Developing an integrated cropping-systems RD&E program for the sugar industry

Abstract

Sugarcane trash is used extensively as garden mulch in an industry with a value in excess of $20 million per annum. The incursion of sugarcane smut has complicated the movement of trash by companies that provide sugarcane mulch products,this assessment considers the survival of smut spores in relation to the proposal to store baled trash until there was a low risk of viable spores being present.The project aimed to develop industry-wide integration of cropping-systems RD&E to maximise effectiveness and efficiency of RD&E expenditure and expertise.