January irrigation breaks record

• Tolpuddle Vineyard manager Carlos Soris relies on irrigation for his grapes.

Tasmanian Irrigation delivered a record 24,349 megalitres of irrigation water to Tasmanian farmers in the first month of 2026.

It’s the highest water delivery month on record and is 32 per cent more than January 2025 and double the amount supplied in January 2024.

Demand was consistently strong across almost all of Tasmanian Irrigation’s 19 operational schemes, with the Lower South Esk Irrigation Scheme up 117 per cent in January, compared to the same period last year, the Don Irrigation Scheme up 94 per cent and Whitemore up 74 per cent.

Increased crop plantings, the mild and cool early summer delaying harvest, low rainfall and increased demand from new and existing customers contributed to the record water delivery.

Tasmania endured its seventh driest January on record since 1900, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, and maximum temperatures were above average for most of the State.

Tasmanian Irrigation chief executive officer Mike Sylvester said farmers had reported that some crops had received almost no rain between planting and harvest.

“It’s been an exceptionally dry, hot and windy start to 2026, and we know the financial consequences if farmers cannot access reliable water, and crops fail,” Mr Sylvester said.

“Access to the high surety water provided by Tasmanian Irrigation is essential to minimise farm business risk and future proof against climate variation.

“There is no doubt that access to highly reliable irrigation water is a game changer for regional communities.

This water enables farmers to expand the area of land under pivots, diversify into high-value crops, increase rotations, boost yields, employ more people and implement succession plans to ensure a bright on-farm future for the next generation.

“When farms thrive, communities thrive too.

“For every 1000 megalitres of Tasmanian Irrigation water delivered, in the order of 25 direct and indirect jobs are created, there is on-farm investment of between $2 million to $4 million and up to $3 million per annum of benefit is generated for the wider State economy.”

Mr Sylvester said January 2026 stands as a landmark month for Tasmanian Irrigation and the State.

“Our ability to deliver 24,349 megalitres of water in a single month – more than any other month on record – reflects the essential role of reliable irrigation in supporting Tasmanian agriculture through variable seasonal conditions, delivered via resilient infrastructure,” he said.

“Our total water delivery so far this season has surpassed 55,000 megalitres.

“With the amount of crops and pasture still requiring irrigation water, we are expecting water demand for the remainder of the season to remain very high.”