Farming systems and production management

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://elibrary2.sugarresearch.com.au/handle/11079/13844

Research outcomes: Growers and harvesters benefit from the ongoing research in productivity improvement, production management and agronomical techniques. Developed technologies and management practices that enhance productivity and demonstrate a high rate of return on investment.

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A participatory approach towards improving industry sector profits through improved harvesting efficiency : SRDC Final report BSS227
(2002) Agnew, JR
Recent productivity gains through the introduction of high yielding varieties, green cane harvesting, improved drainage and irrigation have resulted in larger, mostly lodged crops with increased suckering. As a result, ccs levels have declined, dirt in supply and extraneous matter levels have increased, and stool damage at harvest is obvious. Growers do not always connect their role in crop presentation to ease of harvest and resultant cane quality. Failure to hill up plant cane adequately and match it to harvester basecutter angle; inconsistent row spacing and lack of attention to farm layout, headlands and haul roads are the main deficiencies. Harvester operators and harvest crews may also have goals conflicting with cane quality and quality of ground job. The standard system of harvester payment, which is based on $/tonne, rewards speed of operation. Stool damage, cane loss and poor billet quality result. The mills? transport limitations and need for continuous supply may impose restrictions on harvesting where by the harvester must deliver a fixed quantity of cane within a short time frame. This can result in poor ground job and higher cane losses (because fan speed is increased in an attempt to achieve cleaning at high pour rates). Short and damaged billets can result from pressure to achieve high pour rates and high bin weights. Encouraging harvesting under wet conditions results in field damage. The viability of the north Queensland sugar industry is in jeopardy. Industry leaders believe there are large productivity and profitability gains to be made by adopting harvesting best practice (HBP).
Bed forming utilising GPS guidance by the CAS (Calen and St Helen) Young Farmers Association : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project final report
(2008) Gordon, G; Mackenzie, C
This project aimed to enhance controlled traffic farming with GPS guidance in undulating conditions in the Calen and St Helen district of Mackay. The project focused on the use of preformed beds, as well as investigating different planting techniques (eg dual row and wide shute on preformed beds). The group also wanted to investigate the potential for a contracting facility to bed form under guidance. Key results from the project include: - Controlled traffic systems were enhanced through the use of GPS. Without GPS we had issues with maintaining even row spacings along the contours and side slopes, and holding a billet planter in position on slopes. Through the use of GPS, and the Alexander (flat top) bed former, we were able to overcome these issues. - We found that the flat top bed shape formed with the Alexander bed former was the most suitable for our region. While the trial results indicated there was no yield, NIR or financial difference between the flat top, round top bed and conventional planting, we found the flat top beds were much easier to manage in our undulating farming conditions as the tractor/planter can more easily stay on the wheel ruts and not stray from the desired position. With the flat top bed former we found we could mark out with a GPS tractor and then conduct other paddock operations without the GPS because the bed shapes kept the tractor and implement in the GPS wheel tracks. o The flat top beds provided the best wheel track for our planting equipment, as this profile seemed to form a “railway like track centre”, making it very easy to keep the planter in the correct position without the need for GPS guidance. The round beds seem to have a wider wheel space and we experienced some movement and uneven row spacing, however this could be eliminated with the use of guidance equipment on the planting gear (which we don’t have). -Different planting techniques on preformed beds had very similar yields. The dual rows on preformed beds performed the worst with a yield of 103.7 t/ha, compared to singles on beds and conventional planting with 108.63 and 107.81 t/ha respectively. o Based on the gross return per hectare, the single wide shute treatments planted on preformed beds performed the best with a return of $2,582.78 per hectare. However the conventional treatment was very close with a return of $2,539.34 per hectare. The dual rows had a return of $2,464.90 per hectare. Across the treatments there was only a difference of $117.88/ha. - A FEAT analysis conducted by a DPI economist showed that the group’s cur rent farming system (controlled traffic and tilled system) resulted in a Farm Operating Return of $20, 070 and a Return on Investment of 1.44%. While the improved farming system which involves controlled traffic, preformed beds, soybean fallow and reduced tillage resulted in a Farm Operating Return of $54, 947 and a Return on Investment of 3.94%. - There was very little difference in yield and NIR data between the conventional planting method, and the two different bed shapes. The CASH preformed beds, which have a flat shape, had the highest yield with 98.97 t/ha, however it also had the lowest PRS. Tonnes of sugar per hectare across the treatments were almost identical and as a result the Gross Return per hectare only had a difference of $29 between the