Implementation of controlled traffic farming of sugarcane in the Herbert River district : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project Final report GGP003
Abstract
The Pinnacle Precision Farming (PPF) Group was formed with the goal of implementing and
benefiting from the principals of controlled traffic farming using techniques being used by the
Sugar Yield Decline Joint Venture Team on a trial and demonstration plot located on the farm
operated by Ed Morris located in Toobanna. However we could not envisage a Double Disc Opener
Planter (DDOP) being viable unless it was able to successfully plant cane billets instead of using
whole cane stalk planters as used by the SYDJV Team. We had anticipated a Precision Billet Planter being
developed by the BSES but it did not eventuate and
we did not think it would be capable of dealing
with most of the planting material available at most
times. Sprawly cane and some varieties do not
always provide good planting material. A decision was made to modify an existing proven
billet planter design to use the concept of double
disc openers capable of planting sugar cane into
preformed beds in a no till or minimum till method.
Rather than sacrifice a new planter and also to keep
costs down. A second hand HBM Billet Planter
was purchased and the following modifications were carried out. We also saw the need to develop a bed former, which would work satisfactory in a green cane
farming system. The bed former would have to be able to work in trashier conditions as all the
sugar cane in the Herbert is harvested green and most farmers prefer to return their organic matter
to the soil. Most of the commercially available bed formers are designed to work in a trash and crop
residue free situation. We settled on a concept of an implement designed to reform cane rows after
harvesting and cultivation in the Burdekin irrigated cane lands.