A Whole Farm Plan (WFP) shows a farm design for the whole property to enable efficient management of irrigation water and farm drainage. A WFP includes a contour survey of the existing farm layout and infrastructure and a detailed design of the new or upgraded irrigation system.
Preparing a Whole Farm Plan ensures that money invested in property development is well spent, and that farm works do not interfere with regional drainage, environmental and cultural features or floodplain water flow.
The development of a Whole Farm Plan considers the following aspects:
- Farm management – the type of enterprise, how the farm will be managed in the future, stock and machinery movement, fencing and stock water.
- Agronomic – types of crops/pastures to be grown, soil types, bay sizes, slopes and soil health.
- Engineering – channel and drain details, sizes of bay outlets and channel/drain structures, earthworks and construction details.
- Environment – how the development will complement the local conditions including drainage lines, wetlands, land capabilities, trees or any other areas of environmental and cultural significance.
- Soil salinity – in some parts of the Loddon Campaspe Irrigation Region a soil salinity survey is required prior to the development of the final WFP design. This improves the awareness of salinity issues and encourages farmers to irrigate their most productive soils.
- Financial – how the development could be staged, a detailed costing and how the work will be financed. A rebate for independent financial advice is available
- Cultural Heritage Management – identifies areas covered by cultural heritage overlay and the implications this may have on WFP design options.
The main benefits of developing a Whole Farm Plan include:
- Easier to irrigate
- Easier to manage stock, crops and pastures
- Improved efficiency of water use
- Improved control of water
- Salinity control
- Nutrient management
- Improved appearance of the property
- Increased biodiversity/environmental benefits
- Increased production
- Improved drainage
- Improved value of the property
- Increased confidence in the correct design of your farm irrigation upgrade
- Ability to implement development in stages
- Ability to cost developments and compare quotes
Incentives are available for the development of irrigation Whole Farm Plans in the North Central and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Areas. For further information please contact an Agriculture Victoria Irrigation Extension Officer in your area.
Contact details:
Kerang 03 5450 8300
Echuca 03 5482 1922
Tatura 03 5833 5222
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