WATER AND OUR NATURAL RESOURCES

The rice industry recognises that our natural resources are a valuable asset for Australian agriculture. In the past ten years our Australian rice farmers have improved water use efficiency by 60% - this means they now grow more rice and use much less water.

Our Australian rice growers use 50% less water to grow one kilo of rice than the world average

This has come about by the commitment the industry has made to maintaining our natural resources.

TONNES PER MEGALITRE OF WATER Click for more detail

MEGALITRES USED PER TONNE OF RICE Click for more detail

What farmers do to improve water use:

• Follow strict regulations for the growing of rice.
• Undergo whole farm planning techniques.
• Rice fields are ponded for a minimum time and water use stops prior to physiological maturity of the crop, this means the rice plant utilises all the water available.
• Grow shorter season rice varieties - these require less water for growth.
• Plant another crop into the rice stubble to utilise the soil moisture.
• Attend regular discussion groups with NSW Agriculture agronomists and other technical resource people to communicate new techniques and maintain best practice.
• Land and Water Management Plans.

From Growing to Preparation, Rice Requires Less Water Than Many Other Foods

Water use per typical home serving (uncooked)

Source: Water Education Foundation - California USA

Adding Value to Water Used on Our Rice Farms

Is Rice Production a good use of water?

• $800 million every year and most of this comes from value-added exports.
• 44% of the retail price of rice is returned to the rice grower.
• The ability to grow a subsequent crop after rice harvest returns more to the grower and uses less water.
• 8,000 jobs across Australia – most in regional NSW.
• Up to $6,000 return per megalitre for value-added SunRice products.
• World's most efficient rice growing practices, including highest yield per hectare and low water use.

% Retail Price Returned to the Primary Producer

Land and Water Management Plans (LWMP)

Maintaining Best Practice

Rice farmers and the community combined to develop Land and Water Management Plans for each of the irrigation regions of the Riverina.

These set out the best practices for managing irrigation farming and improving water and soil management within the landscape. They also provide for long-term biodiversity restoration and better farm management techniques, so the land is preserved for future generations.

What are LWMP’s?

Land and Water Management Plans (LWMPs) are the cornerstone of environmental initiatives in the irrigation areas of the Riverina. There are six plans in total including four in the Murray Valley (Berriquin, Caldwell, Denimein and Wakool) and the MIA and CIA plans.

Each plan is an integrated natural resource management strategy prepared by landholders and local communities with technical and financial assistance in partnership with NSW and Federal governments. Over the life of these plans, irrigation communities will invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the quest for sustainable ecology, economies and communities through these plans.

There are differences between plans in terms of specific targets, criteria and maturity of the plans themselves, however a number of features are common.

Land and Water Management Plans focus on:

• Improved farm management and practices including irrigation management, water use efficiency, recycling and re-use and farm forestry;
• Improved regional management practices including drainage, recycling and storage and channel seepage control;
• Education programs, monitoring mechanisms and research and development;
• Protection and enhancement of natural resources and biodiversity.

RICE & THE ENVIRONMENT
 Environmental Policy
 Environmental Champions Program
 Biodiversity Strategy and Plan
 Greenhouse Strategy
 Water and our Natural Resources

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