Abbott/Liberal Govt Watch

[Bum Crack]

25% approximately of all irrigation water usage in Australia is used growing cotton. I'd like to see what percentage cotton farmers make up of all irrigators. It's quite scary when u look at it that way.

What was the figure last year given the allocation reduction? Gwydir, Namoi and Macquarie valleys all on zero % allocation.

Australian cotton is the most efficient in the world - we've doubled our water use efficiency in the last two decades. Cotton returns nearly the most money to the economy on a per megalitre basis.

Cotton uses about 8Ml/ha and is about 3Ml/ha in places like Namoi. Corn uses 10Ml/ha. Wine Grapes use 6Ml/ha. Lucerne 6Ml/ha. Almonds and citrus use 8Ml/ha. Why not the outrage at these other crops?

That was the 2017 figure.

[Q.]

25% approximately of all irrigation water usage in Australia is used growing cotton. I'd like to see what percentage cotton farmers make up of all irrigators. It's quite scary when u look at it that way.

What was the figure last year given the allocation reduction? Gwydir, Namoi and Macquarie valleys all on zero % allocation.

Australian cotton is the most efficient in the world - we've doubled our water use efficiency in the last two decades. Cotton returns nearly the most money to the economy on a per megalitre basis.

Cotton uses about 8Ml/ha and is about 3Ml/ha in places like Namoi. Corn uses 10Ml/ha. Wine Grapes use 6Ml/ha. Lucerne 6Ml/ha. Almonds and citrus use 8Ml/ha. Why not the outrage at these other crops?

That was the 2017 figure.

Can you link me to the source, I'd like to read it.

[Q.]

There are around 1100 cotton growers in total approximately. You need to study up a bit more.

I know, I didn't state otherwise.

[helicopterking]

It seems "cotton" isn't necessarily the issue but a combination of factors that stem from the drought and various bodies continuing to take their full allocation when it's clear (is it?) that the regulators should be preventing some from taking their full allocation in these times and perhaps should have been restricting use some time ago.[/quote]
Why would you bow? His knowledge actually is not that great on the matter. Having said that, I have no doubt he's a brainy bastard but that doesn't make him an expert on the matter.[/quote]

I know what he does for a living, it's very much aligned with this discussion.

If he was asked to discuss something about what I do in detail I'd suggest he'd be the same.[/quote]
I know what he does too but he ain't no expert on what is happening up there.[/quote]

Knows more than me, that's my point![/quote]

Have you watched the 4 Corners investigation into all of it? It goes for 46mins, so maybe something
To watch when You get home

https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/pumped/ ... wsource=cl

[Q.]

Whilst I'm enraged like many people at the sights we've seen from the Darling in recent days I'll bow to Q's demonstrated superior knowledge on the subject and take his word for it.

It seems "cotton" isn't necessarily the issue but a combination of factors that stem from the drought and various bodies continuing to take their full allocation when it's clear (is it?) that the regulators should be preventing some from taking their full allocation in these times and perhaps should have been restricting use some time ago.

Why would you bow? His knowledge actually is not that great on the matter. Having said that, I have no doubt he's a brainy bastard but that doesn't make him an expert on the matter.

I don't claim to be an expert, but I would know more than most.

[shoe boy]

25% approximately of all irrigation water usage in Australia is used growing cotton. I'd like to see what percentage cotton farmers make up of all irrigators. It's quite scary when u look at it that way.

What was the figure last year given the allocation reduction? Gwydir, Namoi and Macquarie valleys all on zero % allocation.

Australian cotton is the most efficient in the world - we've doubled our water use efficiency in the last two decades. Cotton returns nearly the most money to the economy on a per megalitre basis.

Cotton uses about 8Ml/ha and is about 3Ml/ha in places like Namoi. Corn uses 10Ml/ha. Wine Grapes use 6Ml/ha. Lucerne 6Ml/ha. Almonds and citrus use 8Ml/ha. Why not the outrage at these other crops?

That was the 2017 figure.

BULLSHIT !
Are you a cotton grower ?

[Bum Crack]

I'd just like this issue to get fixed.

[Q.]

25% approximately of all irrigation water usage in Australia is used growing cotton. I'd like to see what percentage cotton farmers make up of all irrigators. It's quite scary when u look at it that way.

What was the figure last year given the allocation reduction? Gwydir, Namoi and Macquarie valleys all on zero % allocation.

