Landowners; perception of the benefits and barriers to adopting centre pivot and lateral move irrigators on dairy farms

Abstract

Maintaining profitability under conditions of limited water availability is a key issue facing dairy farmers in the Shepparton Irrigation Region. These farmers predominantly use border-check irrigation. Pressurised irrigation methods are seen as one option for increasing productivity from the limited water resources. This study reports on landowners' perceptions towards the adoption of centre pivot and lateral move irrigators, based on survey and factor analysis. The survey was of 20 landowners using face-to-face interviews. Factor analysis was used to identify broad categories of benefits and barriers that best summarised farmers' responses to survey questions. Improved farm management, productivity benefits, lifestyle benefits and improved marketability of farms were identified as the key benefits of adopting centre pivot and lateral move irrigators perceived by farmers. Capital cost, operation and maintenance costs, layout of the farm and unreliability of systems were seen as the key barriers. An understanding of these perceived benefits and barriers is the first step towards the development of extension information relating to the adoption of centre pivot and lateral move irrigation systems.