Webinar Recordings
July Seasonal Update with Ag Logic & Tas Farm Innovation
July 2026 - guest presenter Jason Lynch, Pinion
A solid week of rain has lifted soil moisture across most of the state. North West, North East and the Midlands are at or near full profile, so protecting soil structure is now the priority.
The Bureau of Meteorology has formally declared a strong El Niño, raising the chance of a warmer, drier outlook, though it's not a guarantee.
A simple planning cycle, plan, prioritise, allocate and review on a 30, 60 and 90 day rhythm, helps keep decisions timely as the season unfolds.
Before committing to major water infrastructure, build a proper water budget rather than sizing for a rare peak event.
Tasmanian Irrigation dams are filling well for the 2026-27 season. Craigbourne Dam is the exception, since it only fills fully around once every four years and is currently in year three.
June Seasonal Update with Ag Logic & Tas Farm Innovation
June 2026 - guest presenters Emily Hinds and Jonathan Pollock, BOM
Recent rain has started refilling soil profiles across most of the state, though how quickly varies a lot by soil type and location.
North West and North East are approaching full point with good subsoil recharge, while Southern Midlands, Coal Valley and Derwent Valley remain behind last year and need follow up rain.
Climate drivers like El Niño, the Indian Ocean Dipole and the Southern Annular Mode all shape the odds of a wet or dry season, but together they explain less than half the variability. No single driver tells the whole story.
El Niño is likely to form this winter, leaning towards below average rainfall, though the strength of the event doesn't predict the size of its impact.
Take the win on soil moisture but stay alert. Many subsoils aren't recharged yet, so graze strategically and keep stock off the wettest paddocks.
May Seasonal Update with Ag Logic & Tas Farm Innovation
May 2026 - guest presenter Mike Henry, Simplot
Regional soil moisture is mixed. The North West is recharging well, while Southern Midlands, Coal Valley, Derwent Valley and the East Coast remain dry with no moisture at depth.
The autumn break has only clearly arrived in the North West so far, with most other regions still uncertain or missing it.
Soil variability within paddocks, especially for pH and nutrients, is often much greater than expected. Gridded soil sampling is a practical way to map it.
Fixing pH should come first, since it's a major driver of how well other nutrients are taken up.
Variable rate fertiliser lets you target nutrients where they're actually needed, so the same budget goes further than a uniform blanket application.
April Seasonal Update with Ag Logic & Tas Farm Innovation
April 2026 - guest presenter Dr Rowan Smith, TIA
Pasture species are responding very differently to dry conditions. Deep rooted species like lucerne and chicory are holding up well by accessing moisture deeper in the profile.
Shallow rooted species and annuals depend heavily on surface moisture and are more exposed to short dry periods and false breaks.
Autumn rainfall has been patchy and hasn't delivered a true seasonal break in many areas. Soil moisture often sits at the surface while deeper layers stay dry.
Pasture diversity helps build resilience. Consider deeper rooted species in future pasture mixes if drought resilience is a priority.
Don't judge by appearance alone. Dig into the profile to see whether rain has produced real, usable moisture or just wet the surface.
March Seasonal Update with Ag Logic & Tas Farm Innovation
March 2026
Late season irrigation is a balancing act between maximising yield and managing harvest risk, particularly for potatoes nearing maturity.
Big rain events in March and April can delay harvest and increase disease risk if the topsoil is already wet.
As crops mature and temperatures drop, evapotranspiration falls and irrigation demand eases off.
Allow some drawdown of deeper soil moisture. This creates storage capacity for rainfall and reduces waterlogging risk.
Poor irrigation earlier in the season restricts root development, limiting a crop's ability to draw on deeper moisture later.
February Seasonal Update with Ag Logic & Tas Farm Innovation
February 2026 - guest presenter Jason Lynch, Pinion
Irrigated pastures can still grow strongly through late summer, up to 70 to 80 kg of dry matter per hectare per day, when water, fertility and grazing are all aligned.
