Table A1.3 Water use by irrigators (Data source: 2016 RWS) 81 Table A1.4 Socio-demographic characteristics of irrigators 83 Table A2.1 Participation in modernisation of on-farm irrigation infrastructure since 2008, and sources of funding 85 Table A2.2 Timing and area of on-farm modernisation, and future intentions to modernise 87 Table A2.3 Future intentions to modernise on-farm irrigation infrastructure 89 Table A2.4 Types of irrigators who modernised on-farm infrastructure: Socio-demographic characteristics 91 Table A2.5 Types of irrigators who modernised on-farm infrastructure: Off-farm Table A2.6 Types of irrigators who modernised on-farm infrastructure: Water use, farm area, and farm turnover 94 Table A2.7 Types of irrigators who modernised on-farm infrastructure: Farm type 96 Table A2.8a Irrigator’s views on effects of modernising on-farm infrastructure – all farmers 97 Table A2.8b Irrigator’s views on effects of modernising on-farm infrastructure – comparison of dairy farmers and non-dairy farmers 98 Table A2.9a Changes in farm management in last 12 months – comparison of farmers who have and have not modernised on-farm infrastructure 99 Table A2.9b Changes in farm management in last 12 months – comparison of farmers who have and have not modernised on-farm infrastructure, by dairy farmers and other farmers 101 A2.10a Barriers to farm management experienced in last 3 years – comparison of farmers who have and have not modernised on-farm infrastructure – all irrigators 103 Table A2.10b Barriers to farm management experienced in last 3 years – comparison of farmers who have and have not modernised on-farm infrastructure, and of dairy farmers and other farmers 105 Table A2.11a Future farming intentions – comparison of farmers who have and have not modernised on-farm infrastructure 106 A2.11b Future farming intentions – comparison of farmers who have and have not modernised on-farm infrastructure, and of dairy farmers and other farmers 107 A2.12a Farming outlook – comparison of farmers who have and have not modernised on-farm infrastructure 108
Southern irrigators - SA $200,000 – $299,999 $100,000 – $199,999 891ha 94ha 44% 16% 21% 15% 3% 61 irrigator, upgraded on-farm infrastructure since 2008 $300,000 – $399,999 $300,000 – $399,999 1349ha 21% 26% 36% 15% 2% 515 SRWUIP on-farm infrastructure recipients $400,000 – $499,999 $400,000 – $499,999 1325ha 14% 27% 44% 12% 2% 90 Irrigators living in off-farm SRWUIP region $200,000 – $299,999 $200,000 – $299,999 1441ha 29% 23% 31% 14% 3% 778 Basin irrigators who sold water entitlements to government since 2008 $400,000 – $499,999 $400,000 – $499,999 1172ha 306ha 16% 15% 48% 18% 3% 73 Irrigation district - Goulburn Murray $300,000 – $399,999 $200,000 – $299,999 382ha 198ha 16% 36% 41% 6% 0% 190 Irrigation district - Lower Murray/Western Murray $100,000 – $199,999 1854ha 16ha 74% 22% 0% 0% 4% 27 Irrigation district - Murray Irrigation Ltd $400,000 – $499,999 $400,000 – $499,999 1449ha 800ha 4% 9% 47% 38% 2% 47 Irrigation district - Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area $200,000 – $299,999 $100,000 – $199,999 622ha 101ha 35% 23% 25% 18% 0% 40 1Irrigators were asked to select which range their GVAP fell into. The range reported is that into which the 'average' fell. 2Three outliers were removed from the analysis of farm area, for two reasons: to preserve confidentiality, and to remove some data that could not be verified as being entered in hectares rather than acres.
