Canegrower AUSTRALIAN
The flagship of the sugarcane industry
28 September 2015 Price $8.95
MPs to debate grower choice sugar bill
Reef Award farm sees production boost
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CONTENTS 28.09.2015
CHAIRMAN'S COMMENT
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By the end of this year, by industry agreement or legislation, I believe the sugar marketing issue will come to a resolution. Queensland politicians have agreed to debate a private member’s bill and a Federal minister has committed to appoint a mediator. Paul Schembri CANEGROWERS Chairman
Cover: : Bundaberg grower Mark Pressler with Bundaberg Sugar Services Productivity Officer Maurie Haines assessing cane yield. Read why it’s increased 20% in the article on page 16. Photo by John Flynn.
Canegrower AUSTR ALIAN
The flagship of the sugarcane industry 28 September 2015 Price $8.95
2 Editor's Desk 3 Chairman's comment 4 Smartcane BMP numbers stacking up 5 Parliament to vote on marketing
Opposite: Sunrise on the Tablelands. Photo by Lee. MPs to debate grower choice sugar
bill
Reef Award farm sees production
Editor Neroli Roocke Design, subscriptions, advertising and classifieds Wayne Griffin Articles appearing in Australian Canegrower do not necessarily represent the policies or views of CANEGROWERS 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 AUSTRALIAN CANEGROWER ISSN 157-3039 Volume 37, Number 19 Printed by Screen Offset Printing 202 Robinson Road, Geebung, QLD, 4034 Subscriptions Yearly subscriptions for 25 issues (postage included) Within Australia Overseas (AUD)
INDUSTRY NEWS
$140 inc GST $220
boost
6 New lease on life for fertiliser bags 8 Regional round-up 10 Spotlight - US politics, Australian Sugar and the TPP 11 SRA Snapshot 12 QSL - Annual report details strong results
WHAT’S NEW 14 New soil conservation guidelines for Queensland 15 Mineral Mulch - Increased yield in the field
ON FARM 16 Great lateral move pays off on Bundaberg farm 19 Data driven irrigation boosts Bundaberg's potential 21 Sunflowers supplement soil project
MEMBER SERVICES 22 Classifieds 24 Rainfall report 28 September 2015
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EDITOR’S DESK
The end of the year now looks like marking the end of the sugar marketing debate one way or another! Read Chairman Paul Schembri’s commentary on page 3 and a summary of what’s been going on in the political arena on page 5. More cane for less effort and less cost while ticking water quality boxes – that’s what the farmers in our On Farm article this magazine have achieved and for their efforts, they’ve won a 2015 Reef Award. Mark and Brian Pressler take you through their program of farm improvements from page 16 while on page 19 Bundaberg Sugar Services Productivity Officer Maurie Haines goes through the technology that’s helped them, and others in their district, get more out of their irrigation spend.
farm businesses which have completed Smartcane BMP self-assessments. What this means, and how you can be involved in proving the industry’s sustainability, is on page 4. The time has come to get rid of that pile of fertiliser bags you have lying around. A trial recycling scheme has been launched to take folded bags and send them off to find a new life as other plastic products. Read about the scheme on page 6 and there’s a list of drop off points on page 22.
Neroli
The latest Reef scorecard put the sugarcane industry in the spotlight recently but some of that attention really needs to go the way of the 820
Huge signup to Smartcane BMP If there was ever a signal that now is the time every grower should sign up to BMP, this is it. Peak group CANEGROWERS acknowledged the Great Barrier Reef scorecard released this fortnight which reports that as of mid-2014, water quality is improving across all catchments, but more slowly than hoped.
Once the sugar industry has a landslide of growers involved in the program, CANEGROWERS will be able to give clear collated proof of the sugarcane industry’s environmental credentials. It will reduce the ability of others to step in and set the way we farm and moreover for others to be able to measure the performance of the sector using their own measurement tools.
CANEGROWERS Chairman Paul Schembri said it was disappointing to see numbers which indicated that progress had slowed. “We will work closely with government to get to the bottom of this,” he said. “We need to understand how the figures were arrived at and identify any external factors which may have impacted on this result, especially given the must stronger performance in previous scorecards.” CANEGROWERS also said it’s important to keep in mind that this scorecard is data modelled until mid-last year. There has been a huge amount of progress made over the last 12 months in particular with the Smartcane BMP program.
