A participatory approach towards improving industry sector profits through improved harvesting efficiency : SRDC Final report BSS227
Abstract
Recent productivity gains through the introduction of high yielding varieties, green cane harvesting, improved drainage and irrigation have resulted in larger, mostly lodged crops with increased suckering. As a result, ccs levels have declined, dirt in supply and extraneous matter levels have increased, and stool damage at harvest is obvious. Growers do not always connect their role in crop presentation to ease of harvest and resultant cane quality. Failure to hill up plant cane adequately and match it to harvester basecutter angle; inconsistent row spacing and lack of attention to farm layout, headlands and haul roads are the main deficiencies. Harvester operators and harvest crews may also have goals conflicting with cane quality and quality of ground job. The standard system of harvester payment, which is based on $/tonne, rewards speed of operation. Stool damage, cane loss and poor billet quality result. The mills? transport limitations and need for continuous supply may impose restrictions on harvesting where by the harvester must deliver a fixed quantity of cane within a short time frame. This can result in poor ground job and higher cane losses (because fan speed is increased in an attempt to achieve cleaning at high pour rates). Short and damaged billets can result from pressure to achieve high pour rates and high bin weights. Encouraging harvesting under wet conditions results in field damage. The viability of the north Queensland sugar industry is in jeopardy. Industry leaders believe there are large productivity and profitability gains to be made by adopting harvesting best practice (HBP).
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Enhancing efficiency and integration from field to factory in the Herbert : SRDC Final report
Sheedy, P; Giordani, P; Quabba, R; Higgins, A; Kent, G; Everitt, P; Harvesting solutions. (2010)The Herbert sugar region underwent major strategic change in the harvesting and transport sectors, which will involve $7M investment in siding rationalisation and a substantial reduction in the number of harvesting groups. ... -
Improving harvest efficiency in the Mossman Central Mill area : SRDC Final report
Rudd, A (2006)The Mossman sugar industry in 2004 was characterised by small farms and small blocks, an excessive kilometer/tonne transport ratio, an aging transport infrastructure with a bin fleet of limited capacity, a decreasing area ... -
Benchmarking harvest group practices in the Burdekin : SRDC Final report CSR033
Ellis, D; Haigh, I (2006)This project was initiated due to a lack of information available to harvesting groups as to whether their operation was economically comparable to other harvesting groups in the Burdekin and if their current practices ...