Australian Canegrower - 3 August 2015 by CANEGROWERS

Canegrower AUSTRALIAN

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3 August 2015 Price $8.95

Why the US needs to buy our sugar

Low pressure cuts irrigation costs

Driven by growers. Used by growers. Owned by growers In recent years how we farm has been dictated by others. As Australian farmers, we would much rather have a system which works for us. A system which is about improving our bottom line and one we can use to market our sugar to the world. The Australian sugarcane industry has worked together and built just such a system. Smartcane BMP. Smartcane BMP will help Australia maintain its competitive edge in the increasingly competitive world market. Being able to show we are productive and sustainable producers of quality sugar is becoming increasingly important to our customers, and the Smartcane BMP system is the way we are going to show just that.

Become part of the movement:

www.smartcane.com.au

CONTENTS 03.08.2015

CHAIRMAN'S COMMENT

As we wait for the outcomes of the TPP trade negotiations, I've been asked why we need new markets. While our existing customers are immensely valuable, things can change and the best arrangements are those where a seller has multiple outlets to maximise returns. That's why we're seeking access to the United States for our sugar. Paul Schembri CANEGROWERS Chairman

Cover: Mackay district grower Mark Bugeja. His family has been changing from water winches to low pressure irrigation. Read their story from page 16.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

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Opposite: A beautiful cane landscape view of the Bugeja farm. Why the US needs to buy our sugar

Low pressure cuts irrigation costs

Editor Neroli Roocke Design, subscriptions, advertising and classifieds Wayne Griffin

Beware tax time phishing scams

Chairman's Comments

Meet Mick - Taking the reigns at BMP

Regional round-up

Study confirms drop in sugar consumption

Industry Spotlight - trailBLAZERS

SRA Snapshot: Appointments to Research Funding Panel

Fire ants move closer to Rocky Point cane land

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEW

Articles appearing in Australian Canegrower do not necessarily represent the policies or views of CANEGROWERS

QSL: Terminals underpin our industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success

Soil microarthropods: There's an army down there!

Published every second Monday by CANEGROWERS Level 6, 100 Edward Street, Brisbane, Queensland Australia ABN 94 089 992 969 Postal Address: GPO Box 1032, Brisbane, Queensland 4001 Australia Telephone: 07 3864 6444; Fax: 07 3864 6429 Email: info@CANEGROWERS.com.au Website: www.CANEGROWERS.com.au CANEGROWERS/Members Card Hotline 1800 177 159

Grants for women in the agricultural sector

ON FARM 16

Grower Profile: Taking the pressure off irrigation costs

Safe farms make more money

Energy efficiency workshops

AUSTRALIAN CANEGROWER ISSN 157-3039 Volume 37, Number 15 Printed by Screen Offset Printing 202 Robinson Road, Geebung, QLD, 4034

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3 August 2015

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EDITOR’S DESK

As I write this, CANEGROWERS is being represented by Warren Males at what’s thought to be the final round of trade negotiations in Hawaii towards the Trans Pacific Partnership. CANEGROWERS Chairman Paul Schembri explains why this is so important to our industry in his Executive Comment. This magazine we introduce Mick Quirk to you – he’s the new Project Manager for Smartcane BMP. On page 4 he shares his view for the future of this important industry initiative. And you might take a new view on the soil under your feet after you read the article on 14, that dirt could be teeming with life!

Video content This edition, the On Farm feature on page 16 takes you to the Bugeja’s Mackay district farm where cost savings and yield gains have resulted from a switch from water winches to low pressure irrigation.

To hear Tony and Mark talk further, watch the video at www.youtube.com/canegrowers Keep on checking that page as the 2015 season of Virtual Bus Tour videos are uploaded featuring growers with Rural Water Use Efficiency – Irrigation Futures and Australian Government Reef Programme projects.

stay in their homes, to providing a nutritious breakfasts to children who might otherwise go to school hungry, and responding to natural disasters as soon as they occur. If you want to get involved too head to www. bigcakebake.org.au or call 1800 652 635.

Cheers! Neroli

Time for cake! This month I’ve got a great reason to use some quality Australian sugar and bake a cake – CANEGROWERS has registered to take part in the annual Red Cross Big Cake Bake.

Neroli

The idea is to get together with friends, family, colleagues or neighbours and fundraise for Red Cross with events such as morning or afternoon tea, cake sales or a baking competition. We’ll be holding a morning tea in our office in Brisbane and all money raised will go to support the work of Red Cross in Australia from assisting elderly and isolated people to

BEWARE of tax time phishing scams The Australian Taxation Office has issued a warning to taxpayers to be wary of scams at this time of year.

source such as a phone book or online search.

The ATO says scammer’s ramp up their efforts to defraud the public of their personal information and money while everyone is thinking about and working on their tax returns.

• Always keep your computer security up to date with anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a good firewall. Only buy computer and antivirus software from a reputable source.

During the 2014 calendar year the ATO received in excess of 42,000 reports from the public of email and phishing scams.

• Never send money or give your financial details to someone you don’t trust - it’s rare to recover money from a scammer.

John Becker, Chief Information Security Officer at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) says scammers can be very convincing and trick people into handing over money, their Tax File Number (TFN) or personal information.

• If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

“Their tricks include impersonating ATO representatives on the phone or sending fraudulent emails,” said Mr Becker. KEY TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF • Never share personal information, such as your TFN, myGov or bank account details on social media. • Change any passwords you may have shared with family or friends. • If you receive an email or phone call out of the blue from ‘the ATO’ claiming that you are entitled to a refund or asking you to confirm, update or disclose confidential details like your tax file number, press ‘delete’ or just hang up. • Don’t open any attachments or click on any links or reply to these emails. They may take you to a bogus website or contain a harmful virus. • If you’re not sure whether a call or email is a scam, verify who they are by using their official contact details to call them directly. Never use contact details provided by the caller – find them through an independent

Australian Canegrower

| 3 August 2015

• If you use a tax agent, make sure they are registered by checking at www.tpb. gov.au/onlineregister (link is external). • Never put your tax file number (TFN) on your resume. Only give it to your employer after you have started your job. John Becker recommends that if you receive a call from the ATO and are concerned about providing your personal information over the phone, ask for the caller’s name and phone them back through the ATO’s switchboard on 13 28 69. “People can also forward suspect scams to ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au or call the ATO during business hours on 1800 060 062 to discuss a suspected scam.” 

CHAIRMAN'S COMMENT

We can help the US with its sugar stocks deficit By Paul Schembri CANEGROWERS Chairman Perhaps by the time this magazine reaches you the outcome of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations might well be known. Hopefully the Australian sugar industry will be well served by the announcement of new trade protocols under the TPP. It is timely to ensure that cane growers and the wider community understand why these kinds of trade agreements are so important to the Australian sugar industry. We export 80% of our production and so we rely on other countries buying our sugar on competitive terms. Many other sugar producing countries provide substantial levels of financial and other support to their growers and this distorts markets and prices. Often growers will ask why we need new markets for our sugar when we enjoy access to a range of countries who are reliable customers, particularly in Asia. Those markets are immensely valuable and longstanding to our industry, however the dynamics of markets change and the best arrangements are those where a seller can have multiple outlets to maximise returns to producers. Hence, we have invested an enormous effort to increase our market access to the United States under TPP. The US has a sizeable sugar production to consumption deficit – of over three million tonnes. Prices of sugar in the US are considerably higher than world prices and substantial access to the US market would be an immediate shot in the arm to Australian sugar producers. I stress that we are not seeking to compete against US sugar farmers or dislodge their sugar program. We only want an opportunity to supply sugar to fill that gap between production and consumption. Australian cane farmers are the most market exposed sugar producers in the world. Effectively 100% of our production accesses the global price. Unless we gain market access to countries such as the US and its higher prices, we will always be governed only by the fortunes of a global price that is distorted by the interventionist policies of other governments. Fingers crossed for a good TPP result.

“We are not seeking to compete against US sugar farmers or dislodge their sugar program. We only want an opportunity to supply sugar to fill that gap between production and consumption.” Paul Schembri CANEGROWERS Chairman

The persistent rain in some parts of the Queensland sugar industry is posing enormous problems for the 2015 cane harvest.

demand a fair share of market power in the Australian sugar industry.

It is ironic that we were in need of rain during the ‘wet’ season but that it largely failed us and then when the mills opened for the crush and the harvesters are running, the rain won’t stop falling! Despite the late rain, the impacts of a failed wet season will reduce this year’s crop. Already Mackay Sugar has downgraded its estimate for the season and it appears that the Australian estimate may be down by two to three million tonnes from the initial forecast.

We need the issue resolved very soon. In that context we call on the KAP, LNP and the Labor Party to put aside political differences and come together to support a bill that gives cane growers the certainty and stability we deserve. A fair marketing outcome for growers will be won by the combined efforts of the CANEGROWERS leadership, the district offices and every individual who will be affected. A single letter written by an individual farmer to a local politician can have a huge impact – sometimes more than any media story. I ask you to work with us to keep up the pressure. 