Table A1.3 Water use by irrigators (Data source: 2016 RWS) Basin irrigators Total volume of water use (ML) Mean Total volume of water use (ML) Median % irrigators reporting different volumes of use (ML) 0-50 % irrigators reporting different volumes of use (ML) 51-200 % irrigators reporting different volumes of water use (ML) 201-1,000 % irrigators reporting different volumes of water use (ML) >1000 Volume of water from irrigation channels (ML) Mean Volume of water from irrigation channels (ML) Median Volume of water from rivers/lakes (ML) Mean Volume of water from rivers/lakes (ML) Median Volume of water from ground water (ML) Mean Volume of water from ground water (ML) Median n Murray Darling irrigators 705 200 25% 25% 38% 12% 423 250 412 130 859 86 490 Irrigators outside Basin 4443 80 44% 25% 23% 8% 886 145 881 75 50 323 Northern Basin irrigators 1842 140 37% 22% 23% 18% 675 675 652 70 1521 140 65 Northern Basin irrigators – QLD 3205 165 38% 15% 23% 23% 675 675 505 99 3802 199 26 Northern irrigators - NSW 932 87 36% 26% 23% 15% 0 0 743 70 338 70 39 Southern irrigators 531 220 23% 26% 40% 11% 421 250 357 130 590 80 425 Southern Basin irrigators – NSW 712 265 22% 24% 36% 19% 594 325 574 180 583 100 118 Southern Basin irrigators – VIC 384 220 22% 27% 44% 7% 365 250 182 86 271 80 257 Southern Basin irrigators - SA 855 125 32% 24% 32% 12% 294 1298 421 300 1893 92 50 Basin irrigator, upgraded on-farm infrastructure since 2008 1049 252 23% 21% 42% 13% 519 300 418 154 1800 135 448
Table A2.2 Timing and area of on-farm modernisation, and future intentions to modernise irrigators % of irrigated area upgraded 0-19% % of irrigated area upgraded 20-39% % of irrigated area upgraded 40-59% % of irrigated area upgraded 60-89% % of irrigated area upgraded 90-100% % of irrigated area upgraded n Year in most recent upgrade of on-farm irrigation infrastructure occurred Pre-2008 Year in most recent upgrade of on-farm irrigation infrastructure occurred 2008 or 2009 Year in which most recent upgrade of on-farm irrigation infrastructure occurred 2010 or 2011 Year in which most recent upgrade of on-farm irrigation infrastructure occurred 2012 or 2013 Year in which most recent upgrade of on-farm irrigation infrastructure occurred 2014 or 2015 Year in which most recent upgrade of on-farm irrigation infrastructure occurred 2016 Year in most recent upgrade of on-farm irrigation infrastructure occurred n Murray Darling Basin irrigators 23% 28% 15% 13% 21% 247 1% 10% 10% 14% 45% 20% 283 Irrigators outside Basin 24% 27% 18% 11% 21% 190 0% 9% 15% 15% 36% 24% 228 Northern Basin irrigators 20% 37% 13% 10% 20% 30 0% 0% 11% 17% 33% 39% 36 Northern irrigators – QLD 18% 45% 9% 9% 18% 11 0% 0% 17% 17% 8% 58% 12 Northern Basin irrigators - NSW 21% 32% 16% 11% 21% 19 0% 0% 8% 17% 46% 29% 24 Southern Basin irrigators 24% 26% 15% 13% 21% 217 1% 11% 10% 14% 47% 17% 247 Southern Basin irrigators – NSW 18% 28% 17% 12% 25% 65 0% 12% 11% 8% 51% 18% 73 Southern Basin irrigators – VIC 27% 25% 16% 14% 18% 128 1% 13% 10% 19% 45% 12% 144 Southern irrigators - SA 25% 29% 4% 13% 29% 24 0% 0% 7% 7% 47% 40% 30
Table A2.7 Types of irrigators who modernised on-farm infrastructure: Farm type % who had modernised since 2008 % who had modernised since 2008, by farm type Beef /sheep % who had modernised since 2008, by farm type Grain/ oilseed/ cotton % who had modernised since 2008, by farm type Mixed % who had modernised 2008, by farm type Dairy % who had modernised since 2008, by farm type Rice % who had modernised since 2008, by farm type Fruit/nut growers excluding wine grapes % who had modernised since 2008, by farm type Wine grape growers % who had modernised since 2008, by farm type Vegetable growers % who had modernised 2008, by farm type Other % who had modernised since 2008, by farm type n Murray Darling Basin irrigators 39% 56% 65% 66% 85% 61% 41% 78% 46% 470 Irrigators outside Basin 42% 65% 57% 72% 33% 56% 52% 67% 50% 400 Irrigators living in off-farm SRWUIP region 45% 62% 68% 72% 82% 70% 65% 67% 42% 190 Intends to upgrade/modernise in next 1-2 years 62% 76% 84% 76% 100% 81% 82% 82% 100% 90 Intends to upgrade/modernise in next 3-5 51% 63% 76% 93% 82% 83% 40% 77% 83% 109 Doesn’t plan to upgrade/modernise in next 5 years 35% 53% 42% 60% 60% 47% 45% 57% 35% 200
