Project overview
Local Land Services worked with two farms, Bowman Farm and Kwyong Flat in Gloucester to test irrigating for profit and reducing moisture loss.
Irrigation for Profit
After 4 very different years, dairy farmers Adam Forbes and Tom Middlebrook of Gloucester describe the benefits of the Hunter LLS, Smarter Irrigation for Profit Project which was carried out on their farms.
Project objectives
The Hunter Smarter Farming: Irrigating for Profit project aimed to improve the capabilities of the Hunter region’s dairy irrigators to:
- increase profits by optimising dry matter (DM) production and utilisation throughout the irrigation season
- concentrating on efforts to start irrigation at the right time and rate to avoid ongoing seasonal soil moisture loss.
Project background
Usual practice on many irrigating dairy farms in the Hunter region is to use visual inspection or historic management to make scheduling decisions. There is also a tendency to delay irrigation to postpone costs associated with:
- water
- energy
- labour use
- avoiding maintenance outlay.
This results in systems not being prepared to operate when needed or operate inefficiently.
By not monitoring soil moisture early and throughout the season, irrigators become limited by the capacity of their systems.
The water applied once start-up is delayed could possibly be ineffective if the system cannot apply irrigation at the required rate to increase, as appose to simply maintaining soil moisture, which is optimal for plant growth (called the Readily Available Water (RAW) range).
Project delivery
- Continuously updating a resource kit of system maintenance and efficiency check-lists for the main irrigation systems used in the region.
- Sign-posting dairy irrigators to other resources to improve system preparedness and increase water and energy use efficiency.
- Preparing e-learning webinars, podcasts and short videos, to increase knowledge and understanding of the factors which influence irrigation scheduling decisions, including key terminology and interpretation of water balance information.
- Extending seasonally relevant information from irrigation sites established to demonstrate the use of two irrigation scheduling fundamentals:
- soil moisture monitoring using sensors to indicate depth of effective water (via rainfall & irrigation), logged in real-time to a web-based platform accessible via an App
- use of a freely available weather-based irrigation scheduling tool so that a general water balance can be determined and maintained. This is a trial App called the Scheduling Irrigation Dairy for Dairy, developed by the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture, University of Southern Queensland & Dairy Australia
- communicating project learnings and undertaking basic economic analysis.
Tom Middlebrook
Bowman Farm, Barrington NSW
- Milking herd: 450
- Dairy farm area: 450ha
- Milking platform: 200ha
- Irrigated area: 100
- Irrigation System: 2 centre pivots, 1 lateral
- Smarter Farming: 15 ha centre pivot, 5 span (270m) 1900

Meet Bowman Farm
Moisture monitoring equipment: Single 80cmEnviroPro capacitance probe with 3 sensor depths, Adcon NextG telemetry logger. System has capacity to accommodate multiple probes but these must be located within 60m of the logger. Automatic tipping bucket rain gauge also installed.
Adam Forbes
Kywong Flat, Barrington, NSW
- Milking herd: 700ha
- Dairy farm area: 700ha
- Milking platform: 180ha
- Irrigated area: 210ha
- Irrigation System: 2 centre pivots, bike-shift, soft-hose & hard-hose
- Smarter Farming Site: 50ha centre pivot, 7 span (450m) 1900

Meet Kyong Flat
Read transcriptMoisture monitoring equipment: Two 80cm EnviroPro capacitance probe with 3 sensor depths located in two separate paddocks with field telemetry loggers. The loggers feed into a LoRa Gateway base station located in a near-by office. This system allows for multiple probes to be located around the farm. Automatic tipping bucket rain gauge also installed.
Project outcomes
- Local Land Services supported the Gloucester farms involved in the project as they are new to soil moisture monitoring.
- EM 38 mapping and soil characterisation surveys were conducted to inform the most appropriate location of soil moisture monitoring equipment.
- Both sites have been installed with 80 cm EnviroPro capacitance probes with sensors located at 15cm, 40cm and 80cm depths which sample a sphere of about 100mm, however 95% of the measurement is within 50mm.