Australian cotton is the most efficient in the world - we've doubled our water use efficiency in the last two decades. Cotton returns nearly the most money to the economy on a per megalitre basis.

Cotton uses about 8Ml/ha and is about 3Ml/ha in places like Namoi. Corn uses 10Ml/ha. Wine Grapes use 6Ml/ha. Lucerne 6Ml/ha. Almonds and citrus use 8Ml/ha. Why not the outrage at these other crops?

That was the 2017 figure.

BULLSHIT !
Are you a cotton grower ?

No, but I'm an Ag Scientist with an environmental science degree

https://www.indexmundi.com/agriculture/?commodity=cotton&graph=yield

[Q.]

I'd just like this issue to get fixed.

**** yeah, so do I. I'm just tired of unwarranted farmer-bashing.

[Bum Crack]

I'd just like this issue to get fixed.

**** yeah, so do I. I'm just tired of unwarranted farmer-bashing.

It's not all unwarranted.

[shoe boy]

I'd just like this issue to get fixed.

**** yeah, so do I. I'm just tired of unwarranted farmer-bashing.

simple dont grow cotton or rice in this country ! especially the Murray Darling Basin Mr scientist .

We dont rely as a nation on cotton growing but it sure is a burden to our water ways ! if not why dam our water ways .

[Q.]

I'd just like this issue to get fixed.

**** yeah, so do I. I'm just tired of unwarranted farmer-bashing.

simple dont grow cotton or rice in this country ! especially the Murray Darling Basin Mr scientist .

We dont rely as a nation on cotton growing but it sure is a burden to our water ways ! if not why dam our water ways .

Well, then we should stop growing wine grapes if that's your philosophy.

[shoe boy]

Just one of many views ,

Congratulations to Professor Scwerdtfeger from Flinders Uni . At least someone has said what has appeared to be obvious for years - perhaps we shouldn't be planting crops like rice and cotton in Australia .

Why? In the driest content on earth , we are planting two crops that require inordinate amounts of water? Money , of course! The cotton and rice growers reap great rewards and sell their products on a world market but it really doesn't matter that there really isn't enough water for the rest of those dependent on the river flows.

How much water would have been available to other growers in the Murray- Darling basin of other more sustainable crops that are used to supply 40 per cent of the Australian food market if these crops had not been grown ?

[shoe boy]

I'd just like this issue to get fixed.

**** yeah, so do I. I'm just tired of unwarranted farmer-bashing.

simple dont grow cotton or rice in this country ! especially the Murray Darling Basin Mr scientist .

We dont rely as a nation on cotton growing but it sure is a burden to our water ways ! if not why dam our water ways .

Well, then we should stop growing wine grapes if that's your philosophy.

NO! not my philosophy.
grapes are not cotton or rice

[tigerpie]

At the end of the day gentlemen one of our major rivers is now broken.

So an engineer would find out how/why it broke then fix it and putting systems in place to make sure it doesn't break again.
It may run a little rough at times but it will not break.

Scientists have done their work now its time for a fitter to step in and fix the damn thing.

Any body or company caught stealing water goes directly to jail, just like if I robbed a bank.

[Bum Crack]

Good to see some healthy discussion on the matter. It means people care. Let's hope it can be fixed.

[Trader]

At the end of the day gentlemen one of our major rivers is now broken.

So an engineer would find out how/why it broke then fix it and putting systems in place to make sure it doesn't break again.
It may run a little rough at times but it will not break.

Scientists have done their work now its time for a fitter to step in and fix the damn thing.

Any body or company caught stealing water goes directly to jail, just like if I robbed a bank.

The problem is you'll get disagreements on what 'fixed' is.

The irrigators want water available for crops year round.
The tourist parks want water available for river activities year round.
The environmentalist thinks the river should be allowed to flow like it used to (pre human intervention).

Knock down all the dams, remove all the locks, let the system flood in winter and run dry in summer.

I wouldn't call that fixed, but others would.

[Jimmy_041]

Shouldn't we wait for the Murray Darling Royal Commission to tell us what really has happened?
The final report is to be handed to the Governor on 1st February

[Booney]

Good to see some healthy discussion on the matter. It means people care. Let's hope it can be fixed.

I too would like that, unfortunately I think we all know people with a vested interest are involved in the handling of the matter and they simply can't be trusted.

[Booney]

Shouldn't we wait for the Murray Darling Royal Commission to tell us what really has happened?
The final report is to be handed to the Governor on 1st February

So you've stopped praying for rain?