Table A2.9b Changes in farm management in last 12 months – comparison of farmers who have and have not modernised on-farm infrastructure, by dairy farmers and other farmers In the last 12 months have you done any of the following on your farm business? Basin irrigators - non-dairy farmers All - yes (n=460) Basin irrigators - non-dairy farmers Had not upgraded on-farm infrastructure since 2008 - yes (n=189) Basin irrigators - non-dairy farmers Upgraded on-farm infrastructure since 2008 - yes (n=213) Basin irrigators - non-dairy farmers SRWUIP on-farm infrastructure grant recipients - yes (n=55) Basin irrigators - dairy farmers All - yes (n=135) Basin irrigators - dairy farmers Had not upgraded on-farm infrastructure since 2008 - yes (n=39) Basin irrigators - dairy farmers Upgraded on-farm infrastructure since 2008 - yes (n=72) Basin irrigators - dairy farmers SRWUIP on-farm infrastructure grant recipients - yes (n=35) Decreased the area of land irrigated 12% 21% 26% 27% 41% 33% 47% 40% Increased the area of land irrigated 6% 2% 25% 23% 9% 6% 12% 16% Improved on-farm irrigation efficiency (amount produced per unit of water used) 20% 17% 71% 65% 49% 20% 69% 75% Purchased new land 10% 5% 16% 15% 10% 11% 8% 9% Expanded the area I farm through leasing or sharefarming 6% 4% 9% 9% 5% 0% 8% 12% Sold some of my land 6% 5% 9% 12% 5% 5% 4% 3% Leased out some of my land 7% 5% 5% 4% 3% 0% 3% 6% Reduced the amount I produce on my land (de-intensified production) 16% 17% 15% 13% 30% 24% 32% 31% Increased the amount I produce on my land (intensified production) 21% 18% 32% 26% 16% 16% 15% 22% Increased the hours I worked on the farm 27% 25% 36% 35% 47% 39% 54% 63% Reduced the hours I worked on the farm 14% 16% 11% 7% 6% 5% 3% 6%
Increased my off-farm work 11% 13% 8% 5% 7% 10% 5% 3% Reduced use of inputs e.g. fertiliser, fuel, chemicals 24% 31% 27% 28% 47% 55% 43% 42% Substantially increased number of stock on the farm 16% 15% 16% 21% 8% 10% 6% 3% Reduced the number of employees or contractors working on my farm 10% 12% 16% 11% 34% 41% 32% 33%
Table A2.12a Farming outlook – comparison of farmers who have and have not modernised on-farm infrastructure Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about your farming? irrigators Disagree Basin irrigators Neither agree/ disagree Basin irrigators Agree Basin irrigators n irrigator, had not upgraded on-farm since 2008 Disagree Basin irrigator, had not upgraded on-farm since 2008 Neither agree/ disagree Basin irrigator, had not upgraded on-farm since 2008 Agree Basin irrigator, had not upgraded on-farm since 2008 n Basin irrigator, upgraded on-farm since 2008 Disagree Basin irrigator, upgraded on-farm since 2008 Neither agree/ disagree Basin irrigator, upgraded on-farm since 2008 Agree Basin irrigator, upgraded on-farm since 2008 n SRWUIP on-farm grant recipients Disagree SRWUIP on-farm grant recipients Neither agree/ disagree SRWUIP on-farm recipients Agree SRWUIP on-farm grant recipients n I feel optimistic my farming future 30% 19% 51% 609 34% 19% 47% 229 27% 18% 55% 293 33% 22% 45% 93 My farm business is a lot of financial stress at the moment 47% 15% 38% 611 45% 16% 39% 228 47% 14% 39% 295 42% 15% 43% 93 I am satisfied with my business performance 26% 21% 53% 610 26% 20% 54% 227 27% 19% 55% 295 32% 22% 46% 93
Table A2.13 Farming confidence – comparison of farmers who have and have not modernised on-farm infrastructure When I think about my over the next few years, I am confident that I can… Basin irrigators Disagree Basin irrigators Neither agree/ disagree Basin irrigators Agree Basin irrigators n Basin irrigator, had not upgraded on-farm since 2008 Disagree Basin irrigator, had not upgraded on-farm since 2008 Neither agree/ disagree Basin irrigator, had not upgraded on-farm since 2008 Agree Basin irrigator, had not upgraded on-farm since 2008 n Basin irrigator, upgraded on-farm since 2008 Disagree irrigator, upgraded on-farm since 2008 Neither agree/ disagree irrigator, upgraded on-farm since 2008 Agree irrigator, upgraded on-farm since 2008 n SRWUIP on-farm grant recipients Disagree SRWUIP on-farm grant recipients Neither agree/ disagree SRWUIP on-farm grant recipients Agree SRWUIP on-farm grant recipients n … achieve the things I want to on my 21% 22% 57% 583 23% 22% 55% 222 17% 21% 62% 287 25% 17% 58% 93 …meet my business objectives 33% 36% 59% 579 38% 40% 56% 221 27% 32% 63% 285 38% 38% 57% 92 …cope well with most difficult conditions on the e.g. drought, pest outbreaks 18% 26% 55% 579 20% 28% 52% 218 18% 25% 57% 287 20% 24% 56% 93
