They deserve congratulations for the many on-farm water use efficiencies introduced over recent decades.

These include laser levelling, spray and drip irrigation systems.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Yet the people purporting to represent these irrigators (and other farmers) now claim Australia is running out of food, forcing us to import iconic produce such as wheat and rice.

Such claims are alarmist and distort the facts.

These are purposely shaped in pursuit of a change in water allocations through the Murray River system.

Yes, we are importing more rice that normal, because we have had lingering drought.

But even in good rainfall years we have imported rice into this country.

Yes, we are importing some high protein wheat, but again because of the recent drought conditions particularly in northern NSW and southern Queensland.

We are also exporting some 6.5 million tonnes over the current 12 months.

And sure, there are faults with the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

But to call for a return of environmental water, demand another Royal Commission or, even more bizarrely, take legal action against the Basin Authority, is surely not the answer.

Even the recent Keelty report (which these same irrigators welcomed) made it clear; states which spread their water around a larger number of users, or allocate aggressively after it is wet, tend to run out of water first.

The Keelty report also supported a situation I have been commenting on.

There is less water in the Murray, whether you believe in climate change or not.

I, like many of my farming colleagues, have been encouraged to improve out soil structure, resulting in less run off; there is less run off from pine plantation than native forest and the increasing population in the valley use more water.

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Every drop of water in the basin is allocated to something or someone, towns and communities, farmers and the environment

So, if there is to be more water available for NSW irrigators, it will need to come from some other source.

I don't know if the Bradfield plan has any legs, or other schemes to increase the water availability do.

But more will need to be found if some of the traditional crops are to be grown regularly in the basin.

Many in Albury are appalled at the thought of Melbourne Storm being up here (The Border Mail, May 4).

The biggest thing in Albury is our cancer centre.

People up here put public health before public sport.

This sort of exceptionalism is dreadful modelling for young people.

Sport should be leading by example not looking for exemptions.

Smells of corruption and those who govern us should stop it.

Storm, stay home.