- Capacitance probes measure volumetric soil moisture content (mm). Each property has chosen a different telemetry systems (logging of data) to meet their particular requirements.
- Tocal dairy operated by NSW DPIRD also partnered with the Hunter Smarter Farming: Irrigating for Profit project to assist with improved irrigation scheduling decisions and monitoring of production and profit impacts.
Hunter Smarter Farming: Irrigating for Profit at Tocal Dairy
The Hunter Smarter Farming: Irrigation for Profit project is working closely with Tocal Dairy, Tocal Agricultural College, NSW. The college and farm operations are owned and operated by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Project updates
Bowman Farm
The late spring/ summer period has seen 629mm of rainfall so far. After planting a 90-day maize crop on the 16th of November, Tom Middlebrook says management “couldn’t be easier”.
Equipment at the site was damaged during planting, leaving Tom without soil moisture, rainfall or soil temperature data for the period. He says he was fortunate this happened in a season when it was very obvious irrigation was not needed, otherwise he believes he would have struggled to make good irrigation decisions. The maize crop will be harvested around the 24th of February.
November 21 January 22 Bowman Farm Irrigation update
Read transcriptKywong Flat
“It’s really been quite challenging wet conditions, whether that has been managing grazing, making silage or just trying to get the cows to the paddock with the Barrington River coming through the farm,” provides Adam.
Whilst there were actually two periods when soil moisture dropped below RAW, irrigation was not applied as Adam’s forecast data gave him confidence that rainfall would imminently refill the profile in coming days. “You need to use all the data in front of you to make those decisions,” he says.
November 21 Jan 22 Kywong Flat Irrigation Update
Read transcriptSummary
Both Tom Middlebrook and Adam Forbes have experienced very wet conditions with over 620mm of rainfall recorded during the period. The report demonstrates the decisions that were made, especially at Kywong Flat, not to irrigate when soil moisture levels dropped below Readily Available Water (RAW), relying upon forecasted rainfall to eventuate. Delaying irrigation avoided waterlogging conditions at Kywong Flat, especially on paddock F3. The Bowman Farm maize crop is considered a “bumper” result by Tom.
During the period both farms had difficulties with their 3-year-old soil moisture monitoring equipment, a reminder that:
- the technology needs to be actively maintained
- when it comes to making purchase decisions, most often you get what you pay for.
“It’s a reminder that these systems are not set and forget,” says Adam. “You really need to be monitoring them and make sure that what you are seeing is ground-truthed.”
Bowman Farm
The winter period was a true irrigation season for Tom Middlebrook. Low rainfall in August and early September saw applications of irrigation slow soil moisture decline but not stop the decline.
Tom was forced to make decisions on allocating water across the milking platform, potentially effecting optimal growth of the Italian rye/ barley/ brassica mixed pasture. Rainfall events in September and October increased soil moisture to finish the pasture well. The site has been prepared for the imminent sowing of the summer maize crop.
Bowman farm seasonal update August-November 2021
Read transcriptSummary
Both Tom Middlebrook and Adam Forbes have managed irrigation through a very dry winter season, with rainfall not eventuating until the second week in September.
The report demonstrates the site-specific decisions that have to be made in this situation dependent upon the pasture mix, soil type and water availability.
With a wetter summer predicted, the report also outlines the plans for the coming months, including improved use of soil moisture graphs to closely monitor conditions at varying soil depths. Both Tom and Adam need to monitor, and adjust irrigation frequency and rates accordingly, to manage developing roots as well as pasture mixes with both shallow and deep-rooted species.
Bowman Farm
Bouncing-back from the impact of the extreme rainfall event of March, Tom Middlebrook has managed to improve production results of the slow starting Italian rye/ barley/ brassica mixed pasture. May to mid-June delivered ideal moisture levels, with small amounts of rainfall over the duration providing adequate moisture without saturation.
