Fact: There are about 13,000 dairy farms in Australia, each
with an average 161 cows. Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF)
President Mr Burgess has quoted that, ‘60% of milk
production in 2003/04 came from farms with some irrigation.
Furthermore, 43% of milk was produced from farms that irrigated
more than 20% of their land in 2003/04.’
Recently, Lucas & Mandy Kennedy from Conondale (behind
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast), commissioned Superior
Irrigation from Gatton to design and construct 62 acres of
solid set on their farm. The project was particularly challenging
with the undulation over the site from a hydraulic point
of view & the designing of an automated system with the
capability of expansion in the future.
Allan Mc Lucas (Certified Irrigation Designer) and co-owner
of a newly created business in Gatton designed a block sprinkler
system using the Rain Bird 14070H impact sprinkler. ‘They
have the performance of a 1” impact sprinkler, but
are in fact a 3/4” impact with a 1/2” impact
price’ Alan was quoted as saying. The spacing of the
Rain Bird 14070H impact sprinklers is 24m x 18m producing
CU’s and DU’s well over 80%.
The control system used was the Rain Bird MDC controller
which uses field decoders and a single two wire path to connect
the 23 valves in the system. The controller has the capability
of controlling a total of up to 200 valves in the future.
This type of system is becoming very popular in Ag projects
to accommodate system expansion using the existing cable.
Also in the past, these types of systems have been susceptible
to lighting strikes; however with the advent of the Rain
Bird lighting protection equipment, this risk is drastically
reduced.
Allan and co-owner Terry McLucas opened their business at
Gatton in August 2003 specialising in the large agricultural
market around the Lockyer Valley. Allan said: ‘Superior
Irrigation Services strive to provide our customers with
value for money products and services through a professional
design process with consideration given to ongoing costs
as well as initial purchase price.’
RBA is pleased to be supporting them in their new venture.
Recently, Lucas & Mandy Kennedy from Conondale (behind
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast), commissioned Superior
Irrigation from Gatton to design and construct 62 acres of
solid set on their farm. The project was particularly challenging
with the undulation over the site from a hydraulic point
of view & the designing of an automated system with the
capability of expansion in the future.
The control system used was the Rain Bird MDC controller
which uses field decoders and a single two wire path to connect
the 23 valves in the system. The controller has the capability
of controlling a total of up to 200 valves in the future.
This type of system is becoming very popular in Ag projects
to accommodate system expansion using the existing cable.
Also in the past, these types of systems have been susceptible
to lighting strikes; however with the advent of the Rain
Bird lighting protection equipment, this risk is drastically
reduced.