Yellow Canopy Syndrome (YCS) has exacerbated lower productivity outcomes for growers this year. Its impacts in some regions have CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan at the Lucinda been severe. In my 40 years as a sugar terminal with QSL's Des Mizzi and Carla Keith farmer, I have never seen such a frustrating mystery descend on the sugar industry. Not only does it impact on yield but it drives down the sugar content in the cane. The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) has continued its ambition to place a sugar marketing bill before the State Parliament to restore market power to Queensland cane farmers. The KAP Bill recognises Grower Economic Interest (GEI) in sugar as a basis to ensuring that growers enjoy pro-competitive choice in a channel to the market. CANEGROWERS and ACFA have provided input into the Bill. I understand that a comprehensive sugar marketing bill is also in the final stages of development by the Liberal National Party in Queensland. The marketing dispute has been in play for well over 12 months now. Whilst it has eroded grower confidence it has not diminished the resolve of cane farmers to 3 August 2015

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Meet Mick – he’s taking the reins of Smartcane BMP Mick Quirk brings decades of agricultural research and extension experience to the sugarcane industry’s stewardship and productivity program, Smartcane BMP. He’s starting his tenure as Project Manager with a tour of sugarcane growing regions to meet with BMP facilitators. “I’ve joined the BMP program at a time in which the focus has shifted from development to one of adoption, which is exciting,” Mick says. “The program has a very solid foundation and the immediate challenge is to find ways to make the process as efficient as possible while building its value for growers and industry. “A lot of growers have registered and done the self-assessment stage, now we need to see more of these growers seeking accreditation and then using the program as a way of identifying further opportunities for improved productivity and sustainability. “I look forward to meeting with the BMP district facilitators and discussing the progress of the program and their ideas for improving the process and its value for growers.” Prior to taking on the BMP roles, Mick was with Meat & Livestock Australia

(MLA) where he managed on-farm Research and Development investment. He’s also a 23 year veteran of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries where he was an agronomist before leading a Queensland-wide research and extension team of up to 55 staff focussed on sustainable beef production systems. Mick is no stranger to the issues of water quality and Great Barrier Reef impact that the cane industry is facing, having been a member of the Independent Science Panel for the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. “The BMP program looks at all aspects of growing a successful cane crop with three of the modules also relating directly to how growers can practically reduce loss of nutrients, sediment and pesticides from their farms, thereby helping reduce the risk of any impacts to the reef and associated environments,” Mick says.

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“BMP is important for growers in a number of ways. “The more that the industry can demonstrate that it is applying current best practice for managing nutrients, water and pesticides, the less pressure there will be for regulations or other external interventions into industry practice. “Just as importantly, the program can help growers identify those practices, or the modifications to current practices, that are most likely to improve efficiency and production.” Mick disagrees with the view that BMP is just a process for getting ticks and/ or crosses, with no lasting value to the grower. “The BMP process should be an effective and time-efficient approach for identifying opportunities to improve farming practices and productivity,” he says. “Differences between current practices and those deemed to represent best practice could be due to the specific circumstances on the farm. In some cases, however, there may be real opportunity for improvement that could be explored further. “The program has district facilitators in place to help producers with the process including accessing any new information and training they need.” Mick says his work in the grazing industry was focussed on distilling the results of research and making these available to producers in a way that maximised their practical value.

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Australian Canegrower

| 3 August 2015

“BMP offers a process for putting new R&D results and innovations into the context of an individual farm thereby ensuring growers are aware of potential improvements on a continuous basis. “In this way, the BMP process offers lasting value for growers. Ensuring BMP offers this value to growers will be an important part of my work at CANEGROWERS,” he said. 

INDUSTRY NEWS

CANEGROWERS Regional round-up By CANEGROWERS district offices

Mossman At the end of Week 10 Mossman Mill had processed a total of 299,168 tonnes of cane for a mill average of 11.12 CCS. Mossman growers have supplied 154,468 tonnes of cane to date for a

Pool average of 10.47 CCS and Tableland growers have supplied 144,700 tonnes of cane to date for a Pool average of 11.12 CCS. The factory is still experiencing some mechanical issues resulting in 7,000 tonnes of stale cane.

Congratulations to M&K Bruyn, Puglisi Farming and C Fasano & Co on winning the sugarcane prizes at the Mossman Show this month â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what a great looking cane exhibition put together by the Next Generation Group.

Tableland Week 10 saw 39,589 tonnes crushed at the Mossman Mill and to date, Tableland growers have supplied 144,700 tonnes of cane to date for a Pool average of 11.12 CCS. Week 6 saw 30,224 tonnes crushed at the Tableland Mill with a mill average CCS for the week of 13.94.

Innisfail Wet conditions have again interrupted harvesting with South Johnstone mill ceasing operations on 20 June due

to insufficient supply. Rain continued for the rest of that week, with prospects of further extended delay likely. The rain has a silver lining with the crop continuing to grow. The first real week of crushing indicates the crop could be cutting at 112% of original pre-season estimate. The mill processed 94,869 tonnes at an average CCS of 11.45, which surprised many considering the conditions. The mill was able to crush up to 566 tonnes per hour as supply and quality of cane improved

Tully The rain in June has resulted in most growers increasing their estimates, taking the 2015 crop to over 2.5 million tonnes. With just over 400,000 tonnes crushed for the year to date there is a big job ahead for all involved. The cane that has been planted is thriving in the current conditions however most of the district is looking forward to a drier period to get on with the jobs that need doing. Continues page 6 â&#x2013;ş

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Herbert River As the 2015 harvest moves into Week 5, low CCS especially in Yellow Canopy Syndrome (YCS) affected cane continues to be a major concern and a risk for growers who don’t have good tools with which to measure indicative CCS prior to harvest. Hand refractometers that have been useful in the past are not picking up low purity juice. The discovery of elevated pachymetra levels around the district in recent surveys is believed to be a contributing factor to cane stress that in turn favours stronger expression of YCS. The move to sugarcane smut resistant varieties means there have been two crop cycles without pachymetra resistant canes. The variety program is working towards greater pachymetra resistance in emerging varieties.

a legislative backing to provide a clear set of rules for the parties to be able to negotiate their future and have access to dispute resolution available to resolve deadlocks. Mr Cripps also spoke on Reef matters and the higher targets for end of catchment load reductions. Chairman Stephen Guazzo stressed that it is more important than ever for growers to stand shoulder to shoulder to deal with the threats on the marketing front. He also encouraged growers to proceed steadily towards Smartcane BMP accreditation as the best way forward on Reef and water quality issues.

Burdekin After some cooler days the warm weather is back and no rain is in sight. This is welcome for the harvest with over two million tonnes crushed representing 25% of the crop as at 18 July.

Workplace Health and Safety officers attending the regions regular Harvest Management Meeting and providing an overview of the danger of tyre pyrolysis, the term given when tyres on any machinery can catch fire and explode after coming into contact with overhead power lines. It was highlighted that the explosions are unpredictable, can occur up to 24 hours after the contact and can cause injuries and fatalities.

Proserpine Harvesting conditions continued to improve over the past fortnight which allowed 183,136 tonnes to be crushed. Total tonnes crushed to date is 288,416 representing just over 16% of the estimated 1.76 million tonne crop. Sugar content had dipped early last week before rebounding in the current week to bring the mill average CCS to 12.92 for the season to date. Cane quality continues to vary on a day to day basis with CCS exceeding 16.00 in some cases, but falling below 8.00 as a result of YCS. The recent cold weather has had minimal impact on CCS. Most parts of the district experienced light frosts in early July and it is hoped that this will have a positive impact on CCS in the coming weeks.

Mackay Senator Matt Canavan addresses a meeting of growers in Ingham. CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan was welcomed to the district on Tuesday 21 July when he attended a grower meeting and barbeque and was introduced by Chairman Stephen Guazzo along with Senator Matt Canavan and Member for Hinchinbrook, Andrew Cripps. The meeting was dominated by the current impasse in the marketing debate where Wilmar is refusing to budge on the Grower Choice option for marketing and access to pre-contract dispute resolution. Senator Canavan explained the approach taken by the bipartisan Senate Standing Committee which recommended a mandatory Code of Conduct for sugar marketing as was proposed by the Commonwealth Task Force chaired by George Christensen MP. Senator Canavan expressed the desire to see the issue resolved at the earliest opportunity. Mr Cripps spoke about the LNP approach to marketing which also favours

Australian Canegrower

Rain would be welcome in the catchment area of the Burdekin Falls Dam which is now at 70% storage compared to 97% at the same time last year. This has resulted in the region being on water restrictions for the first time in 50 years. Lower Burdekin Water (our water board), Burdekin Productivity Services and local consultants are holding shed meetings to answer growers questions on managing irrigation on the reduced water allocation entitlements and have recently circulated a checklist with general advice. On Friday 17 July NQ Dry Tropics conducted an informative Soil Field Tour with Dr Pat Hulme providing practical advice on short and long term management of soil, water and salinity. During Farm Safety Week, a transporter driver struck power lines resulting in the vehicle’s tyres being destroyed. This incident occurred within weeks of

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The Mackay Sugar area mills crushed 191,730 tonnes of cane with an average PRS of 13.08 for the week ending 19 July. Both Farleigh and Racecourse Mills crushed well throughout the week, although each mill required a planned maintenance day to chemically clean the evaporator sets. Marian Mill was reduced to half rate through the week as repairs were completed on No1 boiler. The crop estimate has been reduced to 4,860,000 tonnes for the season. This figure can fluctuate up or down with weather conditions between now and the end of the season, but represents the best estimate of the crop given current conditions. At Plane Creek, a total of 58,692 tonnes of cane was crushed for the week. Fine weather conditions were again favourable for good bin weights and CCS. Repairs to a boiler feed water pipe from the previous week were completed on Sunday. Other factory stops during the week included a shredder choke and a power blackout caused by low steam pressure. The highest CCS sample for the week was from a rake of third ratoon Q208 at 16.55 from the Turnors Paddock ► Productivity District.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Isis Crushing commenced on Monday 15 July. After 6 weeks the estimate is holding at 1.3 million tonnes. 342,000 tonnes (26.3% of estimate) has been harvested and crushed for a seasonal average CCS of 12.75. The variety KQ228 has comprised 46% of the total cane supply so far. During Week 5 the area suffered some frosting but not enough to warrant priority harvesting. SunWater has announced the 2015-16 water allocations as North Side 100% and South Side 91%. The Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Manager met with SunWater CEO Peter Boettcher on 9 July and voiced concern over the size of the South Side allocation despite relatively full storages. It was agreed that SunWater and industry will have further dialogue on water management, price path and Network Service Plans. The area is currently being serviced by three different sugarcane trash baling contractors. Growers wishing

to supply Australian Prime Fibre can obtain a Sugarcane Trash Contract from CANEGROWERS Isis. A good number of Expressions of Interest have been received for the final year of the Australian Government Reef Programme. Growers are currently being contacted regarding the completion of Project Applications which we hope will be assessed by the Technical Assessment Panel at the end of August. Projects must be finalised by March 31 next year.

