Crops sow seeds of success

The remote Woodie Woodie research site has broken new ground, recently seeding its first winter crop trial program in the east Pilbara.

The site, almost 200km east of Marble Bar, is part of the Pilbara Hinterland Agricultural Development Initiative — a pioneering project testing the use of surplus water from mine dewatering for irrigated agriculture in the region.

Despite doubt being cast over the project after the closure of the Woodie Woodie manganese mine in February, seeding trials are on track, according to the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Project manager Chris Schelfhout said although a reliance on water from the Woodie Woodie mine had posed a risk to the continuity of water supply, the mine’s closure had demonstrated the need for secure access to alternative water sources to ensure uninterrupted irrigation.

After a recent visit to the $12.5 million project, Mr Schelfhout said the trial crops were flourishing under irrigation and cooler weather.

Oats, barley, maize, vetch, French serradella and Per-sian, arrowleaf and balansa clovers are among the crops plan-ted — the first time barley and these particular legume spe-cies have been grown in the region.

Mr Schelfhout said the project supported the department’s goal to enable businesses to expand irrigated agriculture across the north of WA.

“The site has progressed significantly since its establishment in 2015, from undeveloped pastoral grazing land to intensified irr-igated land,” he said. “The trial’s centre-pivot irrigator has been sown to a range of temperate grasses and legumes to assess suitable crop rotations of annual species.

“Clovers, serradella and vetch were selected to provide a high-protein fodder option.”

Mr Schelfhout commended Warrawagine Pastoral Company staff for their outstanding efforts in developing the Woodie Woodie trial site.

He said although trial operations at Woodie Woodie would conclude later this year, the PHADI team was working with project partners to investigate options to continue irrigated agriculture at the site beyond the trial program.