For the period July 1 2015-June 30 2016 what was your estimated farm loss/profit? Your estimated loss/profit should be based on what remains after taking personal drawings (income for the farm owner/s) from farm returns Profit of $100,000-$249,000 11% 9% 12% 5% For the period July 1 2015-June 30 2016 what was your estimated farm loss/profit? Your estimated loss/profit should be on what remains after taking personal drawings (income for the farm owner/s) from farm returns Profit of $250,000 or more 7% 2% 12% 6% Which of these best describes your AVERAGE farm business performance over the last 3 years? Make a moderate to large loss 13% 12% 10% 12% of these best describes your AVERAGE farm business performance over the last 3 years? Making a loss 11% 10% 12% 17% of these best describes your AVERAGE farm business performance over the last 3 years? Breaking even 18% 18% 15% 14% Which of these best describes your AVERAGE farm business performance over the last 3 years? Making a small profit 33% 34% 33% 31% Which of these best describes your AVERAGE farm business performance over the last 3 years? Making a moderate or large profit 25% 26% 30% 26% How would you describe your average cash-flow on the farm over the last 12 months? Poor cash flow 33% 40% 29% 35% How would you describe your average cash-flow on the farm over the last 12 months? Neither good or bad cash flow 32% 28% 35% 36% How would you describe your average cash-flow on the farm over the last 12 months? Good farm cash flow 35% 32% 37% 30% How easy or difficult is it for you to service your farm business debt at the moment? Difficult to service farm debt 23% 22% 23% 30% How easy or difficult is it for you to service your farm business debt at the moment? Neither difficult or easy to service farm debt 44% 40% 46% 49% How easy or difficult is it for you to service your farm business debt at the moment? Easy to service farm debt 33% 38% 31% 21%
Table A3.3 Irrigator’s views on effects of modernising off-farm infrastructure on farm enterprise as a whole - 2016 If your provider upgraded water infrastructure, how did this affect… Your farm enterprise as a whole Negative impact Your farm enterprise as a whole Neither negative or positive Your farm enterprise as a whole Positive impact Your farm enterprise as a whole n Murray Darling Basin irrigators – all 15% 36% 49% 277 Basin irrigator living in area with off-farm SRWUIP investment 13% 33% 54% 178 Basin irrigator not living in area with off-farm SRWUIP investment 17% 43% 40% 110 Southern Basin irrigators – off-farm SRWUIP investment regions 12% 33% 55% 172 Southern Basin NSW irrigators – off-farm SRWUIP investment regions 7% 45% 48% 29 Southern Basin VIC irrigators – off-farm SRWUIP investment regions 15% 30% 55% 128 Goulburn Murray Irrigation District 18% 29% 52% 130 Lower Murray Water/Western Murray Irrigation 18% 35% 47% 17 Murray Irrigation Ltd 8% 53% 39% 38 Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area 7% 36% 57% 28
A3.4 Irrigator’s views on effects of modernising off-farm infrastructure on overall farm productivity - 2016 If your water provider upgraded water infrastructure, how did this affect… Your overall farm productivity Negative impact Your overall farm productivity Neither negative or positive Your overall farm productivity Positive impact Your overall farm productivity n Murray Darling Basin irrigators – all 17% 46% 37% 278 irrigator living in area with off-farm SRWUIP investment 16% 43% 41% 180 Basin irrigator not living in area with off-farm SRWUIP investment 17% 53% 30% 109 Southern Basin irrigators – off-farm SRWUIP investment regions 16% 42% 43% 174 Southern Basin NSW irrigators – off-farm SRWUIP investment regions 10% 52% 38% 29 Southern Basin VIC irrigators – off-farm SRWUIP investment regions 18% 38% 45% 130 Goulburn Murray Irrigation District 20% 39% 41% 132 Lower Murray Water/Western Murray Irrigation 24% 35% 41% 17 Murray Irrigation Ltd 11% 59% 30% 37 Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area 7% 43% 50% 28