Rocky Point

Maryborough

All three mills in NSW are now in full production despite the continuing showery conditions. A total of 377,000 tonnes of cane has been processed at an average CCS of 10.08. With wet ground conditions, harvesting is difficult particularly at Condong which is contending with high mud levels. Crops are still well in excess of grower estimates, particularly at Harwood where cane harvested to date is averaging 16% over estimate. All three mills are steadily increasing crushing rates in an effort to keep on schedule. 

Persistent showers over the past week have made harvesting conditions difficult for the majority of contractors throughout the supply area. The mill has processed 170,867 tonnes at CCS of 12.56 toward the end of Week 5 of harvesting. CCS levels are showing signs of improvement over the past few days. Q208 is the most popular variety representing over 45% of supply to date. The mill estimate is holding at 830,000 tonnes.

The Rocky Point season kicked off on 14 July, over a month earlier than the last three years. With a crop forecast of 350,000 tonnes of cane, we expect the season to go well into December. The total crushed for Week 1 was 10,287 tonnes at an average CCS of 12.66. We have had some consistent showers into Week 2 which have slowed harvesting.

New South Wales

Study confirms drop in sugar consumption A new study has found that Australia’s apparent refined sugar consumption has been in steady decline for 40 years. The study ‘Apparent consumption of refined sugar in Australia (1938-2011)’ has been published in this month’s European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It found that consumption per capita has dropped by 16.5%, from 50.3 kilograms in 1970 to 42.0 kilograms in 2011. In the longer term, sugar consumption has fallen 13.1% between 1930 and 2011. In calculating those figures, researchers Bill Shrapnel and Tom McNeill used the same methodology the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) had employed until it discontinued collection of apparent consumption data for refined sugars in 1998/99.

The study did not address the possible health implications of the downward trend in apparent consumption of sugar.

imported into, and exported from, Australia were used to calculate total refined sugars use for each year up to 2011. Per capita consumption figures were then derived.

“The downward trend in sugar consumption observed in our study is interesting because it runs counter to recent assumptions that sugar intake is rising and driving increasing rates of overweight and obesity in Australia. However, cause and effect conclusions can’t be drawn from our study,” Mr Shrapnel said.

“Using the same methodology as the ABS was vital as it enabled us to create a continuous data series for apparent consumption of refined sugar in Australia over a 73-year period,” Mr Shrapnel said. “Sugar consumption in Australia appears to have been relatively stable in the three decades following the end of World War 2 but since the late 1970s there has been a substantial decline. “To put the decline in consumption into context, by 2011, Australians were each consuming 8.3kg or 39.5 cups of sugar less per year compared to 1970.”

“Given the current attention being paid to sugar, we thought it was essential that health care professionals and policy makers had access to recent and accurate data on trends in sugar consumption. Informed policies can now be developed from such studies.”

Sales by Australian refiners, refined sugars imports and the net balance of refined sugars contained in foods

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

trailBLAZERS an agricultural leadership experience without rival By Suzi Moore, CANEGROWERS

respected and competitive industry – both here and abroad.

How often can you say a training course has been a game-changer, a life changing experience? Thanks to an excellent scholarship opportunity through Sugar Research Australia, I had a chance to attend just such a course.

I care deeply about creating a strong respected brand Australia; deeply about a creating a smart computer resource that farmers can use to really get the best out of their land, their resources and the world market; and care deeply about getting the representative structure of agriculture right so we can achieve all that.

The program is called trailBLAZERS and was put together by the wellrespected Australian Rural Leadership Program. SRA is again sponsoring a position on this course and I thought it timely to talk a little about the experience and encourage anyone who is interested in agricultural leadership to apply. If you want to be part of driving the course of Australian agriculture, but feel like you need more practical skills in leadership, this course is for you. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be part of helping drive the Australian agricultural sector – to be one of the many people across Australia committed to helping it become all it can be. For me, it’s about ensuring the Australian agricultural industry is renowned as a strong,

I have so many aspirations in terms of helping create a better platform for Australian farmers, and our Aussie ag sector, but in recent times have been completely stuck on the ‘what’s next’. Australian agriculture has so much potential and so many talented and passionate people. The trailBLAZERS course certainly seems like it was custom built to help give people who want to be part of that, but don't know quite how that is going to look and how to get there.

Even the toughest learnings seem to infiltrate more easily What made this course completely different was that it took all the usual theoretical based learning material and throws the concepts into scenario based activities.

This action-based learning really forces natural teamwork and leadership styles to come to the surface and we found we could really take on what we, personally, needed to learn. I thought it was a little like being part of the amazing race (TV series), but instead of competing against the other people on the course, you have to work really closely together to maximise the key strengths and abilities of everyone in the group to try and achieve the most successful outcome for the given scenario. The format quickly exposed a broad range of deep-seated and longstanding leadership issues in each and every one of the participants; but even more impressively, provided a platform for each of us to take on the learnings relevant to ourselves in a real (and fun) way. It was interesting to see how simple scenarios devised by the organisers pushed each of us immediately to our fallback positions, where flaws in leadership rose to the surface quickly and the cracks in each of our leadership styles became so evident that we could not cover it over. This in turn opened the way for major opportunities for improving our leadership style. ►

You learn just as much about leadership from the other course participants. I was privileged to share the course with a spread of impressive people from a range of sectors and backgrounds.

Australian Canegrower

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Industry Spotlight sponsored by Smartcane BMP

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

This experiential approach made the course completely different to any other I’ve been on. It forces all your attributes straight to the surface, where you can’t avoid them and can deal with them head on. Even though I’d been lucky enough to learn much of the theory in various courses over the years, sometimes all the reading in the world is not enough to get you to actually change your natural ‘go-to’ moves. The format of this course really seemed to penetrate even the most ingrained behaviors and genuinely learn the hard lessons - and that’s why I think the course really works. In many cases we learnt just as much from learning how to harness our own leadership style as we did from all of the other participants on the course. The honesty and support structure made the approach really effective as a mind-shifting exercise.

What you walk away with You might be the most results-driven person in the business, but without the means to create new and innovative solutions to tackle long-standing challenges, gaining results can be a slog. This program can really help you cut to the core of the issues and walk away with a fresh perspective and the tools to manage issues (with a clear

Pictured are Alex Ogg, Western Australian Fishing Industry Council; Susan Benedyka, Rural and Regional Community Development; Suzi Moore, CANEGROWERS; Michael Wilks, Indigenous Business Australia; Darryl D’Souza, Australian Pork Limited and Carl Jensen, Westpac. focus on results) well after you leave the course. The course helped me to identify my best strengths and best opportunities for improvement in a way no theoryonly based course had managed to bring home the learnings. Feeding our people and living intertwinedly with our planet seems a little doey to most people, but I came away from the course no longer embarrassed about what I care about and armed with tools to help work toward those things that I highly value. For me that personal vision is being part of a sustainable future for the planet – specifically helping find a way to bridge the most sustainable and

Industry Spotlight sponsored by Smartcane BMP

profitable way for farmers to produce food and fibre and live within the finite resources of the planet. My commitment and dedication to being part of building an exciting and meaningful plan for better serving the interests of Australia’s farmers has only become more vivid. The trailBLAZERS course has been without exception, the best course I’ve ever been on and I encourage anyone serious about developing their leadership skills to consider the course. I would also like to sincerely thank SRA for the sponsorship and commend them on offering the scholarship for someone to attend this year’s course.

3 August 2015

| Australian Canegrower

SRA | SNAPSHOT

SRA announces appointments to Research Funding Panel By Neil Fisher, CEO Sugar Research Australia The Sugar Research Australia (SRA) Board has announced new appointments to the Research Funding Panel (RFP). The RFP provides a crucial role in overseeing SRA’s contestable research grants process and broader research investments. A national recruitment process was undertaken in recent months and suitable candidates were interviewed by an RFP selection committee, comprising Director-General of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Queensland) Dr Beth Woods and two SRA directors. The RFP will now be led by the new Chair, John Pollock, who has resigned his position on the SRA Board to take on the role of RFP Chair. Mr Pollock was a Director of BSES from 2006 to 2013 and also of SRA since its formation in 2013. He has extensive experience in natural resource management, primary industries and corporate management, and has been involved in the sugarcane industry as a grower, researcher, public policy officer, and research manager and funder. Mr Pollock is joined by new RFP members Dr Jeremy Burdon and Gary Longden, while existing RFP member Dr Andrew Wood has been reappointed. Dr Ian Johnsson contributes to the RFP as its SRA Board Director. Mr Longden adds crucial milling expertise to the RFP. Dr Burdon is a former head of CSIRO’s Plant Industry Division and brings a vast wealth of crop science experience to the table. SRA also extend our thanks to the retiring RFP members Dr Nils Berding, Dr Paul Donnelly, Laurie Watson, and Professor Alan Johnson, who formerly held the position of Chair.

Research planning workshop SRA Researchers and Development Officers met in Townsville in mid-July to discuss research activities and planning for the year ahead and beyond. The research planning workshop was an important way of bringing together our researchers from across SRA to ensure SRA’s research, development and

extension continues to deliver valued outcomes for sugarcane growers and millers. At the workshop, the group placed a strong emphasis on the targeting of research according to the immediate challenges and opportunities surrounding the four Impact Areas facing the Australian sugarcane industry. These Impact Areas are Yellow Canopy Syndrome (YCS), minimising harvest losses, conventional and GM plant breeding, and improving the adoption of research. Industry is continuing to inform SRA that these issues need urgent attention and the SRA Board has recognised these issues as having a strategic priority. A second section of the forum then also discussed the research agenda in the context of current gaps within the eight Key Focus Areas (KFAs), as well as future research that may develop following the outcomes of research reviews into trait use efficiency, molecular breeding, precision agriculture, and nitrogen use efficiency. As a next step from the workshop, the group identified leaders to develop the ideas further with a focus on the Impact

10 Australian Canegrower | 3 August 2015

Areas as a priority and, subsequently, to look at gaps within the KFAs. This work will occur in consultation with industry and it will identify areas of collaboration within SRA and also externally. This planning will form the start of SRA’s focus for Preliminary Research Proposals (PRPs) from coming project calls. Most importantly, SRA is ensuring that we are focusing on research that is achievable, that it will have a significant positive financial impact for our investors, that it addresses a gap, that it is developed in consultation with industry, and that it comes at a realistic cost in relation to the outcomes.

