Knowledge and technology transfer and adoption

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://elibrary2.sugarresearch.com.au/handle/11079/13847

Research outcomes: Research results and new technologies are communicated and transferred in an appropriate and timely manner across the industry value chain, supporting increased uptake of best-practice and innovative technology. A skilled advisory sector that drives the adoption of new technology. An industry knowledge base that incorporates and makes freely available the most up-to-date production methodologies to industry. Collaborative alliances, partnerships and networks that optimise synergies, integrate knowledge and share best-practices.

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Grower group

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    GIVE 2009 project report
    (2009) Di Bella, LP
    The Grower Innovation Virtual Expo (GIVE 09) was hosted by the Herbert Young Farmers and Herbert and Tully grower groups. The event was also supported by Herbert Cane Productivity Services Limited (HCPSL), Tully Cane Productivity Services (TCPSL), BSES Limited, CSR Sugar, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (QDPI&F), CANEGROWERS Herbert River, Grower Group Services (GGS) and the Tropical City Group. The primary objective of the event was to encourage growers to discuss there own experiences, research and development which they were undertaking in there own businesses. The Tully/ Herbert organizing group also wanted to challenge and encourage growers within there regions to seek opportunities to improve their own farming businesses. The event was held on the 24th and 25th of March, 2009 in the Tully/ Ingham area. It is perceived by all involved that the GIVE 09 event was a major success.
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    Helping sugarcane farmers integrate electronic recording systems into their farming business : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project final report
    (2012) Reinaudo, M
    The use of timely and accurate records can improve farm profitability through the evaluation of past, current and future performance of the business. Electronic farm management records are relatively new for the sugar industry and in many cases the value of this information is yet to be successfully demonstrated to growers. This project provided growers with an opportunity to integrate electronic record keeping into existing farming businesses and evaluate the values of farm management records. The grower group consists of 15 businesses, representing a combined total area of over three thousand hectares of sugarcane farming land. Group participants had a spread of computer and record keeping skills ranging from nill to very tech savvy. A thorough process was utilised to select an appropriate program for the duration of the project (January 2010 – December 2011). This involved a review of the most widely used ‘of-the-shelf’ record keeping products in agriculture, with emphasis on the sugarcane industry, and then narrowing down to three products of preference for the group. In order to make an informed decision, the group utilised several sources of information. This included contemporary literature on each program, meetings and demonstrations with each of the product agents, a group field study to source first hand information from growers using the programs and development of a decision table to assist group members with the final selection. Final selection of the program was decided through a group vote, with Farm Works receiving the majority of votes. The group proceeded with purchasing the software and hardware and successfully implemented the electronic record keeping system into their existing cane farming business. The grower group project delivered a strong focus on people development through improved knowledge and experience in using electronic records for farm management purposes. In many cases, the growers involved were not accustomed to keeping electronic farm management records, therefore this project provided a significant step forward from existing manual / paper based record keeping. Over the course of the project, the level of electronic record keeping increased significantly and a greater array of records are now documented by grower group participants. This project demonstrated that electronic record keeping represents the future in optimising the management of contemporary sugar farming enterprises. Many of the group members have embraced the technology and are now looking at alternate applications within their respective business. That said producers with a lesser affinity for technology and/or complexity of the system have struggled with its application. Not all grower group members will continue to use the Farm Works program beyond the life of the project. This is largely a function of some of the co-operating producers struggling with the technology and its applicability to their specific farming system / operations. This reinforces the need for each grower to consider which type of record keeping system will best suit their needs before implementing a change. Only with appropriate training and support will a new district & industry norm be established. With the variety of packages available to producers, the broader Industry also faces the challenge of establishing a common set of variables / parameters that can be recorded in each district and the ability to share information between systems. Achieving consistency in this regard, would greatly enhance the ability for cross regional / Industry wide assessments
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    Enhancing grower groups in the Australian sugar industry : final report BSS287
    (2007) Allsopp, PG
    Self-directed and self-funded grower groups in other Australian agricultural industries have demonstrated that participative R&D and action-learning processes can deliver knowledge, attitude and practice change at faster rates than conventional extension methods. Australian sugar-industry productivity groups have been slow to adopt these processes and concepts. The project aimed to establish and assist a pilot grower group that could demonstrate and communicate to the broader industry the issues and benefits of participative R&D, action learning, and group incorporation and self-funding.
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    Bus tour for southern region growers to contrast grain and sugar industry group dynamics : final report BSS288
    (2006) Callow, BG
    The grower-group concept in the sugar industry has been constantly enhanced and provides a great opportunity to share information and experience with other growers. This tour saw the enhancement of learning opportunities through the opportunity to meet with growers from other agricultural sectors. The trip visited Moree to learn from grain and cotton growers of their experiences in the implementation of new farming systems, especially of the change process, advantages and disadvantages, and the long-term benefits. The trip then took the participants to visit the cane industry in northern NSW, specifically in the Harwood area and Rocky Point in south eastern Queensland.
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    The development of an extension network amongst growers in Tully with a view to improving industry profitability in a participatory atmosphere : final report BSS253
    (2002) Finlayson, D
    The challenge for industry personnel was to develop a network amongst canegrowers in Tully that would provide more effective extension of research and development than current methods could achieve. A project in Mulgrave had been operating successfully for twelve months and was based on groups of growers that were dealing with similar issues. We used this model to design a program that would utilise extension resources pre-existing in Tully to provide an on-farm, participatory approach to increase the adoption of best management techniques within the sugarcane farming system.A steering committee was formed with representatives of the four major bodies in the Tully sugarcane industry ? Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations (BSES), CANEGROWERS, Cane Protection and Productivity Board (CPPB), and Tully Sugar Limited. This steering committee met initially to develop the program and acted in an advisory capacity to local extension staff. This project was instrumental in that it provided the operating funds required to get the whole process off the ground and allowed it to gather some momentum.Grower groups were established in each of the seven mill districts within Tully. These were named ?Farmer Forums? to dissociate them from ?shed meetings? and to foster an interactive rather than a ?sit there and listen? type atmosphere. All of the groups were satisfied with our proposal and committed themselves to the process.The whole basis for the groups was to encourage participation and active learning. The best way to achieve this in a farming community is to get farmers' hands dirty. The program resorted to informal meetings in a shed or under a house when the weather prevented any outside activity, but generally the groups met and undertook a practical, timely exercise on-farm. These exercises ranged from timing of weed control to harvesting and transport issues.The groups also set up particular demonstration sites, managed by the growers under professional guidance, which are being used to show how best management techniques might improve current farming methods.The groups were a little slow to grasp the whole 'group' concept but were all positive about setting their own direction. As a result, the demonstration sites are a mixture of old and new technology. Some groups wanted to jump straight into the new things and other groups saw the benefit of getting the basics right before they tackled any new issues.Although the whole concept of group learning is not new to agriculture in Australia, it has proved to be a continual learning experience for both the growers and staff as we develop this program in Tully. During the course of the project we have shared these experiences with other districts and will continue to exchange ideas.Although the project and SRDC funding have finished, there is no intention to let the group process end. The steering committee will meet again to revise the program and the groups will continue to operate indefinitely.