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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Commercial scale economic evaluation of post-harvest cane cleaning to maximise the returns to the supply shain : Final report 2016/953
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2019) Ginns, S
This project examined three cane supply treatments; Commercial harvesting, Low Loss harvesting and Low Loss Harvesting plus cleaning; to determine if post-harvest cane cleaning offered benefits over harvesting alone. As a basic concept, it was expected that reducing harvester extractor fan speed would reduce cane loss, resulting in increased CCS yield but also increased trash content, and that the post-harvest cane cleaning operation would remove the additional trash, maintaining the higher CCS yield. To facilitate this project, a mobile cane cleaner (MCC) was purchased from Norris ECT by SRA. The MCC was leased by the project from SRA. Major modifications to the cleaning chamber of the NorrisECT 180 mobile cane cleaner (MCC 180) were necessary. The MCC was a prototype machine not suitable for commercial use. The results did support the expectation of higher CCS yield with lower extractor fan speed, but much of the higher yield measured by low loss harvesting was lost after post-harvest cane cleaning. Economic analysis quantified harvesting costs and the resulting product income. In an experiment on Rajinder Singh’s farm, the treatment with post-harvest cane cleaning was found to be less economically attractive than the normal harvesting treatment, even with the lower transport cost in getting cane to Mossman Mill, a distance of 95 km. The project did not measure an increase in CCS yield from the low loss harvesting plus cane cleaning treatment to improve upon sugar income.
Masterclasses in soil health and soil biology for the sugar industry : Final report 2016/025
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2018) Stirling, G; Evers, A; Young, A; Anderson, J; Garcia-Cuenca, S
A total of 252 sugar growers, productivity services staff and others attended a series of Master Classes in Soil Health/Soil Biology that were held in 2017 and 2018. During those classes they had the opportunity to see some of the microscopic organisms that are found in soil and learn how sugar farming systems could be modified to improve soil biological health. The classes were run by Dr Graham Stirling (Biological Crop Protection), Dr Anthony Young (University of Queensland), Dr Jay Anderson (University of Queensland) and Mr Sebastien Garcia-Cuenca (Sugar Research Australia). However, the highlight of each class was the presentation by one of three growers: Ashley Petersen, Tony Chapman and Simon Mattsson. They explained how they were able to modify their farming system and discussed the soil health and economic benefits they had obtained. Each class concluded with a discussion on how growers could move forward and improve the health of their soils. The process involved identifying the key soil constraints that were limiting productivity; developing an action plan to rectify the problems; modifying the farming system in some way; and then instigating a monitoring program to confirm that benefits had been obtained. Feedback from the participants indicated that the classes were a resounding success. Comments were overwhelmingly positive and compliments such as “excellent course: engaging and interesting”, “the use of microscopes, practical application was great!” and “continue this every year!” were received. Those who attended clearly enjoyed the classes and most indicated that they were willing to accept the challenge of implementing a soil improvement plan.
Smarter Irrigation; educating growers in innovative on-farm water management and scheduling practices : Final report 2017/802
(Cotton Research and Development Corporation, 2018) Jaramillo, A
The general objective of the project was to realise significant productivity and profitability improvements for sugarcane growers. Engage in coaching and training activities with seven sugarcane growers in the use of innovative irrigation scheduling tools available and supported by the extension community in the Burdekin. Deliver a report on the actions and activities taken in the education of sugarcane growers in innovative on-farm water management and irrigation scheduling practices.
An assessment of the potential of remote sensing based irrigation scheduling for sugarcane in Australia : Final report 2015/082
(Cotton Research and Development Corporation, 2017) Sinha, P; Lamb, DW; Robson, A
There is currently no operational method of managing irrigation in Australia’s sugar industry on the basis of systematic, direct monitoring of sugar plant physiology. Satellite remote sensing systems, having come a long way in the past 10 years now offer the potential to apply the current ground-based ‘FAO’ or ‘crop coefficient (Kc)’ approach in a way that offers a synoptic view of crop water status across fields. In particular, multi-constellation satellite remote sensing, utilising a combination of freely available Landsat and Sentinel 2 imagery, supplemented by paid-for imagery from other existing satellite systems is capable of providing the necessary spatial resolution and spectral bands and revisit frequency. The significant correlations observed between Kc and spectral vegetation indices (VIs), such as the widely used normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) in numerous other crops bodes well for the detection and quantification of the spatial difference in evapotranspiration (ETc) in sugar which is necessary for irrigation scheduling algorithms.
Evaluation of scheduling tools for the sugar industry : Final project 2015/082
(Cotton Research and Development Corporation, 2017) Jaramillo, A
This study was commissioned to Sugar Research Australia (SRA) and AgriTech Solutions to evaluate the irrigation scheduling tools in the sugar industry and assess the feasibility of using satellite imagery as part of a scheduling platform for the sugarcane industry. In the sugarcane industry in Australia, the use of irrigation scheduling tools has been rather limited in spite of the recognition that water is one of the main drivers of production. In September 2017, Sugar Research Australia (SRA) held an industry wide Irrigation Forum, in which the general consensus was that irrigation was the biggest single driver of productivity above other factors that the industry could control. Recent grower surveys1, indicate the over 63% of the growers interviewed do not use any irrigation scheduling tool; so three out of five sugarcane farmers do not measure water in the soil or as inflow applied in each irrigation event. Statistics from the last decade, indicated that only 9% of growers plan future investment in soil water monitoring equipment.
