Tuesday, 10 December 2013 10:26

Innovative irrigation nominations sought

Written by Pamela Tipa

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

THE HUNT IS UNDERWAY for examples of innovation within New Zealand's irrigation sector as industry body IrrigationNZ gears up for its bi-ennial conference in Hawkes Bay.

Entries have just opened for IrrigationNZ's 'Innovation in Irrigation Award' in association with Aqualinc, which will be presented at the conference and expo next April, being held in Napier for the first time.
The prestigious award, which comes with a $2500 prize, celebrates, encourages and promotes innovation within New Zealand's irrigation industry.

Nominations close January 31 with entries required by February 14, 2014. Nomination forms are now available on the IrrigationNZ websitewww.irrigationnz.co.nz/events-and-training/innovation-in-irrigation-award/
IrrigationNZ chief executive Andrew Curtis says the category is extremely broad and encompasses technical innovations by industry, initiatives which protect the environment and innovative thinking where irrigation has helped create resilient communities.

Past winners of the award include the North Otago Irrigation Company in 2012 which used its prize to re-establish the North Otago Sustainable Land Management Group (NOSLAM) to promote responsible farming in its area.

In 2010, Fielding-based Precision Irrigation won for its variable rate irrigation systems, which uses GPS to more effectively target water application. The company has since been purchased by multinational Lindsay Corporation and has sold over 160 variable rate irrigation systems throughout Australasia.

IrrigationNZ is also calling for nominations for the Ron Cocks Memorial Award with nomination forms also available on the IrrigationNZ website www.irrigationnz.co.nz
The award recognises a person who has made a significant contribution to irrigation within New Zealand. 2012 recipient was Brian Cameron from Ashburton. Nominations close February 11, 2014.

More like this

Reliable irrigation crucial to hort sector

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says access to reliable irrigation water is essential for a thriving horticultural sector.

Canadian visitors impressed by Canterbury irrigation system

A 100-year-old Canadian irrigation district has taken inspiration from Canterbury irrigation company Central Plains Water's success in converting from an open race irrigation system to a gravity-fed piped system.

The importance of good effluent management

Effluent is a valuable source of nutrients.

Effluent is 'rocket fuel' for grass

Precision Slurry says they are effluent application specialists who pride themselves on leading the way in cleaning out any system - fully utilising the nutrients often seen as a problem on farms.

Farms are going Dungbusters

Making farming easy is what the TechniPharm team says it lives for.

Featured

Another record milk price for Tatua suppliers

Independent Waikato milk processor Tatua has set another new record for conventional farmgate milk price paid to New Zealand farmers.

Editorial: Nitrate emergency?

OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.

LUDF adopts tactical variable milking to boost profitability

An early adopter of a 10-in-7 variable milking regime, the Lincoln University Demonstration Dairy Farm (LUDF) is tweaking the system this season in search of further boosting farm performance and profitability.

DairyNZ: Strong payouts offset high farm costs

The dairy sector is in a relatively stable position, with strong milk price payout forecasts continuing to offset ongoing high farm costs, according to DairyNZ.

Federated Farmers slam Canterbury nitrate emergency

A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.