Most pastures need 5 to 6 mm of water a day to keep up with evapotranspiration. If you're consistently applying less, expect growth to slow and rotations to blow out.
If water is limited, keep full irrigation on a smaller area rather than spreading reduced water across all paddocks. It preserves growth better.
Rainfall under 10 mm doesn't count for much. Base irrigation decisions on what's actually landed, not what's forecast.
Watch soil moisture depth (pasture roots often go beyond 30 cm) and keep an eye on rotation length as a signal of whether irrigation is keeping pace.
January Seasonal Update with Ag Logic & Tas Farm Innovation
January 2026
January is peak irrigation season. This is when plant water demand is highest, and delaying irrigation now quickly reduces your soil's water holding capacity.
Don't underestimate crop water use. Root activity for crops like peas, poppies and irrigated pastures often extends beyond 50cm this time of year.
Irrigate early to protect soil structure, not just to meet plant demand. Once soils dry out, infiltration declines and it's hard to refill the profile later.
ETo is a guide only. Adjust for crop factor (potatoes can exceed 1.2, peas up to 1.15) or you risk falling behind even while matching ETo.
Amount matters as much as frequency. Small, frequent irrigations can fall well short of what your crop needs. Ignore rainfall forecasts under 10 to 12mm and base decisions on what's actually landed.
December Seasonal Update with Ag Logic & Tas Farm Innovation
December 2025
Effective rainfall isn't just what's in the gauge. Big events often cause runoff and ponding, so walk your paddocks to see what's really infiltrating.
Ground prep in wet conditions has lasting effects. Cloddiness and compaction reduce infiltration, so watch for this and adjust with more frequent, smaller passes if needed.
Know your crop factor. Evapotranspiration is only a guide, coefficients vary by crop stage (for example, potatoes can exceed 1.1 at canopy closure).
Check your irrigation system now. Pivot uniformity and nozzle checks matter before peak season hits.
Don't fall behind waiting for the perfect day. Back to back irrigations, or irrigating during rain, can help you catch up.
November Seasonal Update with Ag Logic & Tas Farm Innovation
November 2025
Dig two 30cm holes after a big rain event or irrigation to understand your infiltration and what your rain is really worth.
Maintain yield, don't chase it. Give each paddock its own irrigation plan based on soil type, drainage and crop stage, rather than a blanket rule for turning irrigators off when rain is forecast.
Spring has been windy with rainfall shifting to fewer, larger events. A negative Indian Ocean Dipole gave recent rain a tropical downpour feel, but this pattern is expected to be short lived.
Buffers vary by region, from around two weeks in the Northern Midlands to one to three weeks on Flinders and King Islands.
Diurnal stepping in soil moisture graphs is a key signal to start or resume irrigation, even soon after rain.
October Seasonal Update with Ag Logic & Tas Farm Innovation
October 2025
A "Goldilocks winter" (neither too wet nor too dry) has supported strong root establishment for autumn sown crops and pastures.
Now is a good time to dig into your paddocks and understand your soil variability.
Pasture soil moisture uptake is running ahead of last year in areas that had early rainfall.
Drier regions may see an earlier cut off unless further rain tops up subsoil reserves. Worth raising with your agronomist now.
Regional conditions vary widely, from waterlogged ground in the North West to limited subsoil reserves in the Southern Midlands.
September Seasonal Update with Ag Logic & Tas Farm Innovation
September 2025
Conditions are tracking similar to last year, especially soil refill patterns. If you kept records from last year, now's a good time to revisit them.
August pasture growth was above average, which often signals an earlier summer cut off. Start planning feed conservation with this in mind.
Don't rely on hope. Use evidence and data to guide your decisions rather than waiting to see what happens.
Regional picture varies: NE and the Midlands still haven't reached full soil refill, NW and King Island are wetter but using moisture fast, and Southern Midlands and Coal Valley remain drier and should prioritise irrigation planning.
Early irrigation isn't just about plant water. It also protects soil structure and water holding capacity for later in the season.