Modernisation of furrow irrigation in the sugar industry : Final report 2014/079
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2017) Gillies, M
Irrigation is an essential part of sugarcane production in many of the sugarcane regions in Australia. Like all agricultural industries, the Australian sugarcane industry is under continuous pressure to demonstrate that it is using water resources in a profitable and responsible manner. Much of the industry is situated on the Queensland coast in close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon, which increases the importance of good management and minimising offsite impacts. The industry has been proactive in this regard, most recently through the Smartcane BMP programme. These initiatives are a formal recognition that growers are actively engaging with the principles of sustainability and minimising adverse environmental outcomes.
An analysis of sugar production issues in the Ord River Irrigation Area : SRDC technical report 01/2000
(Sugar Research and Development Corporation, 2000) Leslie, JK; Byth, DE
The analysis considered both cane yield and sugar content. A Preliminary Report in October 1998 utilised 1996 and 1997 production data, and concentrated on whether that data evidenced any changes from the pilot phase of 1977-1983. It concluded that there has been no apparent change in yield or quality of millable stalk. The pilot projections of commercial expectations did not discount sufficiently for the effects of mechanical harvesting. Cane losses, extraneous matter and soil contamination have reduced pol in commercial deliveries on average 2.33% pol below the level in millable stalk. This report updates those conclusions and extends to several other issues.
Implementing a framework for farmers to engage in the use of Precision Technologies : Final report 2012/013
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2015)
This research project's objectives are: Development of PA fundamental training and resources Pilot the delivery of PA training to ensure a consistent and fundamental level of knowledge across agronomist and advisors within the regions selected Develop a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) based framework for implementing precision technologies within the sugar industry Implementation of the HACCP based framework to focus on the key factors that are driving sugar cane production, monitor them and assure the correct management is in order to optimise production and profit of the Australian sugar industry Production of a package of resource materials covering both the basis of PA and the adoption framework in CD and/or web-hosted format. These legacy materials will ensure growers and advisors have a methodical way to apply precision technologies to optimise production and be able to be used long past the completion of this project.
Developing remote sensing as an industry wide yield forecasting, nitrogen mapping and research aid : Final report 2013/025
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2017) Robson, A; Rahman, M; Muir, J
The science of Earth Observation (EO) is a rapidly developing discipline that has seen an unprecedented rise in remote sensing technologies and application development, including those in agriculture. The Australian sugarcane industry has seen a steady increase in the development and adoption of remote sensing applications over the last decade, predominantly as a result of investment by SRDC and then Sugar Research Australia (SRA). SRA project (DPI025), with collaborative support from Australia's sugar mills, grower's, research institutions and extension agencies, has been at the forefront of this evolution, evaluating modern remote sensing technologies and novel analysis methodologies for improved in-season yield forecasting and Nitrogen management, both issues identified as priorities by the industry. Accurate yield forecasting at the regional level is vital for the Australian sugar industry as it supports decision making processes including harvest scheduling, product handling and forward selling. At the farm scale, accurate yield mapping provides growers with a stronger understanding of in-crop variability, both spatially and temporally, thus supporting the adoption of precision agricultural practices to maximize productivity. Currently, yield forecasting within the Australian sugarcane industry is undertaken by visual inspection or destructive sampling by either growers or mill funded productivity officers. Although relatively accurate, these methods are labour intensive and are subject to the influences of varied seasonal climatic conditions, crop age and human error. Remote sensing technologies have evolved across many cropping systems as an accurate 'tool' for measuring in-season performance and for the prediction of yield, pre- harvest. This project, built on the initial findings of DPI021, further developed regional yield prediction algorithms derived from SPOT satellite imagery for 11 growing regions: Broadwater, Harwood, Condong, Isis, Bundaberg, Maryborough, Burdekin, Herbert, Tully, South Johnstone and Mulgrave); investigated novel statistical methods for improving prediction accuracies at the block level; and investigated time-series remote sensing based models for improved forecasting accuracies earlier in the growing season.
Cropping solutions for the sugarcane farming systems of the Burdekin : Final report 2011/922
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2014)
The 'Cropping solutions for sugarcane farming systems of the Burdekin' project investigated cropping opportunities within the sugar dominant farming systems of the Burdekin. The project was designed to assess the impact and interaction that delayed planting has on sugarcane productivity both with and without different sequences of break crops (grain legumes, maize). This project objective was to assess both short (3-9 months) and longer (15-18 month) break cropping situations. Through a rigorous agronomy trial program, this project developed locally relevant agronomic packages for soybeans and mungbeans in tropical cane systems and investigated the profitability and productivity implications of longer fallows within the cane system. The project assessed agronomic management strategies (tillage, nitrogen, herbicides, varieties) for grains and developed information packages for grains (collation of relevant existing and project developed information and practices) including how to best transition in and out of sugarcane to allow successful break crop during the fallow period; and increase the skills and capacity of growers and local agribusiness to enable successful break crop management and production.

Farming systems and production management

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