Browsing by Author "McGuire, PJ"

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An integrated approach to nutgrass control : SRDC final report NFS002
(BSES, 2011) Aitken, RL; Munro, AJ; McGuire, PJ
This project aimed to formulate and promote an integrated approach to nutgrass control in sugarcane cropping systems. The project was a Grower Group Research Project undertaken from July 2007 to June 2010 by the NSW Farming Systems Group Inc. and BSES Limited extension officers in NSW. Trials were established to evaluate some best-bet options for nutgrass control. These trials aimed to assess packages of successive treatments all aimed at reducing the viability of nutgrass tubers. Results from these trials were used to extend options for long-term nutgrass control to cane producers. The trial work undertaken and associated economic analysis showed that it is highly economic to control nutgrass in cane. Total control of nutgrass resulted in large dollar benefits ($350-450/ha) and trials evaluating 'one-off' herbicide treatments for nutgrass also showed net benefits of $200-400/ha. This indicates that, even where nutgrass is patchy, growers could outlay $60-100/ha for nutgrass control and still obtain a substantial net benefit. A factsheet/decision support package titled Managing nutgrass in cane was produced and circulated throughout the Australian sugarcane industry. This factsheet emphasises that nutgrass can only be managed using a long-term integrated approach aimed at reducing the number of viable tubers. No single one off treatment will control nutgrass and repeated treatments are the only sure way of controlling nutgrass. A single one off treatment will reduce nutgrass competition in the short term but, because of its ability to rapidly propagate under suitable conditions, repeated treatments are imperative. The factsheet provides options for nutgrass control at various stages in the cane crop cycle.
An integrated approach to nutgrass control : SRDC final report NFS002
(BSES, 2010) Aitken, RL; Munro, AJ; McGuire, PJ
This project aimed to formulate and promote an integrated approach to nutgrass control in sugarcane cropping systems. The project was a Grower Group Research Project undertaken from July 2007 to June 2010 by the NSW Farming Systems Group Inc. and BSES Limited extension officers in NSW.
Cane fibre yields : final report PR04011
(BSES, 2004) McGuire, PJ
This report was prepared for the New South Wales sugar industry to provide an estimate of the additional cane-based fuel available for the proposed cogeneration project. It summarises the work done to date in NSW, as well as drawing on research conducted in the Mackay, Bundaberg and Tully canegrowing districts. Studies conducted as part of the Brazilian sugar industy's Biomass Power Generation project are also reported.
Controlled-traffic study tour of the Birchip cropping group by the NSW farming systems steering committee : SRDC Final report BSS272
(2005) McGuire, PJ
Peter McGuire led the NSW farming systems steering committee and others on a study tour to the Birchip Cropping Group, Victoria and farms serviced by that group. Key learnings from the project include: Greater knowledge about GPS steering systems, base station requirements, signal limitations and user requirements; Participants are convinced about the benefits to soil health of zero tillage; Participants have identified where cost savings can be made from a zero tillage, controlled traffic system; Awareness about the issue of herbicide resistance.
Determining the biology of rhopaea canegrub in the New South Wales sugar industry : SRDC final report BSS201
(BSES, 2002) McLennan, AJ; McGuire, PJ; Allsopp, PG; Zalucki, MP
Rhopaea canegrub (Rhopaea magnicornis Blackburn) is the major insect pest of the New South Wales sugar industry with about 25% of Condong farms affected. Rhopaea has also been reported as a pest in the Broadwater and Nambour canegrowing areas. At the time this project commenced little was known about the ecology and population dynamics of the pest and no commercially viable control measures existed.Contrary to previous beliefs, some female beetles were observed to fly prior to mating. However, female beetles were also observed that emerged and did not fly, but mated on the soil surface before burrowing back into the soil where they laid their eggs. It is not yet known which behaviour is the most common. The average egg batch was found to be 21.3 eggs.The distribution of the life stages of rhopaea canegrubs was determined using both naturally occurring populations at three sites and an introduced population at a fourth site. First and second instars are shallow feeders; they were found at an average depth of about 10 cm. The third-instar rhopaea larvae not only move deeper into the soil (average depth about 15 cm) but also become more focused around the sugarcane stool and row centre. Finally, as pupation approaches, rhopaea grubs again move up in the soil profile, where they were found to pupate at an average depth of only 6.5 cm below the soil surface. Rhopaea is a comparatively shallow-living grub in contrast to some other canegrub species.Green cane trash blanketing was tested on six farms and ?stool rolling? on five farms. Neither practice was shown to be effective but this may be due to the relatively low pest populations that prevailed during the three years of field work.Fallowing as a control measure was tested with both naturally occurring populations and in a replicated trial where plots were seeded with 20 second instar larvae. A grass fallow was found to increase pest numbers in subsequent crops compared to replanting. In the replicated experiment, all fallow treatments reduced grub numbers by similar amounts four months after the larvae were introduced.Field counts made after land preparation for replanting showed that cultivation can reduce pest numbers by close to 100%. However, such large decreases may also disrupt the disease cycle which is essential in suppressing pest numbers.Disease studies showed that rhopaea is infected by a different species of Metarhizium fungus (M. flavoviride) than other canegrub species which are infected by M. anisopliae. The fungus affects all stages (egg-adult) of the pest so that the ?window of control? is very wide. Some field observations showed over 50% of a female?s eggs could be killed by metarhizium infections. Beauveria bassiana was another prominent fungal disease identified in the population. This fungus has only been rarely observed in other more northern canegrub species. Both fungi have potential as biological control agents.Other diseases found include milky disease (Paenibacillus popilliae), three minor fungal diseases and one incidence of a rare microsporidian disease (Nosema sp.).