SRA publications in the post The winter edition of SRA’s CaneConnection magazine has been distributed to SRA members in July, along with a newsletter explaining our latest research regarding solving Yellow Canopy Syndrome (YCS). These publications are a free service to SRA members. If you are not a member of SRA and would like to be, email Andrea Evers at SRA at aevers@sugarresearch. com.au. 

INDUSTRY NEWS

Fire ants creeping closer to cane The boundaries of the fire ant restricted area in South East Queensland have changed. Several areas, fringing districts with cane farms, have been declared as low risk restricted areas. These include Yatala, Ormeau and Stapylton. Items which may be subject to movement restrictions include soil, mulch, bark, potting media, pot plants, turf, gravel, sleepers/logs, poultry litter, manure and hay. The recent changes to the declared risk areas have implications for cane farmers and their associated mulch businesses. Rocky Point growers have attended a briefing with Biosecurity Queensland as a first step towards putting a fire ant management plan in place. Fire ants were first found in the greater Brisbane area in 2001 and are a notifiable pest. They have been the subject of an eradication program and are considered to be a hazard to agriculture and the environment. They are aggressive and sting animals and people, causing painful, red and itchy blisters. 

Wilmar wins training award Wilmar Sugar has been named Employer of the Year at the North Queensland regional finals of the 2015 Queensland Training Awards (QTA). Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke says seven local winners will now go on to represent the region in September at the state finals in Brisbane. “The Palaszczuk Government is committed to supporting training and skills development for all Queenslanders,” she said. “We have cemented our commitment by abolishing the body established by the former LNP Government to sell TAFE Queensland, securing the future of the public vocational education and training network. “Creating jobs is our number one priority so it’s vital that we give people access to the training they need to access real jobs and opportunities.”

Mitr Phol invests in renewables Sugar producer, Mitr Phol Group has announced an investment worth US$130 million in renewable energy projects. The company will expand ethanol production and biomass projects and also putting solar panels on two of its sugar complexes in Thailand. There are also plans to increase sugarcane plantations and crushing capacity in Thailand and double production in Laos.

Indonesia flags sugar expansion The Indonesian Government has identified three areas in the country’s east for at least 10 new sugar mills and accompanying plantations. The Jakarta Post reports the Agriculture Minister as saying up to 26 foreign investors had expressed interest in the sites in Southeast Sulawesi, Merauke in Papua and the Aru Islands in Maluku. “We are planning to allocate 500,000 hectares of land in the three regions, calculating that one mill with a plantation will need at least 50,000 ha of land,” the Minister is quoted as saying. 3 August 2015

| Australian Canegrower 11

QSL

ICE No.11 Prompt Futures Contract 20.0 19.0

Market Update

18.0

By Shaun Tupou, Treasury Analyst

17.0

Current as of 27 July 2015

16.0

Sugar

15.0

Another failed rally saw raw sugar futures trade lower for seven consecutive sessions. Spot contract Oct 15 traded up to levels not seen since April at 12.80 c/lb. However, all gains made across an early-week run were retraced as losses quickly mounted.

14.0 13.0

The fortnight of trade also highlighted another sharp weakening as a result of the non-index funds net position as at July 14, with a large shift from about 46,000 lots net short to 8000 net long. The front of the board all experienced life-of-contract lows as a reaction to this move. These moves lower were sustained thanks to the latest UNICA (Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association) report, the first report for the Indian crop (ISMA) and a steep weakening in the Brazilian Real.

12.0 11.0

Australian Dollar (AUD v USD)

Spread activity for the fortnight was mixed. Following the spiralling flat prices lower in the prior week, front spread October/ March managed to make some gains across a continued weakening in flat prices. Trading to a top of -128 over the last two sessions, the prompt spread settled a little weaker at -133.

0.98 0.96 0.94 0.92

Following a large swing in the previous Commitment of Traders report from 54,000 lots net short to 8000 net long, the latest Commitment of Traders report showed a reversal of approximately 65,000 lots back to the short side. As flat prices continued to fall over the back half of last week, one would assume that additional selling by the non-index funds would be certain. If so, this may advocate a recovery in flat prices, particularly if we begin to see a recovery in the Brazilian Real.

0.90 0.88 0.86 0.84 0.82 0.80

The Brazilian Real weakened significantly over the back end of the fortnight to 12-year lows. Despite looking somewhat hopeful in earlier sessions, the Real traded up to a top of 3.11. A late three-day push drove lows above 3.30, with the Real trading down to 3.35 shortly after the open today.

0.78 0.76 0.74

520

The latest UNICA report for the first half of July showed a sharp decline in the crush. Sponsored by recent heavy rains in Centre South Brazil, the sugar mix showed a more favourable lean toward ethanol production. With production the lowest since 2008, UNICA believes that overall production will fall short of its initial estimate.

500

Currency

QSL Forward Fixed Price Contract (A$/mt)

It was a volatile fortnight for the Aussie dollar, which traded over a 229-point range between 0.7489 and 0.7260. In the previous week, the AUD slumped 100+ points following comments made by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen confirming a rate hike later this year. Early-week trade saw the AUD trade up toward 0.7450 before crumbling once again to bottom out at six-year lows (0.7260). Weaker Chinese PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) alongside poor price action for the AUD were the main drivers of this move. Going forward, this week we see much more of action in the latter part, with US Consumer Confidence data, a Federal Open Market Committee rate decision, US GDP and local Building Approvals and Private Credit updates the reporting of note. RBA Governor Stevens speaks on Wednesday, however we expect he will have little to add following his speech at the Anika Foundation last week.

480 460 440 420 400 380 360 340 2015

2016

2017

Data source: QSL Daily Market Report (Futures and Currency) & QSL Daily Indicative Prices

12 Australian Canegrower | 3 August 2015

While all care is taken in the preparation of this report the reliability or accuracy of the information provided in the document is not guaranteed. QSL does not accept any responsibility to any person for the decisions and actions taken by that person with respect to any of the information contained in this report.

QSL

QSL: WORKING FOR YOU

Terminals underpin our industry’s success By Damian Ziebarth, QSL General Manager Operations As the 2015 harvest gains momentum around the state, it’s all systems go at QSL’s six Bulk Sugar Terminals. A constant stream of truck and train deliveries continues around the clock, as QSL’s logistics teams work to seamlessly receive sugar, fill every inch of storage space, load ships and subsequently maximise returns to Queensland’s growers and millers. We’ve certainly come a long way from the early days of the Queensland sugar industry when each ship took weeks to load by hand. Today that same task takes less than a day, thanks to QSL’s world-class terminal operations. OUR TERMINALS QSL operates six Bulk Sugar Terminals (BSTs) located along the Queensland coast at Cairns, Mourilyan, Lucinda, Townsville, Mackay and Bundaberg. Together they have a combined storage capacity nearly 2.5 million tonnes, more than two-thirds of Queensland’s average annual raw sugar production. While we have managed these important industry assets since their inception, the terminals are actually owned by Sugar Terminals Limited (STL) and leased back to QSL. We currently hold a five-year lease with STL through to December 2018 and operate each terminal on an openaccess, cost-recovery basis, meaning that we do not make a profit from operations and do not turn away any sugar miller wishing to use tthe facility, regardless regar of whether the they choose to use QSL for f their marketing se services or o make their own arrangements. arrange

ONE SHED – SIX DOORS One of the key strengths of QSL’s logistics system is our ability to operate the six terminals as one giant stack of sugar. Our comprehensive quality scheme ensures a consistently high-quality product is received at every terminal across the state, meaning the vast majority of our sales can be filled from any one of the six BSTs. Just think of it as one giant shed with six doors. This flexibility means that if supply is interrupted at one terminal due to weather or production hold-ups, we can simply fill our sales orders at one of our other BSTs. It also means that growers who supply one port can benefit from the space at another, with our combined storage capacity enabling them to share in post-crush sales long after their local storage capacity limitations would have would have restricted them from doing so. QSL’s integrated system coordinates shipping schedules across the BSTs in conjunction with our marketing and pricing efforts in order to leverage each terminal’s storage and maximise the total returns. All QSL members benefit from these efforts, getting their fair share of every sale, including those well beyond their local storage capabilities. ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL As well as maximising storage capabilities and spreading supply risk over a wide geographic area, there are economies of scale and significant savings associated with operating multiple terminals. The highly-automated nature of our facilities enables QSL to have a combined terminal staff of just 112 full-time employees around the state – between 13 and 23 full-time employees at each terminal – who ensure our BSTs are operating 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Our operations staff and their expertise can be shared across the six terminals, deployed when and where they are needed.

Shared logistics systems, equipment, processes and support staff also bring important savings. Together our terminal teams load about 100 ships a year and boast a 100% Delivered In Full On Time performance record for the past financial year. That means that every QSL customer during the 2014/2015 period got exactly what they ordered, when they wanted it. This kind of performance is just one of the many reasons why customers pay more to deal with QSL over our international competitors. SHARING THE COSTS AND BENEFITS It is because we operate the six terminals as one system that BST costs are pooled and shared evenly on a dollars/tonne basis across all QSL members. These costs sit in the Shared Pool element applied to all QSL pools and forward pricing, which for the 2014 season was a total (incorporating other costs and earnings) of $3.07 per tonne. For those suppliers who chose not to use QSL’s marketing system or who use the terminals for the storage and handling associated with domestic sugar sales, QSL charges a Storage and Handling cost per tonne that reflects the actual costs associated with that terminal. In adherence with our goal to serve the Queensland sugar industry, this service is also provided on a costrecovery basis, with no profit made. Queensland’s BSTs have been the foundation of the Queensland sugar industry’s success since the 1950s and will continue to be one of our strongest assets into the future. All growers are encouraged to visit their terminal to see firsthand the great work of our teams and just why we’re the envy of sugar industries around the world. Please see your QSL Industry Relationship Manager if you’d like to arrange a visit. 