The critical period for the farm has come in July with very limited rainfall and very little predicted. Tom has started irrigating and using nitrogen strategically to drive growth. Initial application saw little effect- so how does he plan to respond?
Bowman Farm Irrigation update May July 2021
Read transcriptKywong Flat
With “ideal” conditions prevailing throughout May to mid-June, Adam Forbes is the first to admit that he had become a little complacent about monitoring his soil moisture and therefore his telemetry base station lay idle after power was lost to the shed during the rainfall event of March.
With conditions obviously changing, strong winds, dry days and increased ETo, Adam decided he needed to know what was happening beneath the ground.
It was just in time when his telemetry commenced to collect data from the soil moisture probes again on the 23rd of June- things were drying and moisture across both sites was trending downwards! Initial irrigation impacts were short-lived, and the farm has truly entered a mid-winter irrigation season.
Kywong Flat Irrigation Update May July 2021
Read transcriptBowman Farm
The effects of extreme rainfall events have resulted in disappointing establishment of the rye/ barley/ brassica mixed pasture that was aerial broadcast, after 450mm across 6-days, in March.
Soil moisture monitoring demonstrates that after extreme saturation the top 40cm of the soil profile, where the young roots are developing, has actually dried swiftly and is heavily compacted. Whilst the soil moisture graph shows that irrigation is not needed, the stacked graph is highlighting the need to irrigate carefully to provide moisture to where it is needed at this time.
With flooding causing damage to the pivot’s motor, Tom is relying upon the 30mm forecast by his SWAN Systems notification to provide this moisture. Slow growth means that the paddock is still at least 14 days away from first grazing and Tom has attempted to boost development with additional nitrogen that would have been lost from the system through run-off and leaching.
Bowman farm irrigation update 2021 Feb April
Read transcriptKywong Flat
The effectiveness of extreme rainfall recovery at Kywong Flat reflects the different pasture establishment stages and soil types of the sites, prior to the March 450mm in 6-days event. On F6, a combination of the paddock being sown to Prairie Grass in early March, and a good free draining soil, has delivered good recovery and grazing is imminent.
F3 had not undergone winter sowing prior to the rainfall event, leaving poor quality silage to be cut from the site followed by Italian Ryegrass sowing in early April. Establishment has been slow. Weather events have affected access to soil moisture technology data with power cut to the base station mid-March. Adam is currently relying upon visual decisions once again and realises he needs to reinstate the pump to the river and consider starting to irrigate.
Kywong flat irrigation update 2021 Feb April
Read transcript
Bowman Farm
The sorghum crop was watered-in during early November. Although a dry-spell mid-November to mid-December saw soil moisture decline, the low water use of the developing plant, together with the RAW “bucket” already at full point, this had little impact on overall soil moisture.
See how Tom then used forecast weather information to manage the forage crop during a December to January period that saw over 500mm of rainfall.
Bowman farm seasonal update Nov Jan 2021
Read transcriptKywong Flat
Adam strategically irrigated the different soil/ plant types, under the single pivot, of his monitored paddocks of F6 and F3 to maintain his RAW “bucket” during the mid-November to mid-December dry-spell. With good soil moisture and mid-range evapotranspiration (ETo) growth rates were ideal.
Using weather forecasts to make informed decisions, learn how Adam allowed soil moisture to decrease before predicted rainfall events lifted soil moisture beyond full-point.
Kywong flat seasonal update Nov-Jan 2021
Read transcriptBowman Farm
The winter pasture of the study site finished strongly after strategic irrigation was used during a dry-spell following good rainfall.
After 3 years of use, Tom Middlebrook reports that he has certainly changed his irrigation practices, making sure he responds to declining soil moisture and forecasted rising evapotranspiration (ETo).
Soil moisture monitoring data shows that levels were maintained in the RAW but Tom certainly drew upon his soil water “bucket” to do this. The season will likely need increased irrigation rates as the newly sown Sorghum forage crop develops.
