Three outstanding irrigation farmers have been selected from a competitive field of entrants in the 2022 competition
The Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards recognise and celebrate farmers who are at the forefront when it comes to responsible irrigation, innovative water management and environmental stewardship.
This year’s entries came from across Australia, spanning a range of farm and irrigation types.
All entries were assessed by a panel of irrigation and industry professionals who reviewed the submissions against four primary criteria.
The 2022 finalists are:
- Jaco Pauer of the Pye Group, Parilla, South Australia whose horticulture property farms potatoes, carrots and onions but also manages livestock, export hay and dryland cropping.
- Simon Burgess of Vaucluse Agricultural Company, Conara, Tasmania who operates a mixed cropping and livestock property farming cereals, faba beans, poppies, potatoes, seed crops and fodder for livestock.
- Darrell Fiddler of DeBortoli Wines, Bilbul, New South Wales farming seasonal rice and cotton in summer and wheat/barley in winter.
James Craft of Zimmatic ANZ said judges were impressed with the diversity and quality of nominations in this year’s program. “Congratulations to the three fantastic finalists, their selection is a testament to the work they’re doing on their farms, for their community and within the industry.”
“We were pleased and excited to see nominations come in from all around Australia and extending across a diverse range of farm types and irrigation systems. The excellence being practiced by these farmers focused on the continuous improvement of their irrigation and water management systems is inspiring.”
This year’s finalists work properties producing everything from livestock to vegetable crops, grain, seeds and fodder
“The entrants this year have an obvious awareness as to how precious water is as a resource and just how important it is that as an industry we continue to use it as efficiently as possible. This was clear in the level of stewardship shown by the entrants.
“Many are involved in community and industry programs from research trials, community projects and educating school children about the importance of irrigation to enhancing biodiversity and wildlife habitats,” James Craft added.
As the next phase of the Awards, judges will now travel to each property for the on-farm judging portion, in preparation for the category and supreme winner’s announcement later this year.
“Visiting the finalists’ properties and talking to them directly about their systems is one of the most valuable parts of the awards program. It’s where our judging panel get to see the innovative ideas of our finalists in action,” James Craft concluded.
