Optimising farm scale returns from irrigated grains: maximising dollar return per megalitre of water: APPENDICES

This investment developed knowledge required to dissect determinants underpinning profitability of irrigated grain cropping systems. Central to this was the demand-driven development of a desktop and mobile device application called WaterCan Profit, which computes profit as a function of crop type, yield, water price and use (Water Price); farm planning, crop rotation, seasonal climate outlooks (Optimiser); and irrigation infrastructure (Investment). We co-developed several scenarios aimed at improving profitability, productivity and sustainability through people-centric design with stakeholders across Australia. Key outputs include (1) a scholarly review of decision-support systems for irrigated crops, (2) optimal flowering windows of irrigated crops, (3) adaptations for improving profitability under future climates, including diversification and intensification, (4) economic contrasts of irrigation infrastructure, (5) shifts in phenology under future climates and (6) impacts of irrigation on soil carbon under future climates. Webinars, workshops, e-media and field visits afforded direct engagement of >58% of Australian grains stakeholders, including >6,700 farm businesses, with the knowledge, skills and/or technology required to make informed decisions to optimise farm economic returns. Conservative estimates suggest that this investment impacted productivity over 186,000 hectares, improving collective farm profit by $39.7M. Future impact – through project legacy and diffusion of innovation – will ensue.