigation involves small-scale irrigation developments that produce feed for cattle and are scattered within a matrix of unirrigated, generally native or naturalised, pastures.
“The CSIRO found that the majority of cattle stations have suitable soil and sufficient water to irrigate part of their land to grow fodder crops,” Minister for Regional Development Warren Truss said.
By developing small-scale irrigation units on selected parts of pastoral stations, a range of forage crops could be grown to provide cattle feed, the report found.
“Irrigation has the potential to transform beef cattle enterprises by providing a ready supply of feed grown on site.”
Mr Truss said the CSIRO assessed the dry pastoral areas of northern Australia and found enough ground water to irrigate up to 120,000 hectares.
“This amount depended on irrigation efficiency and the type of forage crop grown,” he said.
“At optimum efficiency, beef production across the north could be boosted by up to 6 per cent.”
Mr Truss said one of the key advantages of irrigating small scattered areas on cattle stations is the ability to locate irrigation where it best meets the needs of the individual enterprise.
“The study provides valuable information for the beef industry, which is a major part of the economy, culture and landscape of northern Australia.”
Australia's biggest cattle exporter, Wellard, recently urged the federal government not to get distracted by "fancy projects" as it embarks on a White Paper for the economic development of the north.
Wellard managing director Mauro Balzarini said there was potential to develop the north but the government's focus should be on unlocking the region's water potential and key road and rail infrastructure.
"It is probably wiser to devote the limited resources available to agriculture, as opposed to the mining industry, to continue to improve rather than wasting it on fancy projects," Mr Balzarini said.
"There is a limitation on what can be achieved with the climate, distance, infrastructure and soil type in the top end and we should work within those limits to extract the best possible outcomes for agriculture in the north."
The White Paper on Developing Northern Australia is expected within 12 months, with a Green Paper to be released in the next few months. The White Paper Taskforce will draw on submissions to the Commonwealth Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia and will also consider contributions.
A Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia has been formed, chaired by Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch. The Committee will begin the community consultation process next month and report to Parliament in July.
"It’s vital that we start looking at opportunities that have already materialised and judge them on their merits, rather than on philosophical opposition or by acquiescing to a minority group," Mr Entsch said.
"Considering what is proposed to happen in this region, I think we’re in for some very prosperous times."
