Farming systems and production management

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Integrated value chain scenarios for enhanced mill region profitability
(2005) Thorburn, PJ; Archer, AA; Hobson, PA; Higgins, AJ; Sandel, GR; Prestwidge, DB; Andrew, B; Antony, G; McDonald, LJ; Downs, P; Juffs, R
The Australian sugar industry has recently faced an unprecedented cost-price ‘squeeze’ from a run of poor seasons and the collapse of the sugar price. As a result there is impetus to consider diversifying products from the raw sugar production value chain. The chain is complex however, and alternative products will necessitate substantial changes to the chain, the impacts of which will be difficult to predict a priori. Modelling offers insights into the impacts of, and benefits from changes to value chains. Analyses of the chain should, ideally, be conducted in enough biophysical detail to allow the logistical challenges to be properly analysed. The application of these modelling techniques in a participatory environment would allow groups within mill regions to more thoroughly evaluate diversification options of their sugar value chains in their region, and so move forward with more confidence and greater understanding than occurs with other approaches. While participatory modelling has previously been undertaken for issues in one or two sectors of the Australian sugar value chain, it has not been attempted for the whole of the chain before. In this project we aimed to facilitate the improved economic efficiency of the sugar industry value chain through developing and participatively applying an innovative modelling capability that allowed industry groups to identify and evaluate sugar value chain diversification options. The project was conducted in partnership with all sectors of the Burdekin and Maryborough industries. The first phase of the project entailed working with the regional groups to identify and prioritise potential diversification options for their region. In both regions whole crop harvesting to maximise electricity co-generation was identified as the highest priority venture for consideration in the project. In the Burdekin, two contrasting mill regions (Invicta and Pioneer) were analysed to maximise the relevance of the results to the region.
Restoring efficiency to harvested cane transport in New South Wales : SRDC Final report
(2009) O'Connor, M
The New South Wales sugar industry has transported mechanically harvested burned cane to its three mills using a multilift bulk bin system since 1974. The transport has been both efficient and cost effective, until the introduction of Whole-of-Crop (WoC) harvesting in 2007. In 2005 the NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative Ltd (NSWSMCo-op), committed the NSW Sugar Industry to cogeneration of electricity at its three mills, using bagasse and cane trash as fuel. The whole crop would be harvested and transported to the mill to have its sugar extracted and the remaining carbohydrate burned as fuel. All sectors of the industry began to modify equipment to harvest, transport and mill, whole-of-crop prior to the project commencement in 2007. Critical to the economic viability of the co-generation project is the efficient transport of the low density WoC material. NSWSM Co-op economists calculated the economical bulk haulage tonnage at 23.5 net tonnes per trip, and constructed new, low weight aluminium multilift bins with a capacity of 90m3, the maximum dimensions allowed on NSW roads, to assist in achieving this weight. Harvester operators faced a daunting challenge of loading 23.5 tonnes of low and varying bulk density WoC material, into the bins. At the beginning of the 2007 harvesting season no operator in NSW using standard harvesting techniques, was able to consistently achieve this target, increasing the number of trips needed to carry WoC to the mill, significantly lowering transport efficiencies and increasing the cost of fuel for the co-generation plant. This reduction in the average net weight of material in each bin, has been estimated to increase transport costs by $1,300,200 on a one million tonne crop delivered to Broadwater mill. The project sought to increase the bulk density of harvested WoC material in the multilift bins, to achieve a payload of 23.5 tonnes net, thereby restoring the transport efficiencies required for the viability of the co-generation project. The project investigated existing research, knowledge and technologies used to compact organic fibrous wastes with similar physical properties to WoC. Researchers conducted similar trials on WoC material and collected data that favoured compaction over compression as the most practical and effective method of increasing the bulk density of this material in the existing bulk transport bins.
Analysis of field and factory options for efficient gathering and utilisation of trash from green cane harvesting : SRDC Final report BS157S
(2000) Ridge, DR; Hobson, PA
The objectives of this project were: to determine field costs for harvest\transport of cane with varying levels of cleaning by the harvester; to determine similar costs for field to factory transport; to establish the total industry cost of the various options; to determine the feasibility of cleaning at the mill; and to determine the economic feasibility of importing and burning additional extraneous matter for co-generation of power.

Farming systems and production management

Browse

Filters

Advanced Search

Filter by

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results