Plan for Covid like you would the Irrigation Season

Bucket testing is a great way to ensure your irrigation systems are working correctly.

WORDS BY VANESSA WINNING, IRRIGATION NZ CEO, IMAGES PROVIDED BY IRRIGATION NZ.

It is crazy that January is already over, and we are setting up for the next season and into a new year managing through a global pandemic. There is a mixed bag of irrigation restrictions across the Canterbury area for water takes. It’s not as bad as we have had in the past, or what we had expected before the rains in the latter part of last year, but it is summer, and we know those nor-westers can dry conditions out quickly. As the days go by and so does the irrigation season you must continue to check on the performance of your irrigators, ensuring they are working correctly, not wasting water, and not unintentionally watering the roads. Like all farming and growing practices, the more you plan the more you stay ahead of issues and can manage the uncertainty and challenges that pop up unexpectedly. This year is starting no different from the last. Covid is back in the community and from all the discussion this time it looks likely to impact even in the more isolated areas as the contagiousness of this strain is higher. While it may be a milder version, it could have significant impacts on your team and your business. So, it is important to have a plan. MPI and the Food and Fibre Leaders’ group have been working on practical solutions to managing an outbreak on your farm. There are some excellent guides on the Beef and Lamb website www.beeflambnz.com/news-views/ coronavirus-covid-19. It is key that you and your team know how you will approach a situation, and that if you have any symptoms that you get tested. Our supply chain and our exports rely on our farmers and growers being safe, well, and able to carry on. Even talk with your neighbours about a joint plan in case you end up having to isolate, or one of the team gets sick. Even things like who will get groceries etc. The more you plan the more you can adapt. Just like with irrigation—have all the data,

IMAGE: Bucket testing is a great way to ensure your irrigation systems are working correctly

have contingencies and if you get rain and the moisture on your farm means you don’t require the pivots to be turned on, save for another day when they do. Our farmers are some of the most innovative and resilient out there and have kept the country ticking over despite the uncertainty and pressure of the virus and the policy upheaval. We appreciate that we are one of the ‘lucky’ countries, but we also know good management is better than good luck. Have a productive end to the summer, and as always when you need help with your irrigation or advice let us know.

VANESSA WINNING CEO, IRRIGATION NZ