Smarter Irrigation for Profit was funded via Round 1 of the Rural Research and Development for Profit Program.

The project aimed to improve the profit of cotton, dairy, rice and sugar irrigators with the support of 16 research and development partners and 19 farmer irrigation technology learning sites. Grower led irrigation research and extension aimed to collect commercially relevant comparative data on different irrigation systems and technologies. The intention was to provide growers improved understanding of the implications for capital investment, management and the resource requirements (water, energy and labour) associated with different irrigation systems and the adoption of automation technology and different approaches to farming systems.

The project consisted of three components.

1. Practical, reliable irrigation scheduling technologies

2. Precise, low cost automated control systems for a range of irrigation systems

3. A network of 19 farmer managed learning sites located around Australia.

The project found participating farmers from the dairy, cotton, sugar and rice industries could achieve a 10-20 percent improvement in water productivity through adoption of new and existing precision irrigation technologies. The project also identified significant energy savings which also enhanced profitability.