A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) and the Ministry of Rural Affairs (MRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30am to 5pm.
IMPROVE ON-FARM WATER USE EFFICIENCY
Rebecca Shortt,Water Quantity Engineer – OMAF and MRA
Are you considering improving your on-farm water use efficiency? Do you know what practices are eligible for cost share funding under GF2? The following paragraphs outline my top two recommended practices for improving water efficiency – and they are both eligible for GF2 funding.
Importance of monitoring water use with a meter:
Knowing how much water you use, is the first step to increasing farm water efficiency. Water meters can be beneficial for any farm practice which uses water.
The instantaneous flow reading helps to diagnose if the system is operating as designed:
– higher than usual flow: check system for leaks, worn nozzles and malfunctioning valves; and
– lower than usual flow: check system for plugging, malfunctioning valves and pump station performance.
Records of the totalized flow reading help to assess the on-going water use and evaluate new practices or equipment:
– assesses the impact of new management practices on the water usage; and
– allows for an optimization of water use by comparing the water use and associated costs of different practices.
Under scenarios of climate change and where water supplies are stressed a water monitoring program is the first tool needed to identify water efficient opportunities.
In addition to the meter itself, wireless transmission, loggers and software to graph the output are all useful in making good use of the data collected.
Importance of monitoring soil moisture with an instrument:
– monitoring soil moisture is the key to getting the right amount of water to crops at the right time. The use of soil moisture monitoring can benefit decision making on all irrigated farms;
– monitoring soil moisture can help growers manage soil moisture. Choosing the right times and the right amounts to irrigate can lead to:
– higher yields;
– better product quality;
– improved plant vigor;
– reduction in disease;
– more effective use of water (water efficiency); and
– reduced irrigation costs.
Soil moisture instrument demonstrations have occurred in southern Ontario and cooperating farms reported the following outcomes:
– “My understanding of soil moisture monitoring has improved. I now know the field capacity, wilting point and my optimum irrigation trigger points”;
– “Soil moisture monitoring helps me determine when irrigation is beneficial”;
– “Now I know what is going on in the soil profile; before I was guessing”;
In addition to the soil moisture instruments themselves, wireless transmission, loggers and software to graph the output are all useful in making good use of the data collected.
COMING EVENTS:
March 21 and 28 – Environmental Farm Plan Workshop, OMAF and MRA Boardroom, Elora. To register, please contact Lois Sinclair at 519-955-3139.
