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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Start date: 2010End date: 2014

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Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    A pilot for business planning for young farmers and partner in the sugarcane industry : final report ACF002
    (Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2014) Puglisi, G; Sheppard, A
    Through ACFA’s Next Gen program, it was identified that given the aging demographic of cane farmers it is important that young farmers, the future decision makers of the industry, are provided with the tools and skills needed for them to succeed in their farming businesses. This need was echoed through the Next Gen regional representatives and a desire was expressed to ‘up-skill’ to ensure that they have the tools required to run a profitable cane farm business. The Business Planning & Cash Flow Management courses were run in six locations from Mossman in Far North Queensland to Ballina in Northern New South Wales and were open to all young cane farmers looking to create or work on their existing business plan. Other topics included in the workshops were fixed & variable expenses, break-even analysis, insurance requirements, business structures, SWOT analysis as well as income & cash flow projections. The courses were delivered by Ray Dukamp of Basic Training Solutions, who has 15 years’ experience in training in Business Management and had previously successfully run similar programs in the grazing industry.
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    Boosting productivity in Maryborough by assisting cane growers to understand their soils : final report MSF007
    (2014) Dougall, A; Estbergs, A; Sugars, M
    This project was based around producing a soil map of the Bauple area which is south of Maryborough. The soil map will be a valuable tool for improving productivity in the area because it can facilitate better farm management, for example variety selection by soil type and more specific management of different soils. We used this mapping project as an extension tool to teach growers about their soils and how to better manage them, this resulted in four main extension activities:
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    Sugarcane Research Experiment Management System (SREMS) : SRDC final report
    (2011) Kent, G
    SRDC-funded physiological and agronomic experiments have been conducted by many researchers from various research institutes over the past decades. The resulting datasets are typically stored in idiosyncratic formats in a range of spreadsheet software packages. The data are, in most cases, unobtainable to other researchers and stakeholders resulting in potential repetition of experiments. In response the CRC for Sustainable Sugar Production (Sugar CRC) developed the “Sugarbag” database. Sugarbag contained data from 138 experiments stored in Microsoft Excel and Access format. Utilisation of this database has resulted in value-adding to knowledge beyond the life and expense of the initial projects, particularly in the areas of sugarcane physiology and APSIM model development. In 2002 Sugarbag ceased to be maintained and is consequently out of date and under utilised. Since the cessation of Sugarbag, more recently generated datasets have generally remained in the hands of the project Principle Investigators and failed to be available for further value-adding. This project sought to address the issue by developing an updated database facility that was accessible via the web. The database was referred to as the Sugarcane Research Experiment Management System (SREMS).
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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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    Summary of a symposium on productivity limits in the wet tropics of the Queensland sugar industry
    (2013)
    Improving productivity is the main strategy of the Australian sugar industry for increasing competitive performance in the international sugar market. It is also one of the key objectives of research and extension organisations servicing the industry
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    Report for terrain natural resource management extension officer support services to cane farmers in the Herbert and Tully region
    (2011) Sellick, S; Villaruz, J; Shannon, G
    As part of the Reef Rescue project, BSES Limited has two contracts with Terrain Natural Resource Management involving the delivery of specific extension services to the sugar cane industry in the Terrain region sugarcane districts from the Herbert to Mossman. These extension services sit within the BSES strategic plan (2008-13) and are designed to support improvements in water quality outcomes that also potentially improve long-term sustainability of the industry.The two contracts are for Extension Support for growers to access on-farm funding (BSES code 2420420) and delivery of industry training (BSES codes 2425420 and 2430420 run as one project).
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    Report for terrain natural resource management : delivery of six easy steps and integrated weed management workshops throughout the terrain region
    (2011) Sellick, S; Calcino, D; Shannon, G; Benson, A; Porta, M
    As part of the Reef Rescue project, BSES Limited has two contracts with Terrain Natural Resource Management involving the delivery of specific extension services to the sugar cane industry in the Terrain region sugarcane districts from the Herbert to Mossman. These extension services sit within the BSES strategic plan (2008-13) and are designed to support improvements in water quality outcomes that also potentially improve long-term sustainability of the industry.The two contracts are for Extension Support for growers to access on-farm funding (BSES code 2420420) and delivery of industry training (BSES codes 2425420 and 2430420 run as one project).This report is for 2425420 and 2430420 and involves the following key areas of activity:1. Provide technical support and membership to the Terrain sugar industry working group2. Provide specific extension services to assist Herbert and Tully growers in accessing Federal Government on-farm matched funding for works that improve both productivity and water quality outcome3. Provide an increased volume of industry support in areas of nutrient management and weed management programmes4. Provide technical support to the ABCD land-use practice guidelines and industry surveys for reporting to the Federal Government.
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    Research Seminar, Bundaberg 2 March 1988
    (2012) Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations (BSES)
    Fourth seminar held in Bundaberg focussing on southern canegrowers district. Topics cover research, research funding and extension.