Practical checks for improved irrigation outcomes

Practical checks for improved irrigation outcomes

From DairyPod by Dairy Australia

November 20, 2025 · 32 min · Episode 148

About this episode

Cath Lescun discusses irrigation planning and management essentials with Dr James Hills, focusing on practical checks and tools for dairy farmers.

In this episode, Cath Lescun, National Soils & Water Lead at Dairy Australia, chats with Dr James Hills, Livestock Production Centre Leader at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, to discuss the essentials of irrigation planning and management.   They cover the key steps and checks before irrigating — from preparation and pressure testing to understanding soil types – along with practical tools and methods for assessing soil moisture, calculating how much water to apply, understanding readily available water (RAW) and getting irrigation scheduling right.  A timely update for dairy farmers, whether already irrigating or holding off due to seasonal conditions.  For more information, resources and support on soils and irrigation contact your local Dairy Australia team or visit   dairyaustralia.com.au/soils-and-water/irrigation   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Guest: Dr James Hills

Topics covered

  • irrigation
  • soil management
  • dairy farming

Keywords

  • irrigation planning
  • soil moisture
  • water application
  • irrigation scheduling

Mentioned in this episode

Products: irrigation tools, soil moisture assessment tools

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