The Importance of Irrigation in Sugar Cane Farming

In North Queensland, sugar cane is a water-intensive crop that requires regular moisture to thrive.

The tropical wet season, typically between November and April, provides ample rainfall, but it is the dry season, which extends from May to October, where irrigation becomes crucial. Irrigation systems ensure that crops receive consistent water during these dry periods, preventing stress that can negatively impact cane growth and sugar yields.

Farmers in regions like the Burdekin and the Lower Herbert rely heavily on irrigation to supplement rainfall. The Burdekin region, known as the “sugar bowl” of Australia, benefits from the Burdekin Dam, which stores large volumes of water to support the surrounding irrigation systems.

These systems are vital in ensuring a stable and productive sugar cane industry, helping to maintain North Queensland’s reputation as a leading sugar producer.

Stephen Attard

Managing Director

Emailsteve@agritechsolutions.com.au

Phone0418 155 844

Steve is the managing director of AgriTech Solutions (ATS). For more than 28 years he has accumulated a range of skills and expertise in the agricultural sector, including:

  • Irrigation management – scheduling, soil moisture monitoring, energy and water use efficiency, performance assessment and optimisation.
  • Sugarcane cropping systems – nutrient planning, crop rotations, fallow management, whole of system analysis.
  • Productivity – assessment of production and trend analysis.
  • Natural resource management – management practices that maximise productivity and profitability whilst minimising off-site impacts.
  • Government and industry liaison.
  • Education and training.

Before establishing AgriTech Solutions in 2013, Steve worked for CSIRO, while based in Ayr, for 17 years. Steve’s research area centred on sugarcane cropping systems with a focus on water and nutrient management and natural resource management. Steve’s areas of expertise include improving the efficiency of irrigation systems including furrow, overhead low pressure and drip irrigation, maximising productivity through improved irrigation scheduling, reducing risk of nutrient and pesticide losses through improved irrigation management and improving productivity where irrigation supplies are limited.

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Cherrie Stockham

Operations and Farmer Engagement Manager

Emailcherrie@agritechsolutions.com.au

Phone0460 628 087

Cherrie is the Operations and Farmer Engagement Manager. She assists farmers understand the benefits of improved irrigation practice and how technology, like automation, can be integrated into the existing infrastructure of most farms. Cherrie provides IrrigWeb and Farm-in-ONE (FiO) training and support to farmers. She also leads the ongoing development of IrrigWeb and FiO to ensure both products are meeting the requirements of our clients and manages the quality assurance of the products we endorse.

Cherrie, who moved to the Burdekin in 2017 to work in the agriculture industry, has developed has a strong understanding of the complexities of farming. She joined ATS in November 2021.

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Michael Hewitt

Technology Technician

Emailmichael@agritechsolutions.com.au

Phone0418 698 924

Michael is responsible for the building, programming, installation, maintenance, and repairs for the automatic irrigation systems and sensors installed by ATS. He has an intimate understanding of the WiSA irrigation technology. Since joining ATS in 2015, Mike has been involved in each of the irrigation automation installations. Mike is also a Certified Meter Installer through Irrigation Australia.

Mike has more than 25 years of experience in the agricultural industry, including working as an agronomist with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and a senior technical officer for CSIRO conducting field-based research in sugarcane farming systems, with a particular focus on rotational crops (like soy and mung bean) and sugarcane plant breeding.

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Vishal Rana

Irrigation Engineer and Technician

Emailvishal@agritechsolutions.com.au

Phone0477 342 716

Vishal holds a Master of Engineering Technology major Agricultural Engineering and also enrolled as a part-time PhD candidate in University of Southern Queensland. He has a strong understanding of irrigation hydraulics, which is fundamental for correct irrigation system design and planning. This ensure the correct flow and pressure is delivered at the field to ensure the water requirement of the crop is met at the minimum cost.  Vishal is also a Certified Meter Installer through Irrigation Australia.

Vishal joined the AgriTech Solutions in March 2020, and his main duties include:

  • irrigation system designs (pump performance, hydraulics, energy and crop water requirement),
  • development of irrigation system automation plans,
  • performing electricity tariff assessment and preparing tariff review reports to display best available tariff option with highest savings as well as the characteristics of the latest available tariff and,
  • preparing irrigation schedules based on SISCO model (surface irrigation simulation, calibration and optimisation).

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Joseph Magatelli

Technology Technician

Emailjoseph@agritechsolutions.com.au

Phone0428 540 138

Joseph joined ATS at the beginning of 2023 and is working as Irrigation Technology Technician. He is responsible for the building, programming, installation, maintenance, and repairs for the automatic irrigation systems and sensors installed by ATS.

Joseph brings over 30 years of experience in agriculture, cane farming and irrigation and utilises this extensive knowledge to develop customised WISA Irrigation Systems to suit each individual farm layout, and to create the most water & energy efficient system. Joseph is also a Certified Meter Installer through Irrigation Australia.

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Andrew Dwyer

AgTech Officer

Emailandrew@agritechsolutions.com.au

Phone0447 156 890

Andrew, who joined ATS in November 2023, is part of the QFF Agricultural Digital Support Work Placement Program, introducing younger people into agricultural technology (AgTech).

He has an Associate Degree of Engineering (Instrumentation Control and Automation Engineering) and is utilising his knowledge, working under the guidance of Joseph and Mike, to build, test, and instal the technology used to automate irrigation systems.  Andrew is also a Certified Meter Installer through Irrigation Australia.

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Chris Vidler

Irrigation Systems Technician

Emailchris@agritechsolutions.com.au

Phone0412 654 212

Chris, who joined ATS in July 2024, works closely with Cherrie, Joseph and Mike to ensure the irrigation technology is set up and functioning correctly. He provides support to farmers and is developing an intimate understanding of the WiSA irrigation technology and the Farm-in-ONE platform.

Chris has completed his Bachelor of Agribusiness and Bachelor of Agscience (Agronomy), and is also a Certified Meter Installer through Irrigation Australia.

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Sandra Du Plessis

Office Administrator

Emailsandra@agritechsolutions.com.au

Phone0428 025 184

Sandra manages the administration side of the business, and is often your first point of contact with ATS. She joined ATS in March 2024.

 

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Kyle Hanson

Casual

Kyle helps Mike and Joseph with building and installation of the irrigation automation systems.

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Jake Moore

Agricultural Extension Officer

Emailjake@agritechsolutions.com.au

Phone0423 932 470

Jake joined ATS as part of the QFF (Queensland Farmer’s Federation) Agriculture Graduate Program in March 2024. He has completed a Bachelor in Marine Science and works alongside Cherrie and Vishal. Jake is building his understanding of irrigation scheduling, IrrigWeb and the irrigation automation technologies.

Jake is also a Certified Meter Installer through Irrigation Australia.

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