Stories: On the Farm
Steve Carolan and Andrew Greste - Wee Waa, NSW, Australia

Saving Water Through Irrigation Automation

“We have converted 100 hectares of cotton from traditional siphons to a fully automated system, consisting of pipes through the bank and a series of gates in the channels which can be remotely opened and closed – by mobile phone. This is turn-key irrigation. It’s not cheap to set up, so to justify the conversion we need to see labour savings, increased flow rate, better uniformity, improved water use efficiency and improved yields. We’re only one season in, but we’re already seeing signs that these aspects will be there to justify the system.”

– Steve Carolan, cotton grower, “Waverley”

For more information, visit www.cottoninfo.com.au/water-management

Get to know other growers and researchers

Dr. Tyson Raper
Memphis, TN, USA

Every cotton-growing state in the U.S. has a cotton extension specialist. This research and outreach professional is dedicated to advancing the science of cotton agriculture and translating it into guidance that growers use to increase their productivity and sustainability.

Get the full story

Dr. Audrey Gamble
Auburn, AL, USA

Dr. Audrey Gamble, associate professor of soil science at Auburn University, works with cotton growers to fine-tune their farm management to build their soil’s health and prepare it for productivity now and many years in the future.

Get the full story

Johannes Roellgen
Brookstead, Queensland, Australia

Johannes and Scarlett Roellgen are regarded among the best cotton growers in Australia because of their pest management, water use efficiency and on-farm practices.

Get the full story

Dr. Katie Lewis
Lubbock, TX, USA

Dr. Katie Lewis has dedicated her career to helping cotton growers — including her family — increase their resilience and sustain their farming operations far into the future.

Get the full story

Ben Witham
Coleambally, New South Wales, Australia

Biodiversity is important for cotton farmers. In Southern NSW, one farmer has connected his paddocks to a reserve and state forest with biodiversity corridors, providing a natural habitat for wildlife to live and travel.

Get the full story

Jeff Palmer
Wee Waa, New South Wales, Australia

The noise is unbelievable, and its near impossible to find a tree that a whistling duck hasn’t claimed – but it’s a long-standing biodiversity project this cotton farming family are proud of.

Get the full story

Andrew Burleson
Richfield, NC, USA

Soil conservation benefits both crops and the environment in a myriad of ways. Hear from Andrew Burleson about his experiences adopting sustainable agricultural practices.

Get the full story

Scott McCalman
Mullaley, New South Wales, Australia

A cover cropping program has resulted in improved soil health, yield and reduced input costs for NSW cotton farmer Scott McCalman.

Get the full story

Nick Gillingham
Moree, NSW, Australia

Leading the operation is farm manager Nick Gillingham, who oversees “Keytah” at Sundown Pastoral.

Get the full story

Scott Hogan
Coleambally, New South Wales, Australia

Why are these farmers standing in a huge puddle of water? They’ve irrigated a natural wetland to help save the endangered Southern Bell Frog.

Get the full story

Ashley Geldard
Miles, Queensland

On the Western Downs in Queensland, Ashley Geldard has converted his previously rainfed farming operation to irrigated thanks to a constant supply of treated wastewater from a nearby coal seam gas plant.

Get the full story

Tony Quigley
Macquarie Valley, NSW, Australia

The Quigley Family in the Macquarie Valley NSW have been awarded Australian Cotton Grower of the Year for their production that covers all aspects of farming for a sustainable future.

Get the full story