ABC news
A group of NSW irrigators who have been trying to sell their water to the Commonwealth for years will make the switch to dryland farming in 2013.
They're part of a $180 million deal between the Commonwealth and Murray Irrigation to upgrade infrastructure and return water to the environment.
Moulamein rice grower Jeremy Morton is selling all of his water and says raising livestock should be less stressful.
"Look, it's been pretty tough in farming in the last few years," he said.
"With the debt burden off our back, we'll be quite looking forward to a whole lot less pressure financially as well.
"I'm really looking forward to it."
Mr Morton says part of the settlement will include money for fencing, a stock and domestic water scheme within the property and support to plant saltbush and lucerne.
The scheme, called the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program or PIIOP, will also help Murray Irrigation improve its water delivery.
The company will install new irrigation meters, automate some of its channel regulators and line channels with clay in five locations.
Murray Irrigation will use the Commonwealth money to retire more than 70 kilometres of channel.
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