From growing 30 acres of barley in Co Meath, it has been a massive adjustment to the sheer scale of 7,000ha of irrigated and dryland cropping land in Queensland, Australia. Without doubt, the last three weeks have been an eye opener.
My time so far has been spent in the farming section of Goonoo Farm and Feedlot, where the workers are tasked with the challenge of providing fodder for the thousands of cattle housed in the feedlot. The vastness of the land, the dirt roads and production systems used to grow the crops have been a completely new experience for me.
The farming team is headed by an Australian agronomist, as well as two brothers from Kilcormac, Co Offaly, who ensure that the operations run smoothly. They have been a great aid to me in explaining how crops are grown here, how the machines and processes work, and invaluable in terms of avoiding brown snakes, red-backed spiders and making sure I slap on mammy’s factor 50.
The magic of moisture
At home when RTÉ weather informs the nation of a potential hot spell, weather apps are checked constantly and neighbours’ predictions validated. This generally consumes the talk of the nation. Here in Goonoo, the same occurs over the chance of rainfall.
Moisture is the primary factor which decides whether a crop sown survives and yields well, or burns up and withers. Every farmer in Queensland realises the importance of rainfall and the magic of moisture.
Roughly 65% to 70% of rainfall in Queensland occurs during the summer (October to March). Strangely, this is also the period of the year with soaring temperatures of between 40°C to 45°C. The Comet River flows through the land at Goonoo and is used for irrigation purposes.
Water is pumped into one of four ring-tanks which have a combined 13,100 megalitre capacity. One ring-tank is used for the feedlot and three for crop irrigation systems. This water is used for irrigating summer crops or stored for irrigation of winter crops when rainfall levels drop.
Water levels in the Comet River are dictated by rainfall levels that fall on Carnarvon National Park Range located in central Queensland.
Irrigation
In Australia, irrigated crops are produced using three main systems, flood irrigation, sub-surface irrigation or overhead sprinkler systems. In Goonoo, all land under irrigation is carried out via flood irrigation.
Land under irrigation here totals roughly 1,000ha. This form of irrigation requires constant monitoring by workers, is time consuming and revolves largely around water management. Factors such as topography, soil types, water supply, water infiltration rate, evaporation rate, potential crops and cost are all factors in irrigation implementation. 
Essentially, flood irrigation involves the administration of water via syphons down bays or furrows in fields. In Goonoo, these beds and furrows are cultivated to a 2m width. The fields are laser-levelled to ensure that water flows from the head ditch to the tail drain without stopping.
Once the water has reached the tail drain, it drains into a return channel. This water can be transferred to a supply channel, or back into massive 13,100-megalitre storage tanks.
Water management
The irrigated area comprises supply channels, head ditches, tail drains, return channels and large ring-tank storage areas. Water must not exceed the levels of the head ditches when irrigation is taking place. This is managed by pumps to maintain correct water levels.
There are 10 main pumps dotted around Goonoo. The pumps on site comprise 400hp motors, and diesel tanks with 60,000-gallon capacity fuelling them. All supply channels are fitted with blowout drains. These are a safety measure to ensure that the channel is not breached during times of heavy rainfall.
Once ground has been irrigated, it must be left to dry out for a minimum of two weeks before any machine can enter.
Dryland
Dryland or conservation tillage is used on the remaining 6,000ha of land used for growing crops at Goonoo. Again, this method of production revolves around water. Soil moisture is preserved by minimising soil disturbance. Unlike irrigated land, there is not as much work to be done on dryland country prior to sowing.
The adoption of conservation tillage practices in New South Wales and Queensland is estimated to be at 88%. This does not imply zero-tillage over 100% of that ground, but there are a number of advantages of this production method very relevant to the Queensland environment:
Improved capture of rainfall in the soil.Reduced run-off and soil erosion.Widened planting windows, ie increased opportunities to plant.Maintaining soil carbon.Improved soil health.Reduced risk, particularly with sporadic rainfall. James Meade is an agricultural science student at UCD and travels on the professional work experience programme supported by the Irish Farmers Journal and the Agricultural Science Association.
