Australian irrigators are under increasing pressure to maintain the viability of their farm businesses in the face of reduced surface and ground-water allocations; increasing competition from alternative users (such as urban, industry and the environment); the cost-price squeeze; and the uncertainties in climate change. The key challenge to irrigation growers is then how to identify practical and actionable strategies that increase returns per ML of water available at the whole farm level while at the same time reducing or minimizing risks.