treatments. o While there was no major difference in gross return between the treatments, we noticed that the flat bed shape was much easier to form, plant and harvest, compared to the round shape. F:\New folder\SRDC\SRDC USB\MRD\Projects - GGIP\Archive\GGP021\Final Report\100426 GGP021_final_report - final.doc - Preliminary results indicate that the flat top bed system has much greater water infiltration and plant extraction than the other systems. However more detailed, long term work needs to be conducted before final conclusions can be drawn. -In 2007 approximately 160 acres outside of the group members farms was contract bed formed, and an additional 100 acres was contract bed formed in 2008. The equipment will continue to be available for hire into the future. - The group members have determined that in this area, preformed beds are essential for a successful legume fallow. All group members will use the bed former prior to planting soybean.
Increased adoption of efficient sustainable irrigation practices by Australian canegrowers : SRDC Final report BS127S
(1997) Holden, JR; Hussey, B; Shannon, EL
SRDC funded the three-year project 'Increased Adoption of Efficient, Sustainable Irrigation Practices by Australian Canegrowers in July 1994. The broad objectives of the project were to; Determine perceived limits to adoption of more efficient irrigation practices; Increase grower awareness of the benefits of more efficient water use; Research and develop a technical package for more efficient irrigation techniques; Demonstrate and promote best irrigation practice for irrigation of sugarcane. The overall aim was to: 'improve productivity, profitability and sustainability of canegrowing through increased adoption of efficient irrigation techniques by Australian canegrowers."
Integrating and optimising farm-to-mill decisions to maximise industry profitability : SRDC Final report CSE005
(2006) Higgins, A; Prestwidge, D; Sandell, G; Antony, G; Laredo, L; Thorburn, P
Late in the 1990’s, the Australian sugar industry recognised the need to achieve increased integration across its value chain, so as to reduce costs and increase international competitiveness. Past projects and independent assessments highlighted the harvesting and transport interface as being a high priority due to its current logistical inefficiencies and large potential economic benefits from removing these. The logistical inefficiencies were partly manifested by the social and ownership differences between these sectors. CSE005 aimed to explore and implement multiple opportunities to achieve economic benefits at the harvesting and transport interface of the value chain, using a combined participatory action research and technical modelling approach. The project used case studies, initially being the Mourilyan, Mossman and Plane Creek regions. Each case study had a local industry working group, to drive the process of building models, validation, and developing pathways to adoption. Mourilyan was the basis for the model development due to the broad range of opportunities that the region was to explore and due to its technical capacity to work closely with the research team. This research team was multi-disciplinary across CSIRO, BSES and Harvesting Solutions due to the broad range of modelling expertise required in harvesting and transport. One of the first steps with the Mourilyan case study was to conceptualise the value chain in harvesting and transport, which defined the key linkages and drivers across these sectors. This was the basis for formulating a modelling framework which defined the interactions between the industry component models, some of which already existed within the industry. A modelling framework approach was better than building a super-model since it was more transparent to the local industry working groups, more robust and had greater industry ownership. Throughout the life of the Mourilyan case study, the modelling work underwent many revisions (over a one-year timeframe) through the participatory action research process. During this process, the case study regions developed and refined options (or scenarios) for the models. This provided the case study working group with a growing understanding of best-bet options for the local region and the benefits across the participants of the chain. Opportunities identified across the case study regions collectively fell into the themes of: increased time window of harvest through staggering the start times of harvesters; harvest best practice; improved seasonal logistics; transition to larger harvesting groups; and rationalisation/upgrading of transport infrastructure. Their collective potential benefits from these options was in excess of $2.00/tc for some case studies. The increased time window of harvest option was adopted immediately in the Mourilyan and Mossman regions due to minimal change management and no capital investment requirements, and continued to be implemented throughout the life and beyond CSE005. Harvest best practice started to be piloted in Mourilyan as a result of CSE005, though its adoption was often hampered by pressure to fill bins and disruptions. Whilst the Mourilyan and Mossman regions agreed the time window of harvest options were beneficial, an evaluation based on factual data was impossible due major changes in the base line evaluation (e.g. changed number of harvesting groups, tonnes crushed at each mill) from 2002 to 2005. About mid-way through CSE005, the Mourilyan and Plane Creek case studies ended pre-maturely due to reasons beyond the control of the project team. Whilst this was a disappointment for the project team and for many of the participants in the local industry working groups, the Herbert quickly became a replacement case study.