Table A3.9 Proportion of Basin irrigators who reported off-farm modernisation works were negative or positive for their ‘farm overall’ – by characteristics If your provider upgraded water infrastructure, how did this affect… Your farm enterprise as a whole Negative impact Your farm enterprise as a whole Neither negative or positive Your farm enterprise as a whole Positive impact Your farm enterprise as a whole n Female irrigators 20% 37% 43% 35 Male irrigators 12% 32% 57% 139 Aged < 49 years 10% 48% 42% 31 Aged 50-64 years 13% 26% 61% 82 Aged 65 years or older 15% 33% 52% 60 Educational attainment – did not complete high school 18% 32% 50% 50 Educational attainment – completed high school 11% 43% 46% 54 Educational attainment – completed university degree 10% 39% 51% 41 No off-farm work 11% 32% 56% 117 Part-time off-farm work 19% 28% 53% 43 Full-time off-farm work 12% 47% 41% 17
Table A3.14 Future farming intentions – comparison of farmers who do and do not live in areas with off-farm modernisation works How likely are you to do the following in the next 5 years? Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area Unlikely Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area Neither likely/ unlikely or unsure Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area Likely Southern irrigators living in SRWUIP area n Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area Unlikely Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area Neither likely/ unlikely or unsure Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area Likely Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area n Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area – farmers (n=198) % who were likely to do this Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area – dairy farmers (n=92) % who were likely to do this Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area – farmers (n=204) % who were likely to do this Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area – dairy farmers (n=23) % who were likely to do this Retire from farming (even if you keep working off-farm) 51% 6% 42% 249 58% 6% 36% 212 47% 34% 35% 46% Leave farming for reasons other than retirement 68% 6% 26% 241 80% 6% 13% 208 25% 27% 13% 20% Expand my farm business 75% 8% 17% 252 67% 6% 27% 204 17% 19% 28% 20% Downsize my farm business 71% 9% 21% 253 77% 8% 15% 209 17% 27% 15% 17% Substantially change my enterprise mix 70% 9% 21% 249 81% 6% 13% 204 18% 26% 12% 16% Relocate entire farm business 92% 4% 4% 253 93% 2% 4% 208 4% 5% 5% 0% Adopt more intensive farm practices 77% 7% 17% 246 78% 10% 12% 209 16% 18% 13% 12% Seek additional off-farm work 77% 5% 17% 253 85% 4% 11% 209 15% 22% 10% 17%
Table A3.15 Farming outlook – comparison of farmers who do and do not live in areas with off-farm modernisation works Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about your farming? Southern irrigators living in SRWUIP area Disagree Southern irrigators living in SRWUIP area Neither agree/ disagree Southern irrigators living in SRWUIP area Agree Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area n Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area Disagree Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area Neither agree/ disagree Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area Agree Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area n Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area – farmers (n=198) % who agreed Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area – dairy farmers (n=92) % who agreed Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area – farmers (n=204) % who agreed Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area – dairy farmers (n=23) % who agreed I feel optimistic my farming future 36% 21% 44% 278 28% 19% 53% 227 50% 32% 56% 32% My farm business is under a lot of financial stress at the moment 37% 16% 47% 280 53% 16% 31% 228 35% 68% 27% 64% I am satisfied with my farm business performance 30% 24% 46% 278 28% 19% 54% 228 48% 41% 55% 44%
