A new booklet that highlights 16 case studies of North Coast irrigators who have adapted their farms to use water more efficiently is now available.

The 22-page full colour booklet Irrigators - Caring for the Rivers was written by NSW Department of Primary Industries irrigation specialists, Gary Creighton and Richard Swinton, and published with funding from the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA).

If other irrigators read about successful projects featured in the booklet and adopt similar strategies, "we are in a better position to keep extractions from our rivers within sustainable levels and protect the river environment", Mr Creighton said.

"These projects are all aimed at improving irrigation efficiency and reducing irrigators’ dependence on unreliable, and environmentally more sensitive, low river flows.

"The booklet presents an overview of on-farm irrigation projects that have been supported by funding from the NRCMA."

Mr Creighton said the booklet covered completed irrigation projects on dairy farms and horticultural orchards from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie.

"Most of the case studies in the book involve irrigators increasing their efficiency or reducing dependence on low flows by seeking alternative water supplies by extracting when flows are high," he said.

"A third option mentioned in the booklet is to modify the balance of farm enterprise to reduce the dependence on river flows."

Ric and Patricia Green, who run 120 dairy cattle at Swan Creek near Grafton, are highlighted for replacing an inefficient travelling irrigator with a 170-metre lateral movement system.

At a cost of $78,000, Ric says the new system enables him to apply smaller quantities of water when rain is possible, avoiding overwatering.

It also saves on energy, labour and gives him more options for other irrigation ventures.

The booklet also has a section on irrigation scheduling, which explains how to apply exactly the right amount of water at the right time to suit the particular crop or pasture.

Contact NSW DPI and NRCMA offices on the North Coast for a free copy or call Grafton Agricultural Research Station, (02) 6640 1600. Alternatively you can download Irrigators - caring for the rivers from the NSW DPI website.