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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Item A collaborative approach to Precision Agriculture RDE for the Australian Sugar Industry : Final report CSE022(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2014) Bramley, R; Schroeder, B; Baillie, CStrong sugar industry interest in Precision Agriculture (PA) has developed during the 2000s on the back of considerable progress with PA in other Australian agricultural sectors (grains and wine in particular), attempts in the Herbert (HCPSL and partners), and more recently in other districts, to develop a regional harvest management and yield mapping capability, and increased support for initiatives deemed of value in minimising possible impacts of sugarcane production on the Great Barrier Reef, including the provision of grants to growers for the purchase of GPS guidance systems and variable rate controllers for fertilizer spreaders. Against this background, the then Sugar Research and Development Corporation commissioned the reviews contained in SRDC Technical report 3/2007. A subsequent workshop held to mark the delivery of these reviews identified a number of PA-related R+D priorities which collectively could be characterised as being aimed at properly positioning the sugar industry for appropriate PA adoption, supported by access to the necessary technology, skills, methodological protocols and case studies. This project emerged from that process. Its intended focus, was to be based around core field sites in the Bundaberg, Burdekin and Herbert districts which were established with the intent of both PA research and demonstration.Item Precision agriculture; an avenue for profitable innovation in the Australian sugar industry, or expensive technology we can do without? : SRDC Final report CSE018(2007) Bramley, R; Webster, T; Thorburn, PPrecision Agriculture (PA) is an all-encompassing term given to a suite of technologies which promote improved management of agricultural production through recognition that the potential productivity of agricultural land can vary considerably, even over very short distances (a few m). The key technologies involved are yield monitors, remote and proximal sensing, the global positioning system (GPS) and geographical information systems. This project was conducted in response to the recognition by the Sugar Research and Development Corporation (SRDC) that the Australian sugar industry needs an informed basis from which to make decisions as to appropriate investment in PA. The project took the form of a review of published literature on PA and two industry workshops: the first conducted mid-project to provide the Industry Reference Group with an opportunity to review project progress and to make input to the recommendations emerging from it; the second conducted at the completion of the project to inform industry of the conclusions drawn and to promote industry input into SRDC’s priority setting with respect to future PA research. The review briefly discusses the philosophy underpinning PA, looks at PA research and application in a range of cropping systems, including sugarcane production, from around the world and considers the key drivers of short range spatial variability in these production systems. Constraints to the adoption of PA and its likely economic benefits are also considered in light of experiences from around the world. The opportunities that PA offers to the Australian sugar industry are identified, along with recommendations of further research, development and extension to facilitate its productive and profitable adoption. It is concluded that sugarcane production is ideally suited to the adoption of PA. However, a number of key tasks in Research, Development and Extension (RDE) are identified which will be required to enable its implementation in the Australian sugar industry.Item Remote sensing-based precision agriculture tools for the sugar industry : SRDC Final report DPI021(2013) Robson, A; Abbott, C; Bramley, R; Lamb, DThis project aimed to develop remote sensing applications that were both relevant and of commercial benefit to the Australian sugar industry and therefore adoptable. Such applications included the in season mapping of crop vigour so as to guide future management strategies, the identification of specific abiotic and biotic cropping constraints, and the conversion of GNDVI variability maps into yield at the block, farm and regional level. In order to achieve these applications the project team reviewed an array of remote sensing platforms, timing of imagery capture, software and analysis protocols; as well as distribution formats of derived imagery products, to a range of end users. The project developed strong collaborative linkages with all levels of the industry including mills, productivity services, agronomists, growers and researchers and increased its initial coverage from three individual farms in Bundaberg, Burdekin and the Herbert, coinciding with project CSE022, to include over 33,000 crops grown across 6 growing regions (Mulgrave, Herbert, Burdekin, Bundaberg, ISIS and Condong) during the 2011/2012 season.