Table A3.16 Farming confidence – comparison of farmers who do and do not live in areas with off-farm modernisation works When I about my farm over the next few years, I am confident that I can… Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area Disagree Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area Neither agree/ disagree Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area Agree Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area n Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area Disagree Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area Neither agree/ disagree Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area Agree Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area n Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area – farmers (n=178) % who agreed Southern Basin irrigators living in SRWUIP area – dairy farmers (n=91) % who agreed Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area – farmers (n=192) % who agreed Southern Basin irrigators NOT living in SRWUIP area – dairy farmers (n=21) % who agreed … achieve the things I want to on my farm 24% 27% 49% 271 21% 17% 62% 216 55% 41% 66% 30% …meet my farm business objectives 22% 25% 54% 269 18% 19% 63% 214 60% 44% 67% 30% …cope well with most difficult conditions on the farm e.g. drought, pest outbreaks 21% 29% 50% 270 16% 24% 60% 213 50% 49% 60% 61%
For the period July 1 2015-June 30 2016 what was your estimated farm loss/profit? Your estimated loss/profit should be based on what remains after taking personal drawings (income for the farm owner/s) from farm returns even OR loss/profit <$10,000 32% 31% 37% 24% 30% 42% For the period July 1 2015-June 30 2016 what was your estimated farm loss/profit? Your estimated loss/profit should be on what remains after taking personal drawings (income for the farm owner/s) from farm returns Profit of $10,000-$49,999 19% 16% 22% 15% 17% 8% For the period July 1 2015-June 30 2016 what was your estimated farm loss/profit? Your estimated loss/profit should be based on what remains after taking personal drawings (income for the farm owner/s) from farm returns Profit of $50,000-$99,999 10% 11% 10% 9% 11% 13% For the period July 1 2015-June 30 2016 what was your estimated farm loss/profit? Your estimated loss/profit should be based on what remains after taking personal drawings (income for the farm owner/s) from farm returns Profit of $100,000-$249,000 9% 13% 9% 7% 13% 13% For the period July 1 2015-June 30 2016 what was your estimated farm loss/profit? Your estimated loss/profit should be on what remains after taking personal drawings (income for the farm owner/s) from farm returns Profit of $250,000 or more 3% 7% 4% 1% 7% 8%
Table A4.3 Engagement in sale or transfer of water entitlements to government – Basin irrigators by farm economic size and farm type Basin irrigators by farm economic size and farm type Have you sold water entitlements to the government since 2008? Yes Have you sold water entitlements to the government since 2008? No Have you sold water entitlements to the government since 2008? n Have you transferred water entitlements to the government since 2008? Yes Have you transferred water entitlements to the government since 2008? No Have you transferred water entitlements to the government since 2008? n GVAP < $100,000 10% 90% 204 4% 96% 204 GVAP $100,000 to $299,999 8% 92% 102 11% 89% 102 GVAP $300,000 to $499,999 8% 92% 78 14% 86% 78 GVAP $500,000 or more 18% 82% 181 21% 79% 181 Beef /sheep / mixed cropping-grazing 9% 91% 194 6% 94% 194 Rice/Grain/ oilseed/ cotton 15% 85% 87 13% 87% 87 Dairy 22% 78% 134 22% 78% 134 Fruit/nut and wine grape growers 7% 93% 153 11% 89% 153 Other 10% 90% 63 13% 87% 63