3 August 2015

| Australian Canegrower 13

WHAT’S NEW

There’s an army down there and it’s on your side By Neroli Roocke A study being funded by Sugar Research Australia is looking into populations of microarthropods in sugarcane soils. It’s found an army of millions of these tiny organisms is living underground in cane fields and, when conditions are right, they’re working to the benefit of growers by improving the soil and feasting on destructive nematodes. A team made up of Dr Graham Stirling, a soil biologist with Biological Crop Protection, and Dr Dave Walter and Mathew Manwaring at the University of the Sunshine Coast is looking into biological control of nematode pests and a key part of that is looking at the other organisms that share the soil with them.

Not a lot is known about microscopic animals in sugarcane soils other than the work done on root-feeding nematodes such as lesion nematode and root-knot nematode – pests which it’s estimated cost the industry around $80 million/ year.

The group recently presented the first stage of its work to the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists conference in Bundaberg, complete with slides of creatures that would be at home in any sci-fi movie. Soil microarthropods are tiny creatures, fauna which range from 0.2mm to 2mm in length.

Most belong to groups called springtails (Collembola) and mites (Acari).

The population p densities ranged from dens 89–529 per 600 mL of soil - that’s hundreds of bout the creatures in about oil. three cupfuls of soil.

In the first phase of this project soil samples were collected from sites in the Bundaberg and Mackay regions where sugarcane was grown under minimum tillage, traffic was controlled to minimise compaction and crop residues were left on the soil surface.

Spurred by previous studies which found the unwelcome nematodes don’t

14 Australian Canegrower | 3 August 2015

multiply readily in soil directly under a trash blanket, the research team felt that the rich organic food sources in this area may have fuelled an active and diverse soil biological community capable of regulating the population of destructive nematodes.

Peering through powerful microscopes, the team counted the microarthropods present in the samples. The population densities ranged from 89–529 per 600 mL of soil - that’s hundreds of the creatures in about three cupfuls of soil. ►

WHAT’S NEW

Where they could be identified, individual species were counted and grouped according to their known food preferences, fungi or nematodes. And they were encouraged by what they found. Most of the species were oribatid mites and springtails that help regulate decomposition, graze on fungi and disperse the spores of other organisms. However, many species of mites were identified which are opportunistic predators of nematodes. One of them, a small species under 0.35 mm in length, is believed to be one of the most important nematode predators in the root-zone. The team has concluded that there is a soil microarthropod community in sugarcane soils, and that it has the potential to contribute to the suppression of nematode pests, provided the conditions are right. Most soil microarthropods live in the minute spaces between soil particles. This means that soil compaction is their enemy – tillage, harvesting and haul-out machinery decrease the spaces between

the soil particles meaning that microarthropods can’t travel to find food.

Grants for women in the agriculture sector

Conventional tillage can also cause havoc to microarthropod populations by crushing them and destroying their habitat. The next phase of the study is to expand the survey to more sites in more canegrowing regions and once a picture of the predominant microarthropods in sugarcane soils are known, they aim to: 1. identify the microarthropods most likely to prey on plant-parasitic nematodes; 2. confirm their capacity to consume nematodes; 3. determine whether the trash blanket is an important habitat for microarthropods; and 4. determine whether tillage, soil compaction, and the pesticides applied for canegrub control have a negative impact on species that feed on nematodes.

A further component of the project will be providing the industry with technical information and practical guidelines that will improve its understanding of soil biological processes and how they can be manipulated to improve soil and plant health. The project has funding until the middle of next year. 

Women who are managers and leaders in agriculture are being invited to apply for scholarship grants to build their skills. It’s part of a national initiative to support the development of female leaders across all sectors of the economy through Women and Leadership Australia. The grants are available at two levels to support participation in leadership courses: • $12,000 individual grants for senior level and high potential women to undertake the Advanced Leadership Program, and • $4,500 individual grants for emerging and mid-level managers to undertake the Accelerated Leadership Performance Program. For more information visit the Women and Leadership Australia website www.wla.edu.au, or contact Ian Johnson at the National Industry Scholarship Program, Australian School of Applied Management on 03 9270 9000 or via ijohnson@asam.edu.au. 

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3 August 2015

| Australian Canegrower 15

ON FARM

“Pressure is power and power is money … low pressure is definitely more cost efficient,” Tony Bugeja says after comparing irrigation systems on his Palmyra farm.

SHORT & SWEET OF IT • Tony, Mark and John Bugeja produce 28,000 tonnes of cane across five farms in the Palmyra/Homebush district. • Low pressure irrigation has been installed to save on pumping costs and better target smaller amounts of water to the crop. Comparisons show it is costing $33 a hectare less to irrigate with a low pressure centre pivot than with a soft hose system. • See more of the Bugeja farm and hear more about their irrigation practices on the CANEGROWERS Virtual Bus Tour video. Go to www.youtube.com/canegrowers

This on farm story has been brought to you by the

RWUE program

Taking the pressure off irrigation costs By John Flynn Palmyra cane grower Tony Bugeja is leading the way on water use efficiency in the Mackay region – maximising every drop of precious water for his crop and minimising the loss of costly farm inputs into the Great Barrier Reef catchment. Overhead centre pivot irrigation is playing an increasing role in his irrigation management, with the Bugeja family recently doubling on their investment in low pressure systems. There was an obvious sense of achievement as Tony Bugeja cast his approving eyes over the 385 metre-long spans of a Valley low pressure overhead centre pivot irrigator on the family’s home farm at Palmyra. “I’m too bloody old to be shifting irrigators,” Tony quipped as he admired the seemingly simple yet sophisticated centre pivot irrigator that has taken much of the hard yakka out of irrigating blocks. Operating on the farm for almost three years, the Valley system is the second centre pivot the Bugejas have installed

16 Australian Canegrower | 3 August 2015

since making the shift to low pressure centre pivot overhead irrigation. It irrigates 40 hectares of farmland on a three quarter circuit of the farm, limited only by a rather impressive irrigation/recycling turkey’s nest dam that occupies one corner of the property. The Bugejas have come a long way since Tony’s father purchased the property in 1953. What started as a 750-tonne assignment on one cane farm has grown into a 28,000 tonne (2014 harvest) major cropping operation spread across five farms in the Palmyra/Homebush districts. ►

ON FARM

Tony manages the large scale farming operation, including all of their own harvesting, in conjunction with his son Mark and brother John. Both the Valley system and the Zimmatic centre pivot on one of the Bugeja family’s neighbouring farms have done their fair share of walking during the 2014/15 growing season in an effort to maintain soil hydration during one of the drier seasons of recent times. According to Bureau of Meteorology figures, July to December of 2014 saw total rainfall of 143mm in Mackay. That equates to just under 40% of the 364.6mm July-December mean average. The 2015 wet season was also a dry affair, with the January-April tally of 565mm equating to roughly 56.6% of the 998mm mean average for the same period. In times like these Tony Bugeja is thankful he’s no longer totally reliant on furrow irrigation or soft hose-fed lateral boom systems to keep a thirsty cane crop hydrated. Keying in a few numbers on the control pad of a centre pivot system requires somewhat less elbow grease than manually shifting soft hoses or changing over fluming cups. It’s not just about labour; in the drier years the real benefits of the centre pivot irrigators in terms of reduced energy costs become apparent.

Cost comparison

cost savings are being made with the low pressure system. Both are fed by a pump driven by the same diesel motor making the comparison straightforward. The boom needs the motor to run at 1,400 revs to pump 32,000 gallons per hour (121 litres) at 90 psi at the pump. The high pressure irrigator needs the motor to run at 1,500 revs, has 125 psi at the pump, for an output of 22,000 gallons (83 litres).

“One of the main reasons why we looked at going into pivots was because of the cost of irrigating, the cost of energy, of electricity,” Tony said. “When we did a case study on this particular property we came back at $33 a hectare less cost with the centre pivot than we did with a high pressure soft hose - now that’s worked on energy as well as labour,” he said.

The centre pivot runs off a 30 hp pumping unit where the soft hose winch needs a 60 hp pumping unit to work from the same dam. “So $33 a hectare, you put that over a ten year period it doesn’t take long to pay off a centre pivot and that’s the reasons why we looked seriously at our second pivot,” Tony said. Tony has also compared the low pressure 80m overhead boom system (with end guns) to the high pressure water winch which operates on one of their neighbouring farms and found that

blocks while taking advantage of the off-peak electricity tariff. The Zimmatic centre pivot system uses electric motors in the wheels to walk and sends water through to the emitters using a 40 horsepower electric pump.

When we did a case study we came back at $33 a hectare less cost with the centre pivot than we did ssure with a high pressure soft hose.

The pivot system uses recycled effluent from Mackay Regional Council that is drawn from a nearby turkey’s nest dam.

“It’s efficient and less labour,” Mark Bugeja said. “You can water probably 130 acres in three or four days, it’s brilliant, you can’t beat it as far as time and efficiency.

So the boom needs fewer revs and less pressure but is pumping more water.

“It’s putting on 15mm and it’ll be there by Sunday morning or Sunday afternoon.”

“Pressure is power and power is money and I believe that actually proves that,” Tony said. “Low pressure is definitely more cost efficient as far as irrigating sugarcane. That’s why we are looking at putting more low pressure systems in.”

One lesson the Bugejas have learnt with centre pivot systems is to water more often in smaller amounts. The system, according to Tony, is most effective when it is used to top up soil moisture.

It’s not only the older generation of the Bugeja family that is convinced of the worth of centre pivot irrigation. Mark Bugeja took the Australian Canegrower to the neighbouring farm to see their Zimmatic system in operation. It was Friday afternoon, and with the weekend fast approaching, he was eager to send the pivot on a circuit of the

“We found with the pivot we’re starting to irrigate earlier because once the moisture profile goes down it takes quite a bit of water to bring it back up,” Tony said.