Bowman Farm seasonal video - July to October 2020
Read transcriptKywong Flat
In the words of Adam Forbes, spring growth has been “phenomenal” because irrigation has been used strategically between rainfall events to keep soil moisture levels up.
Adam says he would not have irrigated if the soil moisture monitors had not been in place, subsequently he has unprecedented yield of an estimated 100-120 kgDM/ha/day from his Italian ryegrass/ white clover pasture on paddock F3.
A seven week turn-around from sowing to first grazing on F6 he also believes is due to irrigating at the right time, predominantly to keep the paddock from getting too saturated.
Kywong Flat seasonal video - July to October 2020
Read transcriptSummary
The importance of closely monitoring soil moisture over the autumn period to inform irrigation start-up and scheduling decisions is highlighted in this period’s report from Bowman Farm and Kywong Flat, Gloucester.
Although irrigation start-up was a little delayed, both Tom Middlebrook and Adam Forbes managed to keep soil moisture levels within the optimal zone for active plant growth and have reaped the rewards by maintaining a good rotation over an otherwise dry autumn.
Bowman Farm Seasonal Irrigation Report 2020 April June
Read transcriptKywong Flat Seasonal Irrigation Report 2020 April June 1
Summary
Adam Forbes and Tom Middlebrook meet with the project to talk about the impacts of the drought and their plans for recovery after a number of good rainfall events.
Gloucester sites drought recovery February 2020
Read transcript
Summary
- Forecasted rainfall events eventuated in February and March resulting in nearly 360mm of rain and no irrigation required on either farm.
- Rainfall has not only refilled the soil moisture profile on both farms, but has resulted in significant run-off, restoring flow to the Bowman and Barrington Rivers.
- The storage dam on Bowman farm, which was empty in late January, is now at full capacity providing twelve months supply of stock and irrigation water.
- The immediate forecast is for minimal rainfall, but ETo has dropped to a range 25% lower than 2 months ago.
- Rainfall will remain lower than this period in the coming three months with a forecasted 75% chance of between 100-200mm until 30th June.
Bowman Farm Irrigation Update - February to March 2020
Read transcriptKywong Flat February March update
Read transcriptSummary
- From October to mid-January, there was only 70mm of rainfall at the sites- including an extreme dry spell from mid-November to mid-January with only 7mm recorded.
- Due to no flow in the Bowman River, the Bowman Farm site has had no irrigation water and so no summer crop was planted due to extreme soil moisture depletion.
- Kywong Flat has had intermittent access to water from the Barrington River. In early November there was a small opportunity to irrigate, then again for a 6 day period in late November.
- At this time the study site was irrigated for 24hrs/ day to lift soil moisture to above the refill point.
- With rising evapotranspiration (ETo) rates 6-8mm/day), soil moisture depleted quickly. A three day opportunity to irrigate in early December did not have a lasting effect.
- Both farms have purchased and hand-fed significant feed over this time. The effects of not growing summer crops will remain throughout the year.
- Since the 10th of January, 143mm of rainfall has been recorded. This has increased optimism and plans for recovery strategies have moved into full swing.
- Kywong Flat has access to irrigation water again. F3 & F6 are to be sprayed and prepared for early sowing to an Italian/annual ryegrass mixed pasture.
- Bowman Farm will use current moisture to also prepare the site and sow an Italian ryegrass/ cereal mixed pasture in approximately 6 weeks.
- Cereal seed will be expensive and difficult to source, though there are strategies planned to manage these costs separately for early and late sowing.
- Upcoming rainfall forecasts provide a promising immediate outlook.
Kywong Flat Irrigation Update: October 2019 - January 2020
Read transcriptBowman Farm Irrigation Update: October 2019 - January 2020
Read transcriptSummary
- Due to no flow in the Bowman River, Bowman Farm has had not access to water for the period.
- With only 42mm of rainfall, the irrigation area has been taken out of the milking platform.
- Kywong Flat has access to water from the Barrington River.
