The redesign, refurbishment and automation of irrigation systems and their management is being driven by the need to: *improve the water use efficiency of irrigation supply systems by reducing losses, so making more water available for additional irrigation or other uses, including the environment; *improve the operational efficiency of irrigation supply systems through the rationalisation and automation of distribution, drainage and storage infrastructure; and *optimise the standard of service to irrigators, which will enable them to improve water use efficiency on their properties and gear up to produce high-value crops.

This document outlines the process followed to determine the current priority issues for a national irrigation research program. Consultants were engaged to meet with stakeholders to determine their views on priority issues. These views were obtained by faxing a questionnaire to industry representatives, face to face interviews and a series of discussion groups in key centres. The level of response, greater than 60%, indicates a high level of interest amongst irrigators, their representatives, water supply agencies, the scientific community and others in the service sector.

The broad saline valley floors of the south eastern wheatbelt can provide fantastic opportunities for productive saltland management. This has certainly been the case on the Althams' property. By using a mixture of saltbush and perennials, the Althams have created a productive grazing system that provides them with valuable out of season feed. The addition of lucerne on the fresher areas has certainly increased the grazing potential of the site, by providing a low salt, high energy feed source that will complement the saltbush.

Work commissioned by NPSI and undertaken by Matthew Hipsey from the University of Western Australia shows that night time evaporation is significant. This report details the results of the study and will assist in improving the accuracy.

Technical guide to Bats in the NSW New England Region

Factsheet providing general information about the advancements in knowledge of native vegetation in NSW, and how the LWW project has contributed to this. Provides benefits native biodiversity and the proposed key outcomes for woolgrowers.

A simple and accurate assessment of the health of riparian areas in the mid-north of Tasmania is now available, with the Rapid Appraisal of Riparian Condition (RARC) method adapted for local conditions.

Projects overview in Social and Institutional research Program (SIRP)

The period of operation of the CRDC Strategic Plan 2003–2008 ended in 2008 as it had begun in 2003: with the continuation of an unprecedented, lengthy drought, exacerbated by low cotton prices and increasing competition for available water from irrigated grains, which are enjoying a price boom. In addition, the industry faced uncertainty in its terms of trade with a volatile Australian dollar exchange rate. Despite this, Australian cotton growers continued to produce the highest yields per hectare of premium quality cotton in the world. The low water availability did however mean that the total crop area was the smallest in 30 years. The latest forecast for the 2008 harvest is a crop of 0.6 million bales, estimated to be worth $275 million in export value, compared with a historical average of near $1 billion. Looking further back, cotton production in Australia has been well below normal levels for the last six drought-affected years. In the final year of operation under the Strategic R&D Plan, the Corporation was able to maintain R&D investments at a level that underpinned the achievement of the Plan’s strategic outcomes. This report highlights the importance of those outcomes to the industry and Australia.