3 August 2015

Continues page 18 ►

| Australian Canegrower 17

ON FARM

Sunset over the Bugeja family dam at Palmyra.

“The idea is the first time we irrigate we might only give it 15mm, so you top up that moisture profile right to the top and then after that you can keep with it. “If you let that moisture get down and you’ve got to try and put on 40 or 50 mm it’s very hard with a centre pivot. The idea is you start earlier and keep that water profile high.”

Best practice The shift to centre pivot irrigation has earned a big tick of approval from local industry extension group, Mackay Area Productivity Services (MAPS). Working with MAPS Smartcane BMP facilitator John Turner, Tony recently completed the irrigation management module of the grower-driven bestpractice accreditation scheme. In the process he demonstrated a strong understanding of what was required – and what he is doing right now – to achieve best practice. “Tony is an excellent operator and a leader in the industry,” John said.

“He’s always looking forward to opportunities to improve the systems he’s operating under and to reduce the environmental impact and the cost of production.” Smartcane BMP sets an industry standard for growers to match their irrigation events with soil infiltration rates. To help take the guesswork out of the process, MAPS provides growers with access to soil moisture probe readings in the Mackay region via its website. The capability of centre pivot irrigators to provide a uniform, measured amount of water to the crop, makes it much easier for farmers to maintain their crop within the so-called ‘green zone’, between the refill point that triggers irrigation events and the fill point, above which the crop risks becoming waterlogged. As John Turner pointed out, this not only maximises the growth potential of the crop but also delivers positive environmental outcomes in reducing the risk of deep drainage or runoff, particularly when compared with furrow irrigation.

18 Australian Canegrower | 3 August 2015

“With the old furrow irrigation system, you would start running water down the drill at the top of the paddock and run it down to the end and it was much harder to get an even distribution of water to every plant within that paddock and it was easy to over-irrigate or supply water deep drainage into the ground,” John said. “With an overhead and especially a pivot system you can get over it much easier, more frequently, and you can put on small metered amounts, therefore the crop can capitalise and utilise all that irrigation before you bring along the next one.”

Crop nutrition Tony Bugeja is convinced that the overhead irrigation system offers a much more efficient mechanism for helping get nutrient and chemical where it needs to go – into the growth zone and the plant – with targeted lowvolume irrigation events immediately following application. Moving ahead, he also sees an opportunity to take another significant ►

ON FARM

step forward in productivity and environmental management with ‘fertigation’, or applying liquid fertiliser with irrigation events via the centre pivot. Applying liquid fertiliser to the crop in trace amounts over an extended period will mean nutrient can be applied efficiently, as it’s needed, during the growth phases of the plant. An additional benefit is that fertigation limits the amount of nutrient in the soil at any given time, reducing the potential for loss during a rainfall event.

Not only does it effectively droughtproof the farm. With the help of a 330 horsepower pumping station, it also minimises farm runoff. “We’ve been told that any nutrients that leave the property will leave in the very first rainfall event and we’ve got the capability of catching that and putting that back in our dam, that water does not go out to the reef,” Tony said. “It’s designed that if there’s any flow in the creek whatsoever it can flow into our pump.”

The Valley system was purchased with poly-lined pipes to make it more suitable for applying liquid fertiliser should the Bugejas choose that path in future years. Fertigation will be another addition to the Bugejas’ best-practice approach that includes minimal till and GPS-guided controlled-traffic farming.

Casting his eyes westward towards the magnificent ranges around Eungella as he stood on the gantry overlooking the dam, Tony emphasised the importance of farmers embracing change. It’s a mantra he inherited from his father and will, no doubt, pass onto his son.

“We bought this one poly-lined, our idea is down the track I can see us going into fertigation so we had to start somewhere,” Tony explained.

“I felt my father was fairly, he was out there, he used to want the change,” Tony said.

“My idea was to get the pivot poly-lined so it could handle fertigation, it’s a little bit dearer but we look to the future hopefully it’ll last a little bit longer and hopefully through this pivot we can use water from our own dam as well as water from the bores.” If anything demonstrates Tony Bugeja’s commitment to building a sustainable, environmentally conscious farming enterprise it’s the 320 megalitre irrigation/recycling dam that he built at the southern end of the home farm.

Familiar voice wins national media prize

“When I took the property over from my father I said to myself that I want to leave it in better hands than when I took it over for my son; he’s a keen farmer and nobody wants to go out and harm the environment and we can’t afford it, it’s as simple as that. “Any nutrients any chemicals we put on our property we want it to stay on our property and we want them to work. “I’m confident in the farming practices that we do that we are doing the right thing.” 

An ABC Rural reporter familiar to sugarcane growers across north Queensland, Charlie McKillop, has won the country’s top award for rural broadcasting. Charlie was presented with the Rabobank Australian Star Prize for Rural Broadcasting at a Rural Press Club of Queensland lunch in Brisbane this month where she's pictured with Rabobank state manager for Qld/NT Brad James. The award recognised Charlie’s audio piece ‘A duty to be kind in halal killing’ in which she examined what happens on the killing room floor during halal slaughter. Hear her story here http://www.abc. net.au/news/2014-05-08/kindness-inkilling-is-the-muslim-way/5439542 The Australian Star Prize awards, including the Broadcast Awards sponsored by leading food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank, are run by the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists (ACAJ) in association with Australia’s five state-based rural media clubs.

MAPS Smartcane BMP facilitator John Turner talks with Mark bugeja .

Another Queenslander, Townsville Bulletin senior photographer Fiona Harding, won a rural photo award for her image of Normanton ringer and rodeo rider Terry Nimble – it was judged best in the people category in the 2015 Australian Star Prize for Rural Photography.  3 August 2015

| Australian Canegrower 19

ON FARM

Safe farms make more money This year’s theme for Farm Safety Week has been SAFE FARMS = BETTER PRODUCTIVITY. The week targets practical issues that farmers can take to improve safety and health for themselves, their workers and family members. “Farm safety is something that we often take for granted, of course no one wants to be injured or see others injured” said Farmsafe Australia Chairman Charlie Armstrong. “As an industry we have been improving our safety record, with reductions in the number of farm injury deaths approaching 60% over the past two decades. However, we still need to do more.” Primary Industries Health and Safety Partnership (PIHSP) Advisory Committee chairman Gordon Gregory said in 2014, there were 54 farm fatalities and this year we have already seen 24 deaths on-farm.

Key Facts Deaths on farms

Jan 1 - June 30, 2015 Number of deaths = 24 Quads = 8 Tractors = 8 Children = 4 (quads 2 - tractor 1 drowning 1)

“Focusing on practical steps that farmers can take to improve safety will not only help minimise the number of further tragic deaths and injuries, but lead to better productivity and improved returns for the farm business,” he said. Mr Gregory said an analysis of injuries in the farm sector commissioned by PIHSP showed that 182,559 working weeks were lost across the cotton, grain, mixed farming and sugar industries over a four year period to 2011-12. “The development of a ‘safety culture’ - where safety is a fully integrated part of the farm business - pays off, and not just by reducing incidents on-farm and minimising working time lost,” he said. Charlie Armstrong agreed that having safety as a major aspect of farm businesses not only reduces the risks to those who work and live on farms, it will also improve farming’s bottom line. “Even non-fatal injuries can have major cost implications on things such as delays in harvest, damage to equipment and downtime needed to recover from injuries,” he said. “We want to see every farm across Australia take steps to improve safety each and every day.” Practical steps that farmers can take to have safety as a core value include: •

Have a safety plan in place that identifies potential hazards and takes action to fi x them.

• Make sure all new workers, including contractors, are inducted onto your property. Try the free • Farmsafe induction app, which is available on Google Play or iTunes store. • Always be on the look-out for new hazards and fi x them as soon as possible. • Set clear safety procedures for risky work. • Make sure everyone who works on the farm understands and uses your safety procedures. • Have an emergency plan in place in case there are any incidents “We want farming to be both profitable and safe, and we can do both if safety is promoted as a core value for your business,” Charlie Armstrong said. “It’s about making sure that everyone involved in the farm gets home safe and sound at the end of each working day. “That’s a good thing not just for our families but also our business and communities.”

Further information on the free safety induction app and Farm Safety Week can be found at: www.farmsafe.org.au or by contacting the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (02) 6752 8210 or your state Farmsafe group. 

Your quad bike – Is it the right tool for the task? A short film has been prepared by WHSQ

to help you find the safest vehicle for your situation. Watch it by following this link: www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/forms-andresources/films/your-quad-bike-is-itthe-right-tool-for-the-task

20 Australian Canegrower | 3 August 2015

ON FARM

Energy efficiency workshops The Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF) is running a series of practical workshops aimed at helping farmers and on-farm businesses achieve greater energy efficiency. QFF CEO Clare Murray says workshops will include presentations about energy efficiency technologies for farms, products for financing energy efficiency projects and local case studies about on-farm energy efficiency. “People who attend the workshops will also be able to meet with technology providers, financiers, and members of the Ergon and Queensland Farmers Federation Teams,” said Claire. The workshops are being arranged in conjunction with Ergon Energy and the

Queensland Government as part of the Energy Savers Plus Program.

WORKSHOP CALENDAR: Applethorpe, 2–4 pm Tues 11 Aug

The program will selectively audit onfarm pumping, heating, cooling, lighting, processing and household energy use, identify potential savings and provide information on financing options. Findings from the program will be shared with all farmers and irrigators across regional Queensland to pass on the benefits of adopting new and more efficient technologies to manage and reduce electricity consumption.

Dalby, 2–4 pm Wed 12 Aug Gatton, 9–11am Thurs 13 Aug Emerald, 2–4 pm Tues 25 Aug Bundaberg, 2–4 pm Wed 26 Aug Maryborough, 9–11 am Thurs 27 Aug Mareeba, 2–4 pm Tues 1 Sep Innisfail, 9–11 am Wed 2 Sep Ayr, 2–4 pm Tues 8 Sep Bowen, 2–4 pm Wed 9 Sep

Farms participating in the Energy Savers Plus Program will be spread across a range of agricultural sectors and will be selected by Ergon Energy in consultation with QFF and other industry bodies. 

