Completed projects and reports
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Sugar Research Australia, Sugar Research Development Corporation and BSES reports from completed research projects and papers.
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Item Building future industry leaders : Final report ACF003(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2014) Puglisi, G; Sheppard, AThe project sought to ensure that the future leaders in sugar are prepared to become the new face of the industry by allowing them to complete a the Foundations of Directorship course, facilitated by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) as well as take part in an industry mentoring-style program.Item A regional partnership approach to developing a sustainable sugar cane system : SRDC Final report MAS001(SRDC, 2007) Rudd, A; Parker, DThe Mossman milling area has a unique place in the Australian sugar industry; not only is it the most northern of all mill areas but the Mossman Central Mill is one of the oldest independent milling companies and still substantially owned by its cane suppliers. It also has also established a reputation for innovation in both the processing and growing of sugarcane. By 2002 Mossman and most of the Australian sugar industry was suffering significant financial difficulties following a decade of expansion.Item Building capacity to lead and implement regional transformation in the sugar industry : Final report CSR029(Sugar Research and Development Corporation (SRDC), 2004) Livingstone, GThis project arose from an emerging need to increase the capacity of leaders at all levels of the Australian Sugar Industry and its supporting communities. Specifically, the industry was going through a period of substantial change in technical and organisational systems in response to the need to build its international competitiveness and sustainability. New skill sets were seen to be necessary in order to achieve required changes in the organisation of sectors within the industry including changes to practices within individual organisations and developing new ways of working together with a whole of value chain approach.Item Generation Next Forum : Townsville evaluation report(2006) Phillips, CThe Generation Next Forum resulted in approximately fifty young people from all sectors of the Australian Sugar Industry identifying practical commitments they could contribute to the future of the industry. The Generation Next Forum was conducted in Townsville between the 15th and 17th of February 2006. Approximately thirty senior industry leaders were also involved in the Forum, both gaining an understanding of the delegates’ perspectives and resourcing them with information and knowledge. The industry leaders also made commitments to continue to invest in the development of delegates through practical initiatives. The Forum provided opportunities for delegates to gain exposure to ideas, perspectives, skills and opportunities from a wide range of industry stakeholders and several from outside of the sugar industry.Item Controlled traffic farming systems for the North Coast Grower Group : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project Final report(2008) Fox, J; Zamparutti, MThe project aim was to implement and trial farming systems that incorporate the practices of controlled traffic, minimum tillage and crop rotations. The North Coast Grower Group members combined their resources and efforts to develop and implement a new farming system that utilized the bulk of their existing equipment, improved the management of their natural resources and reduced their cost of production. The group combined the results of their trials to identify a farming system that is sufficiently robust to handle the variations experienced in the North Coast environment (seasonal conditions, soil types, farm layouts and variable equipment) and improve the financial sustainability of the group members.Item Continuous improvement and innovation workshop : final report WS008(2005) Tims, JReports and programs associated with the sugar industry have highlighted significant needs and opportunities for the industry including: ~ The need for significant performance improvement across all sectors ~ Effective transfer and implementation of best practices in relation to farm performance, harvesting and mill performance ~ Commitment to implementing best practice extension methods ~ Increasing the efficiency of industry bodies ~ Adoption of "whole-of-system" solutions, to enhance revenue and cost efficiency, and to facilitate environmental and social sustainability across the industry chain. These needs and opportunities pose a significant challenge to sugar industry R&D and extension (RD&E) service providers to improve their own performance, while also supporting their clients to achieve improved performance. A 12 month Continuous Improvement and Innovation (CI&I) program was proposed for people involved in sugar industry RD&E. The aim of the program was to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of R&D and extension services in the sugar industry through building the capacity of participants in continuous improvement and innovation (CI&I). The objective was to deliver a workshop on the principles, processes and tools of continuous improvement and innovation (CI&I) to up to 20 sugar industry service providers, with support over a 12 month period for participants to apply the skills and knowledge learnt in the workshop. Overall, the program achieved its aim and objective, but was less successful in achieving some of the higher leverage benefits targeted at the beginning of the project such as: ~ The involvement of the right proportion of practitioners, leaders and managers ~ The implementation of an effective and efficient R&D and extension service system. A system design was documented, but no action was taken to purposefully use it to implement a more effective and efficient service system. ~ The design of services to equip and support customers to continuously improve and innovate their thinking, and their on-farm practices, processes and systems. Program participants focused on improving existing services or successfully implementing new projects, rather than on leading the