| Abstract | In the 2017 and 2018 crushing seasons, Sugar Research Australia Limited (SRA) conducted a
project to assist harvesting groups to reduce sugar loss. The principles of harvesting practice
to reduce loss have been well known in the industry for many years. However, at the start of
the 2017 season few harvesting groups were operating according to these principles. The
harvesting adoption team concluded that there were several socio-economic impediments to
harvester operators changing practice, but that many of these could be overcome by working
with individual harvesting groups (a harvester owner and the farmers serviced) as these could
make decisions on changing arrangements. A demonstration trial evaluating sugar loss from a
suite of harvester settings (typically commercial standard, recommended (guided by harvesting
best practice (HBP) principles), aggressive and ‘low-loss’ control) was provided for each group
involved, with all group members encouraged to attend. This was followed up with at least one
workshop where the trial results and economic analysis were presented and groups were
encouraged to consider improving harvester setup, optimising harvester settings to reduce loss
and changing harvesting payment arrangements. In 2017, 43 groups were involved, and a
further 52 in 2018. To date, the uptake of HBP harvester settings has been impressive. Groups
that participated in the demonstration trials had, on average, reduced both fan speed and pour
rates. Unfortunately, 50% of participants continued to operate above the generic
recommended rates, which is reflective of the need for a robust estimate of the cost and
benefits of harvesting to allow improved payment arrangements and acceptance by harvesting
groups. Of the 40 groups for which data is currently available, 25 groups had optimised their
harvester feed trains, 11 had installed after-market (low loss) choppers, 6 groups had changed
payment arrangements and 20 were considering or negotiating changed payment
arrangements. Many participants are now supporters of best practice; they accept that sugar
losses are real, significant and able to be addressed. It is intended to continue this project into
the 2019 through to 2022 seasons. |
