The irrigation and drainage infrastructure was designed and constructed in the early 1960s. The first five (trial) farms were released in 1962 with commercial farming commencing the following year. Farm blocks are typically in the range 260 to 360 ha in size and have predominantly heavy black cracking clay soils most suited to furrow irrigation.

Each farm has at least one supply point and drainage outlet and typical farm slopes are in the range of 1:1000 to 1:4000. The original 'water right' allotted to farmers by Government under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 -1954 Division 1V, was a total of five acre-feet of water per holding (15.4 ML/ha.) per annum.

Internal farm layouts vary significantly throughout the district depending on block size and shape, slope and soil type. Furrow lengths can range from 200 m to over 1000 m in length, although 400 to 800 m are more common.

Watering from the head ditch is usually carried out manually using groups of 2 to 3 metre long flexible piping to siphon water into each furrow. Few electronic irrigation aids or automated watering systems have been introduced to assist in improving water efficiency.

In order to promote improved water efficiency, some irrigators have initiated recycling practices in which excess water draining one block is used as part of the irrigation input to the next block.