design and implementation of CI&I services for/with customers.Item Sugar communities and resilience to change : opportunities for enhancing women's participation in sustainability initiatives(Sugar Research and Development Corporation (SRDC), 2008) Jakku, E; Bellamy, J; Bohnet, I; Finlayson, WThis project was funded by SRDC, in partnership with CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and the University of Queensland. The project commenced in November 2005 and this final report, completed in November 2008, summarises the key outputs, outcomes and lessons that have emerged from the project.Item Bed forming utilising GPS guidance by the CAS (Calen and St Helen) Young Farmers Association : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project final report(2008) Gordon, G; Mackenzie, CThis project aimed to enhance controlled traffic farming with GPS guidance in undulating conditions in the Calen and St Helen district of Mackay. The project focused on the use of preformed beds, as well as investigating different planting techniques (eg dual row and wide shute on preformed beds). The group also wanted to investigate the potential for a contracting facility to bed form under guidance. Key results from the project include: - Controlled traffic systems were enhanced through the use of GPS. Without GPS we had issues with maintaining even row spacings along the contours and side slopes, and holding a billet planter in position on slopes. Through the use of GPS, and the Alexander (flat top) bed former, we were able to overcome these issues. - We found that the flat top bed shape formed with the Alexander bed former was the most suitable for our region. While the trial results indicated there was no yield, NIR or financial difference between the flat top, round top bed and conventional planting, we found the flat top beds were much easier to manage in our undulating farming conditions as the tractor/planter can more easily stay on the wheel ruts and not stray from the desired position. With the flat top bed former we found we could mark out with a GPS tractor and then conduct other paddock operations without the GPS because the bed shapes kept the tractor and implement in the GPS wheel tracks. o The flat top beds provided the best wheel track for our planting equipment, as this profile seemed to form a “railway like track centre”, making it very easy to keep the planter in the correct position without the need for GPS guidance. The round beds seem to have a wider wheel space and we experienced some movement and uneven row spacing, however this could be eliminated with the use of guidance equipment on the planting gear (which we don’t have). -Different planting techniques on preformed beds had very similar yields. The dual rows on preformed beds performed the worst with a yield of 103.7 t/ha, compared to singles on beds and conventional planting with 108.63 and 107.81 t/ha respectively. o Based on the gross return per hectare, the single wide shute treatments planted on preformed beds performed the best with a return of $2,582.78 per hectare. However the conventional treatment was very close with a return of $2,539.34 per hectare. The dual rows had a return of $2,464.90 per hectare. Across the treatments there was only a difference of $117.88/ha. - A FEAT analysis conducted by a DPI economist showed that the group’s cur rent farming system (controlled traffic and tilled system) resulted in a Farm Operating Return of $20, 070 and a Return on Investment of 1.44%. While the improved farming system which involves controlled traffic, preformed beds, soybean fallow and reduced tillage resulted in a Farm Operating Return of $54, 947 and a Return on Investment of 3.94%. - There was very little difference in yield and NIR data between the conventional planting method, and the two different bed shapes. The CASH preformed beds, which have a flat shape, had the highest yield with 98.97 t/ha, however it also had the lowest PRS. Tonnes of sugar per hectare across the treatments were almost identical and as a result the Gross Return per hectare only had a difference of $29 between the treatments. o While there was no major difference in gross return between the treatments, we noticed that the flat bed shape was much easier to form, plant and harvest, compared to the round shape. F:\New folder\SRDC\SRDC USB\MRD\Projects - GGIP\Archive\GGP021\Final Report\100426 GGP021_final_report - final.doc - Preliminary results indicate that the flat top bed system has much greater water infiltration and plant extraction than the other systems. However more detailed, long term work needs to be conducted before final conclusions can be drawn. -In 2007 approximately 160 acres outside of the group members farms was contract bed formed, and an additional 100 acres was contract bed formed in 2008. The equipment will continue to be available for hire into the future. - The group members have determined that in this area, preformed beds are essential for a successful legume fallow. All group members will use the bed former prior to planting soybean.Item SRDC Travel and Learning Project final report Grower Innovation Virtual Expo(2008) Aylward, CGIVE 2008 was a follow up to the very successful GIVE 2006. GIVE stands for Grower Innovation Virtual Expo.For the first time in the history of the Australian sugar industry, groups of growers have been funded to undertake R&D activities through SRDC’s Grower Group Innovation Projects. As the results of these investments are completed, the GIVE conference provides a dedicated venue for these grower groups to present their results. With over 270 attendees (mainly growers) and 21 grower group presentations, and 4 guest speakers over the two days, GIVE 2008 was extremely successful, with all participants rating the event very highly. A wide range of agronomic and harvesting topics were covered in the conference providing attendees with up-to date information and technology applications. Appendix 7 provides a copy of the conference program. Presentations made at the 2008 conference can be downloaded at http://www.giveday.org.au/ SRDC supported this event with a TLOP. This assisted with the costs of the venue, bringing in guest speakers, and organising the associated field trips.