Irrigation-innovation combination a winner

• Published date: 27 October 2021
• Publication title: Central Rural Life

Angus Aitken admits he often needs to resist the temptation to experiment.

With a background in financial analysis, and a strong interest in technology, he finds himself gravitating towards innovation.

‘‘I’m guilty of that but I’m quite conscious of that as we have a business to run and we’ve got to make sure we’re profitable. We’ve gone through a development phase and this financial year is about showing what it can do. The experimentation is at a smaller level and trying to add value to the property and secure yield.’’

Since buying Leebrook farm in 2017, he and his wife, Elise, have immersed themselves in converting the sheep and beef operation unit into an irrigated grazing and crop growing operation.

That has had them buy two neighbouring blocks to pad out the farm to 550ha in Waiau and add two centre pivots to the existing one.

They have put in moisture meters, plan to introduce variable rate irrigation and have started a subsurface irrigation trial on nearly 20ha.

Drip tape in the ground is spaced to get water to the roots rather than the surface. The system is found in viticulture and overseas, but it is relatively new to mainland farming here.

‘‘Why are we doing this? Because it’s innovation,’’ he says. ‘‘We’re partnering with Carrfields to try something different and try to get this established in a market where we typically mainly know spray irrigation. It’s an interest of mine and it makes a lot of sense.’’

Greater crop yields and higher returns are needed as the installation cost isn’t cheap.

Mr Aitken says there are also water and power savings, and potentially fewer insects and fungicides to control.

Eventually applying liquid fertiliser to targeted areas through fertigation in the subsurface system, and centre pivots, will only make this more efficient, he says.

This thirst for getting the most out of irrigation, and their environmental stewardship, has made them one of three finalists for the Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards.

The 36-year-old was surprised to be named, because the operation remains in its infancy.

‘‘The time we’ve been here I feel we are scratching the surface, but have good intentions. When I look forward 10 years I have a vision of what this property will look like and what we will be doing. It’s a long pathway to get there, but we’ve started and it’s starting to come together.’’

When nominated, he spent a lot of time on the entry, spelling out their aspirations for the property.

‘‘I did a lot on how...