- Frequent irrigations, increasing over the period from 8mm to 25mm 7 day totals, have generally maintained soil moisture at adequate levels as Eto (2.3- 4.2mm/d) has increased.
- At this point in time soil moisture levels are now declining across both sites at Kywong Flat as a result of increased plant water demand and recent windy, dry days.
- Kywong Flat plans to manage irrigation to assist paddock F6 Annual Rye and paddock F3 Italian Rye persist through until mid to late November.
- The November rainfall outlook is 75% chance of 25-50mm, with a total of 100-200mm for the 3 month outlook.
- As Eto rises SMM should be closely monitored and response should see increased irrigation frequency and rates.
Summary
- Soil Moisture Monitoring (SMM) was used to gauge the effectiveness of rainfall events in mid-April, early to mid-May and early June (totalling 100mm) during the period.
- Kywong Flat used strategic irrigations of 8mm-13mm to supplement rainfall across both F3 and F6 to successfully keep both sites in the optimal soil moisture range.
- Importantly, F3 has not suffered from the saturated soils of previous years.
- Bowman Farm has struggled to raise soil moisture levels within the optimal range but maintained levels above 50% Plant Available Water- not ideal but enough to justify N applications which help to drive establishment.
- Again, Bowman Farm has been restricted by limited water availability from the Bowman River which has seen soil moisture decline throughout June.
- The July to September rainfall outlook is tough with a 75% chance of 50-100mm. Eto should remain low over this period with daylight hours increasing.
Summary
- Soil Moisture Monitoring (SMM) was used to gauge the effectiveness of regular medium rainfall events (totalling 235mm) during early February and throughout March.
- Mid to late February was a dryer period, however, evapotranspiration (Eto) rates were lower than January at 4-6 mm/day.
- The dry, warm conditions of late January restricted water availability to Bowman Farm in early February, allowing only one irrigation of 30mm to be applied, followed by a strong rainfall event of 36mm.
- Although the forecasted maize crop yield increase was impacted, monitoring soil moisture levels after irrigation & rainfall allowed Tom to confidently continue the crop through until the 23rd of March, delivering a final yield estimated to equal the previous year (yield tests pending).
- Without monitoring in place, the crop would have been harvested earlier resulting in a yield reduction.
- Rainfall events throughout March resulted in run-off into the Bowman River and reinstated water flows.
- This now means there is an option to irrigate and supplement future rainfall as the winter mixed pasture (Rye/Wheat/Brassica), sown on March 28th , is establishing. The aim is to graze within 36 days of sowing.
- Kywong Flat may have considered irrigating during mid to late February on F3 when moisture levels fell below optimal, however, the dry spell was considered an opportunity to cut silage on this paddock which can be prone to water logging.
- Rainfall events then provided enough soil moisture to increase levels into the optimal range by early to late March, providing a 2nd silage harvest after approximately 25 days.
- Kywong Flat’s F6 was primarily within the lower end of the optimal range throughout the period.
Summary
- Rainfall in October (120 mm) provided a big boost to river flows and gave confidence to sow maize on Bowman Farm using irrigation to help with establishment.
- SMM was used to gauge the effectiveness of good rainfall (124mm) in late December.
- This allowed both farms to use irrigation as a supplement for the three weeks following, resulting in more efficient water and power use.
- High crop evaportranspiration (ETo) rates of 6 to 8 mm/day in late January resulted in a steep decline in soil moisture levels.
- With water still available, irrigation was applied on both farms, however, was less effective than previous applications.
- Kywong Flat may have considered increasing rate of application but was restricted by a management strategy of using off peak power only, limiting irrigation events to 12mm due to system capacity during overnight off peak periods.
- Taking ETo into consideration, effective wetting was 4-6mm each application only.
- Reducing plant competition (spraying of paddocks) resulted in more efficient water use.
Summer Irrigation Decisions at Bowman Farm, Gloucester, NSW
Read transcriptSummer Irrigation Decisions at Kywong Flat, Gloucester, NSW
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