Browsing by Author "Di Bella, LP"

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Adoption of an optimal season length for increased industry profitability : SRDC Final report BSS264
(BSES, 2007) Di Bella, LP; Cristaudo, A; Wood, AW
The project aimed to maximise commercial cane sugar (CCS), sugar yields (TSPH) and industry profitability in the Herbert region by exploiting regional variation in CCS, soil moisture and trafficability. There is significant potential to increase total sugar production, and individual grower and district CCS through better management of harvesting scheduling.
Adoption of an optimal season length for increased profitability; findings from the 2004 industry survey : Final report
(2004) Di Bella, LP
There is a large potential to increase total sugar production, individual grower and district CCS through better management of harvesting scheduling. Change management will be best implemented through active participation and involvement of all industry sectors. BSS264 Adoption of an optimal season length for increased profitability aims to maximise CCS, sugar yields and industry profitability in the Herbert region by exploiting regional variation in CCS, soil moisture and trafficability. This report presents the findings from the baseline survey results conducted within BSS264. The survey establishes a baseline on industry participants' views and opinions pertaining to harvest season length, crop management issues associated with an extended season length ( and the 2004 early harvest trial), industry infrastructure utilisation, community impacts, development of alternative income streams, industry viability and cash flows. A similar survey will be conducted at the end of the project to assess changes in industry viewpoints and opinions.
Adoption of an optimal season length for increased profitability; findings from the 2006 'maximising profitability in the Herbert sugar industry workshop' : Final report BSS264
(2006) Di Bella, LP
In 2003, the Herbert sugar industry established an industry working team to investigate ways to manage the harvest and processing of larger crops and investigate methods of increasing industry profitability. In 2004 SRDC funded the BSS264 adoption of an optimal season length for increased profitability project. The project aims are to maximise CCS, sugar yields and industry profitability in the Herbert region by exploiting regional variation in CCS, soil moisture and trafficability. The project was also funded to develop economic models, SugarMax and Rainrisk models specific to the Herbert region. In 2005, SRDC funded the Herbert industry study tour of Southern Africa to investigate the season length issues and farm management systems. This report presents the findings from an industry workshop conducted within BSS264.
Farming systems tour for the Herbert sugar industry : final report BSS282
(2005) Poggio, MJ; Di Bella, LP; Waring, M
The 'Enhanced Farming Systems Tour' to Sarina and Emerald was aimed at building the capacity for change, learning and innovation through the investigation of several enhanced farming systems in the Sarina and Emerald districts. The study tour participants investigated minimal-tillage equipment, controlled traffic, crop rotation and harvesting. The enhanced farming system has potential to improve environmental, economic and social benefits for the Herbert sugarcane industry. The study tour was an industry-wide approach with participants from CSR, QMCHA, CANEGROWERS, HCPSL, BSES and growers
GIVE 2009 project report
(2009) Di Bella, LP
The Grower Innovation Virtual Expo (GIVE 09) was hosted by the Herbert Young Farmers and Herbert and Tully grower groups. The event was also supported by Herbert Cane Productivity Services Limited (HCPSL), Tully Cane Productivity Services (TCPSL), BSES Limited, CSR Sugar, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (QDPI&F), CANEGROWERS Herbert River, Grower Group Services (GGS) and the Tropical City Group. The primary objective of the event was to encourage growers to discuss there own experiences, research and development which they were undertaking in there own businesses. The Tully/ Herbert organizing group also wanted to challenge and encourage growers within there regions to seek opportunities to improve their own farming businesses. The event was held on the 24th and 25th of March, 2009 in the Tully/ Ingham area. It is perceived by all involved that the GIVE 09 event was a major success.
SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project final report SECMAPPER (Soil Electrical Conductivity Mapper): mapping soil electrical conductivity patterns below trash blankets and stubble
(2011) Di Bella, LP; McDonnell, P; Pace, A
The SRDC funded Grower Group SECMAPPER (Soil Electrical Conductivity Mapper) project has modified an existing VERIS 3100 soil mapping system to map bare soil blocks through to blocks with thick trash and stubble residue layers. As a part of the project the Grower Group also investigated the following: Opportunities to map soil differences with a cane block; Compare the modified VERIS 3100 (SECMAPPER) electrical conductivity readings with the standard VERIS 3100 unit; Identifying potential saline and sodic soils within a cane block through the use of the VERIS 3100 unit; Compare two soil mapping systems being the VERIS 3100 and EM38 systems. The EMMIT (Electro-Magnetic Mapping in Trash) Grower Group consisted of growers from the Herbert and Burdekin cane growing regions. The Grower Group gave the growers the opportunity to network and work together on the advancement of electrical conductivity (EC) mapping and precision agricultural activities in each district. The grower group was supported by technical support personnel from the following agencies: Herbert Cane Productivity Services Limited (HCPSL), Ag Data Solutions, Farmacist, BSES Limited, Terrain NRM and Soil Horizons. The Grower Group would also like to thank SRDC and Rabobank for providing financial assistance to the project. The SRDC funded BPS001 project and this project have progressed the development and use of soil mapping systems like the VERIS 3100 system in the Australian cane industry. There are now significant areas in the Central, Burdekin and Herbert cane growing regions now being mapped utilising these systems; as a part of precision agricultural systems being adopted in the Australian industry.