Browsing by Author "McMahon, GG"

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Developing marketing skills for sugar industry technology transfer personnel : final report BSS193
(2001) McMahon, GG
The role of technology transfer and research in the sugar industry is changing rapidly. Industry needs and priorities have to be developed. Many of the service organisations are now voluntary funded. Solutions to industry problems are becoming more complex and difficult to implement. There are significantly more issues confronting the industry and the capacity of the industry to respond has decreased. Most of the funding organisations are now requiring projects to incorporate a technology transfer plan within the proposal.As a result, the complexity of technology transfer within the sugar industry is increasing dramatically. Technology transfer professionals within the industry receive little formal training within their discipline, because there are very few quality providers of such training. BSES felt that it was necessary for staff in this profession to receive some marketing training to become better equipped to deliver the products and services that sugar industry participants wanted and needed. SRDC funded the project in 1997 and a training program was developed and delivered to sugar industry technology transfer personnel from a number of organisations within the industry.
Final Report SRDC Project BS146S Farming Sodic Soils - A Situation Statement and Future Direction
(1997) McMahon, GG; Ham, GJ; Cox, AZ
Aims of project were to document research on, and farming systems for, cropping sodic soils to sugarcane, and through an expert review of research and current practices for farming sodic soils identify directions for future research and extension efforts on the subject.
Improving the profitability of canefarmers in the wet tropics : Analysis and strategies : final report BSS222
(2002) Hanlon, D; Rigney, JT; McMahon, GG; Garrad, S
This document provides the results of a 4-year benchmarking project in the Wet Tropics region of the Queensland sugar industry. The project examined production costs from Tully in the South to Mossman in the North as well as the different production systems of the Atherton Tablelands. the bulk of participants came from the Innisfail Tully region. the project was a joint activity between BSES and RCS. Both parties provided complimentary skills to the process, with RCS providing the business acumen and tools and BSES the technical advice and local contacts. Both organisations successfully ran the Prophet project (BS91S), which stimulated an interest in business management.During the period covered by this survey the industry experienced some of the worst conditions ever: a combination of low prices and low yields meant that many growers lost money for most of the period of the project.
Report on BSES workshop identifying opportunities in harvesting and extraneous matter
(1996) McMahon, GG
This is a report of the scoping meeting on harvest scheduling and extraneous matter held at BSES on Mondary July 29. The meeting was designed to identify issues and opportunities for BSES in these areas. Staff selected for this meeting represented all disciplines of BSES and senior management. The meeting was designed to be outcome focussed with actions planned for the end of the sessions.
Review of sodic soils research in the Queensland sugar industry
(1995) Cox, AZ; Ham, GJ; McMahon, GG
Increasing levels of sodium on the clay, in the absence of high levels of soluble salts, are not believed to be toxic to the cane plant. Any adverse effect on crop production is through deterioration of the soil structure (Crema, 1994). Under wet conditions, increased clay dispersion accompanies increasing exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). This is associated with sealing and crusting in surface soils and dense subsurface clays which resist penetration of roots. Even if water does penetrate the surface, it is held very strongly in the very small pores formed in the dispersed soil. It is difficult for roots to withdraw this moisture. The end result of sodicity is similar to that of salinity, water stress. Both infiltration and water storage are adversely affected. Reclamation of sodic soils can be achieved by application of gypsum or lime to promote replacement of sodium on the clay particles by calcium, and hence improve soil structure. Research work indicates that sugarcane yields on sodic soils with ESP less than 25 can be improved by up to 20% with the application of gypsum 10t/ha (Ham etal., 1995). Improvements in yield can also be achieved by improving surface and subsurface drainage to promote leaching of displaced sodium salts from the soil profile. Reduction of natural slope from 0.49% to 0.07% has also improved sugarcane yield by 24% over the crop cycle (Ham etal.,1995). Research has developed ways of increasing production on sodic soils. With the expansion of the cane industry into marginal areas there has been associated extension campaign, concentrating on farm planning and demonstrating the benefits of applied gypsum (Ham etal., 1995). A good example of this is the Burdekin where the BSES program on sodic soils is estimated to have resulted in an extra 26,000 tonnes of cane to the Burdekin district in 1994 alone with a gross value to the industry of $1.02m.