Mackay, 9–11 am Thurs 10 Sep

Please register at least one week before the workshop by emailing esw@ergon.com.au or calling (07) 3851 6439.

Getting to know you This column is about putting faces to the people you may hear from or talk lk to in the CANEGROWERS office. This edition, meet Burn Ashburner. What’s your role in CANEGROWERS?

tandem we can certainly harness some awesome skills and experience..

My role is to work with the Farm Input and Research Committee to develop policy and then plan strategy to achieve that policy. The current big issues in my portfolio are transport, the commercialisation of GM cane and making sure our RD&E providers understand what cane growers want and try to make sure they have no blocks in the road to delivery. However in the policy unit we have many hats and get involved in an amazing wide range of issues particularly in backing up the districts.

What do you see are the challenges?

What’s the most rewarding part of your job? There is great reward in being part of a team which has a clear direction and works together to achieve a goal. The policy team are great to work with and although we all have separate areas of responsibility working as a team on an issue and feeling useful is rewarding. It is also very rewarding to work on an issue with the districts and get positive feedback. When the whole CANEGROWERS team works in

It is a challenge to be working in an industry which is facing significant change. On the one hand we currently have serious economic pressure on growers however we are also facing the potential increased demand for sugar from Asia. However it seems clear to me that the days of “just a grower” will change. The level of sophistication in agriculture is moving rapidly the challenge is how do we adapt and thrive. Where and what was your first paid job and what did that lead to? My first job was as what was called a farm assistant on a tobacco farm in Zimbabwe. This was mainly setting task work for labour and checking that it was completed to standard known as “squad pushing”. I also learnt the art of disappearing to sleep off a few hangovers in the tobacco fields without being discovered. I think what I was really paid for was to be a farm guard as at

T he Ashburner Fam Aussies, 200il5y become that stage we operated with firearms at our side at all times. I must admit I found it deadly boring and was relieved to get a job with South African Canegrowers as an agricultural economist. What do you like to do on your days off and on weekends? I have always played sport with a lot of cricket in my younger days (until the family needed more time) and then squash (until the knees gave in) and now golf (the children have left home and my wife encourages me to play – not sure why?). My one real frustration is that I lack golf talent. Thus it is often a few hours of self-imposed punishment over weekends. I am also happy to read for a few hours and will watch any sport on TV.  3 August 2015

| Australian Canegrower 21

CLASSIFIEDS

*As a FREE service to CANEGROWERS members, Australian Canegrower will print suitable classified advertisements UP TO 5 LINES FREE, FOR ONE ISSUE ONLY. A charge of $5. 50 will apply for each extra line or part thereof. A charge will apply for advertising of noncane growing activities. Advertisements must relate exclusively to cane farming activities, e.g. farm machinery etc. Advertisements from non-members are charged at $11 per line incl GST. Only pre-paid ads will be accepted.

FIRST 5 LINES FREE* FOR CANEGROWERS MEMBERS! Book online anytime of the day or night at www.canegrowers. com.au or email us at ads@CANEGROWERS.com.au. Next deadline is 8 AUGUST 2015.

JOHNNY FARMING COMPANY Australian Distributor Belshina Tyres & Chinese Imports  Tractor Tyres  Earthmoving Tyres  Truck Tyres  Cars & 4WD Tyres DROVER EQUIPMENT AUSTRALIA

UTV’s, ATV’s & AG BIKES

FOR SALE

See website for more details

P: 07 4952 2577 M: 0412 535 887 www.johnnyfarmingcompany.com.au E: johnnyfarmingco@bigpond.com 133 Schmidke Road Mackay 4740

- 1 X 4040 John Deere 2WD Air Cab in good condition - 1 X 2Tonne Silkwood Implement Side Dresser on wheels with colters - 1X 3.6 tonne Case Excavator - 1 X 17 tonne Hitachi Excavator - 1 x Kubota 9540 FWD Tractor Ex Con - 1 x John Deere 5520 FWD V/G Con - 1 X Kubota 6040 FWD Tractor Ex Condition - 1 x 2009 Trimble Auto pilot to suit a John Deere 3510 Harvester - 1 X John Deere 4520 – FWD VGC - 1 X Ford Aero Max Prime Mover with Hydraulics - 1 X 2013 5tonne 3 row adjustable VWRRO VSOLWWHU ZLWK FRQÀGRU WDQN 07 4068 5499 OR 0418 988 601 email: sales@rbengineeringnq.com.au www.rbengineeringnq.com.au

Specialising in Used Cane Harvesting Equipment Sales 2011 MASSEY FERGUSON 5465 4 WD Tractor 120 HP. 1,967 Hrs. Fitted with 6 tonne Side Tipper BSM type.

2005 JD 6920 4WD Tractor 150 HP 5,264 Hrs. Coupled to a HBM Billet Planter 1,000 L. water tank on tractor. Complete Unit.

JOHNNY FARMING COMPANY New Hydraulic Heavy Duty

OFFSETS 3 metre width, 28 discs, All bath bearings $11,000 plus GST ($12,100 incl GST) Other size offsets available are 1.8m, 2.2m, 2.5m, 3m & 3.4metres. 3 point linkage offsets available also

New Heavy Duty

SLASHERS 2.1 metres width $3,300 incl GST Other sizes available are 1.2m, 1.5m & 1.8m

Johnny Farming Company Phone (07) 4952 2577 or 0412 535 887 (John) or 0407 638 674 (Andrew) 133 Schmidtke Road Mackay Qld 4740

Beaulieu R.U.M. Attention Canegrowers The first step in achieving a high yielding cane crop is a good strike and vigorous growth in the early stage of your crop.

This can be achieved easily by simply adding 5 litres of R.U.M per acre to your dip water. For a cost of around $25 per acre Can you afford not to give it a go? For further information contact – Burdekin & Northern Region call Wally Ford 0417 937 722 Mackay Region call Noel Jensen 0438 595 325 Childers Region call Peter Irwin 0428 427 212 22 Australian Canegrower | 3 August 2015

Graham Twyford Machinery Sales Pty Ltd

CAMECO 1995 TRACK HARVESTER Cat 325 HP Eng. Recent Rebuild. 12’’ x 6 Blade Diff. Chopper 95mm Blade. Good Tracks. Shredder topper. READY TO CUT.

WESTHILL TRACK INFIELD TRANSPORTER Front Unloader. 12/14 Tonne Elev. CAT. 3306 TA eng. 275HP. Eaton Track Drive Pumps, Sunstrand Pump Driving Elevator With Radial Piston Motors. Fitted To TOFT 6500 Walking Gear.

NEW! 4 SLAT OPEN BUTT ROLLERS Suit JD 3510/20 and CASE. Helps Drop Dirt. Enquire NOW!

NEW PLANTING TIPPERS Triple Side Tippers on trailer remote hydraulics. Immediate Delivery.

IN STOCK NOW 12, 10, 8 & 6 BLADE DIFFERENTIAL CHOPPER DRUMS Suit ‘05 to current 3520 CAMECO/JD. Tungsten Hard Faced on Wear Areas. New seal plates, Clamping Bars & Dowels with kit.

Graham Twyford 48 Central Park Drive, Paget, Mackay Mobile: 0418 742 696 Phone: 07 49 526 668 Email: graham@gtmachinerysales.com.au Web: www.gtmachinersales.com.au

WHAT’S NEW MEMBER SERVICES

Mossman –Tully

The 2015 sugarcane harvest is underway • Are you looking for a job? • Are you looking for a worker? We can help! Hop onto the CANEGROWERS Employment page to list a vacancy or check out the work that's available. http://www.canegrowers.com.au/page/Industry_Centre/Careers/ CANEGROWERS has a web page to help you ﬁnd harvesting work and workers. Browse the listings or put up one of you own.

INGHAM AGENCIES EXTRACTOR FAN BLADES GREAT RANGE! BETTER PRICES! NEW PRODUCT AVAILABLE CORRADINI TIPPER ELEVATOR FLIGHTS

BASECUTTER DISCS 610mm & 585mm 5 blade and 6 blade versions HILLING SWEEPS VIDA PLATE STRIPS

VIDA PLATE LINER

MADE IN QUEENSLAND FOR AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS Contact: Michael Pelleri Phone: 07 47761273 Fax: 07 4776 2326 sales@inghamagencies.com.au

TYRES. Michelin radial tyres. 18.4x38s 80% rubber $1000 +GST for both 0408 770 054 (Tully) JOHN DEERE 3130, 100HP, 6CYL, ROPS, VGC. Croplands 4 Fan Mister, 800L Tank, suitable for Row Crops. Ph: 0407 597 179 SOUTHERN CROSS Travelling Irrigator SX300, fully galvanised and always in shed – very seldom used. Angus hose on wrapped around flat wheel. Winch in new condition. Tractor power take off pump with transfer box. Model 100X65250 6 inch, suction valve. Also, 16 lengths x 9m long aluminium pipes with ajax fittings on trailer. Ph: 0408 183 762 60" HOWARD Rotary Hoe in good condition. Ph: 0428 514 779 TOFT 6000 with Rotary Chop & Cat 3306DI Motor, good Billet machine. SET OF BENT GROWSER PLATES & Bolts to suit 7700 Cane Harv Engine to suit MF102 Cane Harv. Ph: 0428 100 564

Herbert River – Burdekin ZUCCHINI WASHER/grader/packing equipment, in very good working order, no longer required, capable of packing 15 pallets or more per day - $10,000 +gst. 8 pallet forced air cold room, excellent condition, $10,000 +gst. Ph: 0428 792 252 FORD D SERIES Truck, 7T – Petrol Engine. Good condition – no rust. $5,800 O.N.O. Ph: 0429 101 163. 4 TONNE NEWTON side tipper suitable for planting. $3000 plus GST Phone 47766721. 4 TONNE NEWTON Fertilizer Box. $3,850 inc GST. Ph: 0418 779 624 MF188 tractor good condition new tyres, clutch and ROPS $8000 inc GST ONO. Ph 0409480179 GRIZZLY BILLET PLANTER with modified hodge feed. 300mm and 550mm plough front and double disc opener front included. 600L liquid fert tanks. $35000 +gst. Ph: 0428180285