Table A4.6 Future farming intentions – comparison of Basin irrigators who have and have not sold/transferred entitlements to the government since 2008 How likely are you to do the following in the next 5 years? Basin irrigators who reported they had SOLD entitlements to the government Unlikely irrigators who reported they had SOLD entitlements to the government Neither likely/ unlikely or unsure Basin irrigators who reported they had SOLD entitlements to the government Likely Basin irrigators who reported they had SOLD entitlements to the government n Basin irrigators who reported they had TRANSFERRED entitlements to the government Unlikely Basin irrigators who reported they had TRANSFERRED entitlements to the government Neither likely/ unlikely or unsure Basin irrigators who reported they had TRANSFERRED entitlements to the government Likely Basin irrigators who reported they had TRANSFERRED entitlements to the government n Basin irrigator who had not sold or transferred entitlements to the government Unlikely Basin irrigator who had not sold or transferred entitlements to the government Neither likely/ unlikely or unsure Basin irrigator who had not sold or transferred entitlements to the government Likely Basin irrigator who had not sold or transferred entitlements to the government n Retire from farming (even if you keep working off-farm) 50% 10% 40% 70 55% 7% 39% 75 58% 5% 36% 359 farming for reasons other than retirement 81% 1% 18% 68 75% 3% 22% 73 75% 6% 19% 346 Expand my farm business 68% 4% 28% 69 61% 7% 32% 71 69% 8% 23% 353 Downsize my farm business 70% 7% 22% 67 76% 7% 18% 74 75% 8% 17% 362 Substantially change my enterprise mix 64% 10% 26% 69 71% 10% 19% 73 76% 8% 16% 358 Relocate entire farm business 94% 3% 3% 69 92% 5% 3% 76 93% 3% 5% 360 Adopt more intensive farm practices 68% 12% 21% 68 65% 10% 25% 72 75% 10% 15% 357 Seek additional off-farm work 88% 1% 10% 69 83% 4% 13% 75 80% 5% 15% 359
Table A4.7 Farming outlook – comparison of Basin irrigators who have and have not sold/transferred entitlements to the government since 2008 Do you or disagree with the following statements about your farming? Basin irrigators who reported they had SOLD entitlements to the government Disagree irrigators who reported they had SOLD entitlements to the government Neither agree/ disagree Basin irrigators who reported they had SOLD entitlements to the government Agree Basin irrigators who reported they had SOLD entitlements to the government n Basin irrigators who reported they had TRANSFERRED entitlements to the government Disagree Basin irrigators who reported they had TRANSFERRED entitlements to the government Neither agree/ disagree Basin irrigators who reported they had TRANSFERRED entitlements to the government Agree irrigators who reported they had TRANSFERRED entitlements to the government n Basin irrigator who had not sold or transferred entitlements to the government Disagree Basin irrigator who had not sold or transferred entitlements to the government Neither agree/ disagree Basin irrigator who had not sold or transferred entitlements to the government Agree Basin irrigator who had not sold or transferred entitlements to the government n I feel optimistic my farming future 32% 18% 50% 72 29% 21% 50% 76 30% 19% 51% 399 My farm business is under a lot of financial stress at the moment 43% 17% 40% 72 35% 16% 49% 77 48% 16% 36% 399 I am satisfied with my farm business performance 28% 21% 51% 72 22% 26% 51% 76 26% 21% 53% 399
Table A4.18 Actions taken in the last three years to improve water efficiency - Basin irrigators by socio-demographic characteristics Basin irrigators by socio-demographic characteristics Changed irrigation systems Changed the timing of water delivery Changed timing of crop seeding/ planting Changed intensity of crop seeding/ planting Changed use of inputs other than water e.g. fertiliser, soil additives Switched to more crop/ pasture varieties n Murray Darling Basin irrigators 40% 24% 11% 8% 18% 16% 631 Female irrigators 36% 22% 10% 8% 13% 12% 157 Male irrigators 41% 24% 12% 9% 20% 18% 462 Aged < 49 years 46% 28% 15% 15% 23% 24% 102 Aged 50-64 years 41% 26% 16% 9% 21% 16% 276 Aged 65 years or older 36% 18% 5% 5% 11% 15% 239 Educational attainment – did not complete high school 36% 20% 11% 7% 14% 16% 8% Educational attainment – completed high school 40% 23% 11% 8% 19% 16% 213 Educational attainment – completed university degree 39% 26% 11% 9% 19% 14% 155 No off-farm work 42% 26% 12% 10% 19% 17% 239 Part-time off-farm work 41% 22% 13% 8% 18% 18% 269 Full-time off-farm work 33% 23% 7% 6% 14% 13% 119