Author(s)

A. Zuo, S. Wheeler, H. Bjornlund & M. Shanahan

Abstract

This paper uses historical irrigator survey data from seven years between 1998– 99 and 2010–11 to compare the net farm operating surplus amongst farmers who undertake various farm management strategies. There is evidence that the use of more intensive farm management strategies in the past five years is associated with higher levels of net farm operating surplus. In particular, farmers who have bought water entitlements in the past five years is associated with higher net farm operating surplus, while those that reduced their irrigated area were associated with a reduction in net farm operating surplus. However, the relationship between participating in the water market and net farm surpluses seems to be falling over time, potentially because of the continuing maturation and adoption of water markets by irrigators over time. Keywords: water trading strategies, Murray-Darling Basin, farm profitability, irrigators.

Keywords

water trading strategies, Murray-Darling Basin, farm profitability, irrigators.