Mackay – Proserpine MACLEAN 5 ROLLER half tracks, new stone guards, VGC $6500 plus GST Ph 0418159998 CASE HARVESTER back tyres and rims, 80% tread, $2000 each plus GST Ph 0418159998 AIR COMPRESSOR – 130CFM Atlas Copco, Deutz diesel engine, trailer mounted, new tyres. $4,500+GST. Ph: 0419 700 761. TIP TRUCK-1984 Nissan UD. Good condition. Current Machinery. Body cond. excellent, tyres 80% $17000 incls. 0447461132 3 August 2015

| Australian Canegrower 23

MEMBER SERVICES

BUCKETS (NEW) suit Backhoe or 5T Excavator: 1300mm mud bucket, $800+gst. 650mm GP bucket, $600+GST. Ph: 0419 700 761. BUCKETS (NEW) suit 20T excavator: 600mm to 1050mm wide GP buckets. From $1,900+gst. Ph: 0419 700 761. QUICK HITCHES (NEW) - suit various excavator / backhoes. Prices from $800+GST. Ph: 0419 700 761. MILLABLE LOG, Red Ash, 1.5m x 10m, any offers. Ph: 07 4958 5253 CAMECO 2000 track harvester, 5ft primary extractor, leg base cutter box, all new walking gear, $110,000 inc GST. Ph: 0407714172 MF 105 cane harvester, vgc, $7700 inc GST, includes second wrecked harvester for parts. 2x variant irrigation guns, $330 each. Ph: 0428 367 078 4T REAR TIPPER with paddle used for planting, good condition. Ph: 0413 190 868 or 0413 317 590 MASSEY FERGUSON MF3645, 92HP 4WD - $17,000 ONO. Trailco 2.5 inch irrigator with diesel engine and pipe trailer full of pipes, $12,000 ONO. Howard Rotary Hoe 80 inch and three point linkage set of bumpers, $1000 each. Ph: 0467 597 461 TRACTORS/MACHINERY: Ford 5000, 86hp recond. Head, good rubber, 2pac paint, registered, tidy unit. $9500 inc gst. Ford 8401, air cab, recond. Gearbox, new hyd pump, tidy unit, registered, $13000 inc gst. 2 x 23-1-30 Good walls 5-10% rubber. $110 each. Ph: 0428 880 771 FORD TW30 2WD Body in fair condition but runs well $8,800 incl gst. PH: 0428 529 216 Valtra 6400 4WD Tractor - 1ooHP, Air-Con Cab, 2004 Model. 3700 Hours. Good Condition. $30 000. (incl GST) ONO. Ph: 0418710958 / 49503048. 1.5 TONNE HODGE side dresser $5500 incl gst Ph 0428 529 216 STL SHARES FOR SALE - A total of 26,841 shares are available for sale. (Proserpine District) Phone: 0427 939 082 NEW HOLLAND TM155, 07 Model, 5626 hrs, 3 ptl. Ph:0427452724 (Proserpine area) 2 SETS OF D4 track rollers. Ph: 0427452724 (Proserpine area) 2013 MASSEY FERGUSON 7620 dyna-6 200+hp, efficient,50kph front and cab suspension,520-85/46 rear tyres,340 hours with 2cm guidance fitted,$125,000 plus gst call 0407595094 2005 BA FORD Falcon XR6 Mark 11, Shockwave Blue, 54,000k; VGC. Ph: 0437 011 560 or 4659 8974 2014 JOHN DEERE 6170m,330 hours,52085/42rear tyres,auto steer fitted, will separate,$110,000 plus gst. Ph: 0407595094

TRAILHAUL on 135hp Massey Ferguson 4wd All in good condition $42,000 + GST Ph 0418150151

Bundaberg - Rocky Point CASE 970 TRACTOR low hours , rear transmission over hauled , VGC $12000 plus Gst Ph 0431 290 004 or 0755 466 867 90" ROTARY HOE, heavy gear box, crumble roller. $6,000 + GST. Ph: 0448 034 046. DROP-DECK, tautliner and flat top extendable for hire. 07 4159 8174 or 0417 004 717. K line speedtillers for hire, efficient tillage implement, phone AgQuip hire. 1300 859 869 www.agquiphire.com.au IRVIN SPRAY BOOM 4 row spray legs VGC $750 (no GST) Ph: 07 5446 7205. (Yandina)

24 Australian Canegrower | 3 August 2015

Ellis closed boom inter-row or overrow sprayer. Folding booms, 1200 L tank, hydraulic pump. $8,500 including. Located Bundaberg. Ph: 0439702269. 4 ROW SIDE dressing fertilizer & centre ripping unit. Holds 2 tonne of fertilizer. $16,500 including. Ph: 0439702269 HARRELL 7 TYNE square plough. $9000 including. Located Bundaberg. Ph: 0439702269.

Wanted TRACTOR TYRES of all sizes. 0418 775 698 all hours. WANTED IN REASONABLE CONDITION; 6’ slasher, 3 point linkage trash incorporator, Hodge 4 furrow plough. Ph: 0428 782 202 TRACTOR TYRES: 14x9x28; 16x9x28; 23x1x34. Ph: 07 4959 5207

Rainfall Report Recorded rainfall (mm) Location

7 days to 9am 20.07.15

Average rainfall (mm)

Year to date

27.07.15

Jan–July

Mossman

1009

Mareeba AP

0.4

575

1761 724

Cairns

1331

1628

Mt Sophia

2863

2655

Babinda

1413

3402

Innisfail

1876

2849

Tully

2161

3303

Cardwell

1032

1686

Lucinda

0.6

716

1705

Ingham

806

1591

Abergowrie

0.8

945

1457 882

Townsville

244

Ayr DPI

0.2

348

727

Proserpine

0.2

601

1049

Mirani Mackay Sarina (Plane Ck)

625

1155

0.2

646

1209

771

1316

Bundaberg

0.2

573

652

Childers South

0.4

0.8

596

552

Maryborough

702

781

Tewantin

1012

1111

Eumundi

1312

1172

Nambour

1388

1169

Woongoolba

1068

906

Murwillumbah

1256

1103

Ballina

1401

1265

Woodburn

780

968

Zero indicates either no rain or no report was sent. These rainfall figures are subject to verification and may be updated later. Weather forecasts, radar and satellite images and other information for the farming community can be accessed on www. bom.gov.au. Weather report provided by the Bureau of Meteorology’s Commercial Weather Services Unit.

WHAT’S NEW CLASSIFIEDS

HIRE OR BUY, single or double disc opener planter for wholestick cane, in good condition. Ph: 0419 771 504 AUSTOFT 7000 for plant cutter. Ph 0407495022 or 0429876441 TRASH INCORPORATOR 1.6m or adjustable. Ph. 07 49591437

Farmhand – Cane Stick Planting. 14 years experience with good references. Live in Walkerston area can travel anywhere. C Licence. Ph: 0482 072 301 email: deadlydiane@yahoo.com.au

Positions Vacant

MACKAY: For sale cane farm Pinnacle area 07 4958 5253. HERBERT RIVER: Cane farm 60.73ha with machinery and 4 bedroom dwelling at 194 Lannercost Ext Rd, Ingham Ph. 40454321

ETON: Haulout Operator required for June start, cab tractors with 6 tonne side tippers, 3 days a week. PH: 0438 541 448. (Eton Area)

Property

Work Wanted

C CANEGROWERS MEMBER OFFER M D you want a FREE electronic Do version of Australian Canegrower delivered v tto your email inbox every fortnight?

T receive your free electronic copy, email us on To eeditor@CANEGROWERS.com.au with your full name a and/or membership number, the name of the p person wishing to subscribe and the email address y wish to subscribe to the service. you * *Grower members who subscribe to the electronic version will sstill receive the print version as normal, but can allocate an email a address of their choice to receive the electronic version as well p perfect for farms with two or more operators.

ONFIDO

EXPERIENCED heavy duty mechanic: 10 years experience in the USA, Middle East and Asia, looking for full time mechanics position in the Burdekin/Townsville area. Currently residing in Giru. Immediate start. Please contact Matt on: 0497701894 or matthew.woodruff1@gmail.com. Looking for farm/cane harvest work in the Burdekin, have many years experience in the cane industry operating plant and equipment. Trade Qualified :Diesel fitter Fitter/turner. Also have HR license phone Chris on 0437342017 anytime.

INGHAM: Cane Farm for sale. Hawkins Creek. Total area 48.3ha. CPA 46.6ha. Shed, electricity & water. Genuine enquiries Ph.0407635175. Wanted to lease. Cane farm; SarinaMackay area. Ph: 0419 771 504 Wanted to lease cane farm 5000 tonnes and up on a long term basis, preferably Mackay area. Do have considerable farming experience. ph - 0409897557

SINCE 1994

Enjoy the rewards of choosing Conﬁdor Guard 1.

Outstanding canegrub control as part of a sustainable, strategic management program.

This free Bayer cooler and thermos pack.*

bayercropscience.com.au Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd, ABN 87 000 226 022 391– 393 Tooronga Road, Hawthorn East, Victoria 3123. Technical Enquiries 1800 804 479. Confidor ® is a Registered Trademark of the Bayer Group. * Limit one per customer. While stocks last.

3 August 2015

| Australian Canegrower 25

www.canegrowers.com.au/page/insurance

WE PROVIDE SOLUTIONS

CANEGROWERS INSURANCE Insurance designed by CANEGROWERS for cane growers At CANEGROWERS, our business is protecting your business. That’s why we have developed CANEGROWERS Insurance, to ensure our members have access to the best possible personal and commercial insurance products on the market.

CANEGROWERS Insurance products are tailored to meet the speciﬁc needs of growers and their families. Our dedicated team provide a personal on-farm service, taking all the complications out of ﬁnding the perfect insurance solutions for members.

CANEGROWERS is an Authorised Representative of NAS Insurance Brokers. AFS Licence No: 233750