Final report SRDC project GGIP050 Improving soybean and nitrogen management in subtropical NSW cane systems
(2012) Moore, NY; Munro, AJ; McGuire, PJ; Aitken, R; Beattie, R; Herridge, DF; Young, A
This project aimed to document nitrogen inputs from soybean crops grown in NSW cane lands, promote soil-specific fertiliser recommendations following soybean to achieve more efficient use of nitrogen fertiliser and to assess different methods for dealing with soybean crop residue. The project was a Grower Group Innovation Project undertaken from April 2009 to March 2012 by the NSW Farming Systems Group Inc. in association with staff from the NSW Department of Primary Industries, BSES Limited, NSW Sugar Milling Cooperative and the University of New England. Whilst many sugar cane growers have adopted soybean rotations, the potential benefits of soybean are not being fully realised, particularly making use of residual nitrogen (N) in the following cane crop. Some growers continue to over-fertilise cane following a soybean crop, while on some soil types in NSW cane crops have shown nitrogen stress after a well grown soybean crop. Local data was required to fine-tune N fertiliser recommendations in sugar cane following soybean. Previous research on soybean as a rotation crop in cane-production systems was conducted in the tropical Qld environment through the Sugar Cane Yield Decline Joint Venture. However, the different rainfall, temperature and soil conditions in this subtropical region of NSW are likely to impact differently on N cycling.
Improving water penetration in the Burdekin
(1990) McGuire, PJ
Poor water penetration represents the greatest source of preventable yield loss in the Burdekin district. The problem occurs in all four mill areas in the district with about 18 000 ha affected to some degree. Cane yield losses for the 1987 season were estimated conservately at 250 000 t. Crop yields in 1989, following good rains, indicate that actual losses may be closer to 500 000 t of cane in dry years. The promotion of remedial measures aimed at reducing the problem has been an important extension theme in the Burdekin district for many years. In March 1988, extension staff commenced an extension program focussing on the use of the 'dissolvenator' as the preferred means of overcoming the problem.
Pachymetra awareness project for Condong Mill area: final report 2012/064
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2016) McGuire, PJ; Irby, D
Objectives: Use innovative approaches to motivate and demonstrate the potential benefits to improve Pachymetra management for farmers. Build capacity in growers to better manage Pachymetra on their farms. . Increase farm, harvester and mill productivity by addressing Pachymetra in the Condong Mill Region.
Share-farming options for the Australian sugar industry : SRDC Final report BSS298
(2007) McGuire, PJ
The Australian sugar industry is faced with an aging farmer population, high land prices that limit expansion and a large number of small farms. Share farming and leasing have the potential to solve these three problems.This report presents a snap shot of share-farming and farm-leasing practices in four cane-growing regions: Cairns, Mackay, Bundaberg-Maryborough and New South Wales. Key learnings from the project include:
Sugar industry training on community engagement : final report BSS278
(2006) McGuire, PJ; Coutts, J
Two community engagement workshops were run by Coutts J&R for the New South Wales sugar industry. The first workshop focused on crisis and issues management. The second workshop focused on how best to use the NSW cogeneration project to raise a more favourable profile with local communities.