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The final Rice Water Use (RWU) targets for this season from October 1st 2012 to February 28th 2013, calculated using ETT and rainfall data from each MI Automatic Weather Station (AWS) are displayed in the table below. The RWU targets include 2ML/ha for filling the profile and 2ML/ha for drainage.
Rice Water Use Targets are allocated to individual landholdings based on proximity in relation to the closest AWS. Letters will be sent post season advising the weather station allocation and corresponding rice water use target along with landholdings RWU figure for this season.
Rice crop coefficient now 1.16 AWS evapotranspiration figures are now calculated using the internationally recognised FAO56 equation modified to represent tall crops ETref_t. The rice crop coefficient used in conjunction with ETref_t. Is 1.16
Customers are advised that the Rice Environmental Monitoring (REM) Program was implemented in October 2011, in accordance with our Water Management Works Licence No. IC5 issued by NOW. To ensure customers are complying with the licence, rice growing must be within our Rice Growing Rules. Guidelines include growing only on rice approved soils and any chemicals applied must be kept on farm for a minimum of 28 days. To assist with best management practice, landholdings in single farming units are permitted to pool their annual entitlement and select the most suitable farm for rice growing. However individual flow rate share rules must also be considered when pooling annual entitlements.
Together with the Ricegrowers' Association of Australia, we have published a "Rice Growing Policy" also known as the "Rice Growing Rules". This document endeavours to balance the interest of rice growers and their businesses with our licence obligations and the MIA environment.
Link MI Rice Growing Rules Effective 21 October 2011 (PDF)
Rice Growing 3 Year Farm Plan
MI has reintroduced the optional three year farm plans for rice growing with the support of the Rice Growers’ Association of Australia (RGA). These plans are designed to allow farmers to use their farm layout efficiently while avoiding a negative impact on regional watertables.
Farmers can grow up to 10 hectares per landholding over their Annual Rice Approved Area in any one season, as long as they do not exceed their total allowable area over the three years. A $200 administration fee will be charged at the start of the plan.
We would like to remind landholders all chemicals applied to rice must be kept on farm for a minimum of 28 days prior to drainage. In the event of an unscheduled release of chemically treated water entering MI drainage within the 28 day period, the landholder must notify MI immediately to allow our risk management process to be enacted. We look forward to working with our customers to ensure best management practice and licence compliance.
Electromagnetic Induction (EM) soil surveys are used to measure soil conductivity to assess rice suitability, as well as confirming soil salinity, locating shallow aquifers and deeper storages.
Read more EM Soil Survey Fact Sheet.
2012/13 and previous years comparison (ML/ha)
Note: Graph details RWU using data from the CSIRO Hanwood weather station. Rice Water Use figures are provided the for previous season and also past seasons with high variability for comparison.
If you have any questions, please contact our Environment Officer on (02) 6962 0200.