Read more
Read more student blogs
Read more from James Meade
From growing 30 acres of barley in Co Meath, it has been a massive adjustment to the sheer scale of 7,000ha of irrigated and dryland cropping land in Queensland, Australia. Without doubt, the last three weeks have been an eye opener.
My time so far has been spent in the farming section of Goonoo Farm and Feedlot, where the workers are tasked with the challenge of providing fodder for the thousands of cattle housed in the feedlot. The vastness of the land, the dirt roads and production systems used to grow the crops have been a completely new experience for me.
The farming team is headed by an Australian agronomist, as well as two brothers from Kilcormac, Co Offaly, who ensure that the operations run smoothly. They have been a great aid to me in explaining how crops are grown here, how the machines and processes work, and invaluable in terms of avoiding brown snakes, red-backed spiders and making sure I slap on mammy’s factor 50.
The magic of moisture
At home when RTÉ weather informs the nation of a potential hot spell, weather apps are checked constantly and neighbours’ predictions validated. This generally consumes the talk of the nation. Here in Goonoo, the same occurs over the chance of rainfall.
Moisture is the primary factor which decides whether a crop sown survives and yields well, or burns up and withers. Every farmer in Queensland realises the importance of rainfall and the magic of moisture.
Roughly 65% to 70% of rainfall in Queensland occurs during the summer (October to March). Strangely, this is also the period of the year with soaring temperatures of between 40°C to 45°C. The Comet River flows through the land at Goonoo and is used for irrigation purposes.
Water is pumped into one of four ring-tanks which have a combined 13,100 megalitre capacity. One ring-tank is used for the feedlot and three for crop irrigation systems. This water is used for irrigating summer crops or stored for irrigation of winter crops when rainfall levels drop.
Water levels in the Comet River are dictated by rainfall levels that fall on Carnarvon National Park Range located in central Queensland.
Irrigation
In Australia, irrigated crops are produced using three main systems, flood irrigation, sub-surface irrigation or overhead sprinkler systems. In Goonoo, all land under irrigation is carried out via flood irrigation.
Land under irrigation here totals roughly 1,000ha. This form of irrigation requires constant monitoring by workers, is time consuming and revolves largely around water management. Factors such as topography, soil types, water supply, water infiltration rate, evaporation rate, potential crops and cost are all factors in irrigation implementation.
Essentially, flood irrigation involves the administration of water via syphons down bays or furrows in fields. In Goonoo, these beds and furrows are cultivated to a 2m width. The fields are laser-levelled to ensure that water flows from the head ditch to the tail drain without stopping.
Once the water has reached the tail drain, it drains into a return channel. This water can be transferred to a supply channel, or back into massive 13,100-megalitre storage tanks.
Water management
The irrigated area comprises supply channels, head ditches, tail drains, return channels and large ring-tank storage areas. Water must not exceed the levels of the head ditches when irrigation is taking place. This is managed by pumps to maintain correct water levels.
There are 10 main pumps dotted around Goonoo. The pumps on site comprise 400hp motors, and diesel tanks with 60,000-gallon capacity fuelling them. All supply channels are fitted with blowout drains. These are a safety measure to ensure that the channel is not breached during times of heavy rainfall.
Once ground has been irrigated, it must be left to dry out for a minimum of two weeks before any machine can enter.
Dryland
Dryland or conservation tillage is used on the remaining 6,000ha of land used for growing crops at Goonoo. Again, this method of production revolves around water. Soil moisture is preserved by minimising soil disturbance. Unlike irrigated land, there is not as much work to be done on dryland country prior to sowing.
The adoption of conservation tillage practices in New South Wales and Queensland is estimated to be at 88%. This does not imply zero-tillage over 100% of that ground, but there are a number of advantages of this production method very relevant to the Queensland environment:
Improved capture of rainfall in the soil.Reduced run-off and soil erosion.Widened planting windows, ie increased opportunities to plant.Maintaining soil carbon.Improved soil health.Reduced risk, particularly with sporadic rainfall. James Meade is an agricultural science student at UCD and travels on the professional work experience programme supported by the Irish Farmers Journal and the Agricultural Science Association.
Read more
Read more student blogs
Read more from James Meade
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