Smart Irrigation requirements include ensuring the system is efficient, irrigation is scheduled, operators are trained and auditable records are kept. Andrew CurtisIt predicted increasing overall summer and winter temperatures, more extreme rain and wind events and less water storage as snow on mountain snowpacks. In the report, researcher Chris Cameron said earlier research had indicated that climate change was expected to quicken "the set in speed and intensity of droughts". He said snowmelt contributed more than 10% to the total annual flow in the region’s rivers while snow accumulation in winter provided up to 20% of the water storage needed for irrigation. "Many pastoral farmers still use flood-based irrigation systems and shifting to a modern spray irrigation system enables the same amount of water to be used across a much wider area," he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 02, 2017 15:56 UTC