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Landline story on harvesting gets conversation on losses buzzing When ABC-TV’s Landline program covered a story about harvesting losses last fortnight, it stirred a lot of conversation right across the Australian sugarcane industry. The story reported some Sugar Research Australia findings that in the worst case scenario, some harvester losses in the sugarcane industry were peaking at 40% in rare instances. While most growers across the State are working with their harvester drivers to minimise harvester losses by striking a balance between slowing the harvester down and being able to harvest enough of their crop in their harvesting window, there is still some opportunity for some farms to focus on harvesting efficiency and profitability. Sugar Research Australia recently released a set of best management practices for harvesting. The guidelines were developed to help growers reduce cane loss, improve cane quality, and reduce stool damage. The research group feels a 10% reduction in losses is a reasonable target across the industry. There is a lot of variation from district to district and farm to farm as to whether any losses are being experienced at all, and if so, to what degree. The complexities of calculating losses were too vast to cover in such a short television segment, but the growers involved in the segment have been busy explaining the intricacies of their farm’s situation to the myriad of other growers who have taken an interest in the topic since the program went to air.
CHAIRMAN'S COMMENT
Solutions are now within our reach By Paul Schembri CANEGROWERS Chairman As this magazine went to print, the fifth Great Barrier Reef report card was released. Sugarcane was highlighted as the commodity with the most to do and I have spent two days being interviewed about this. CANEGROWERS has come out strongly saying that we need to work closely with government to understand how these figures were arrived at, especially when previous report cards were showing stronger progress. It is, for us, another signal that the solution is in our hands. The more of our growers that sign up to Smartcane BMP, the easier it will be for us to prove what is being done on cane farms across Queensland. We need to make BMP a winner. At the end of the day I believe it is far more important to manage our own environmental affairs than have government do it for us. CANEGROWERS has been advised by the Queensland Minister for the Environment and Great Barrier Reef Steven Miles that a form of reef regulations will be imposed on growers. At this point in time we do not know the nature of these regulations. Reef regulations have never been embraced by cane growers.
"One thing is clear – by the end of this year, either by industry agreement or legislation, this issue will come to an end." Paul Schembri CANEGROWERS Chairman
While we have had strong support from growers to ensure growers have access to fair, transparent and remunerative marketing arrangements we equally recognise the need to end the dispute. Growers need certainty and surety to continue to invest with confidence. Recently the then Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane convened a meeting of sugar industry representatives to attempt to facilitate an industry solution to the marketing impasse. Debate at that meeting was robust yet constructive but no solution emerged. At the end of the meeting Ian Macfarlane advised that he would appoint a mediator and give industry 30 days to find a solution or there would be legislation. CANEGROWERS is more than willing to participate in such a process but given that Mr Macfarlane is now no longer in that portfolio, following the change of Prime Minister, we are waiting to see what happens.
Reef regulations centre on bureaucratic compliance which I don’t believe delivers improved environmental performance.
Growers in Queensland have around $11 billion in assets at risk in the industry and are entitled to fair market power that reflects that level of risk.
More than anything else we have said to Mr Miles that if reef regulations are imposed on BMP participants, it will undermine the goodwill of growers in getting on board with Smartcane BMP.
Growers are not seeking a financial advantage over mills – simply a preservation of our rights to determine our pathway to market.
The level of grower participation in this program is increasing.
On the state scene there has been an interesting turn of events in relation to marketing.
also worked very closely with the KAP to ensure a single private member’s bill goes before the house. There will no doubt be more developments in relation to this marketing dispute however one thing is clear – by the end of this year, either by industry agreement or legislation, this issue will come to an end.
Trade You might well think that the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) has faded from view. Far from it – we have been advised that TPP discussions will restart at the end of September. CANEGROWERS, through the Australian Sugar Alliance, has been invited to make our case for greater market access to the United States. Our case is a rational one. We are only seeking to supply part of the gap between US domestic production of sugar and consumption. This is currently three million tonnes and growing. Any increased market access to the US would not challenge the US sugar program nor would we be competing against US sugar producers. The Australian sugar industry gave up all of its domestic protections in the 1980s. What we got in return was very little and we remain the least subsidised and most world-price-exposed sugar industry in the world.
I urge growers to engage with Smartcane BMP not just as an environmental program but also to give you a great opportunity to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your business.
The Queensland Government with the support of the Katter’s Australian Party and Liberal National Party moved that the KAP private member’s bill on real choice in marketing be brought forward to be debated no later than 3 December.
Marketing
As well, the independent Member for Cook, Billy Gordon, signalled his support for the bill.
No industry is more deserving than sugar in needing a substantial economic uplift from the TPP. We will continue to put our case very strongly to the Federal Government. These trade deals come along infrequently.
I need to acknowledge that the LNP has
Sugar needs a great deal out of TPP.
The sugar marketing dispute has been centre stage in the industry for over 18 months.
We need a meaningful outcome from the TPP.
28 September 2015
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Smartcane BMP numbers are stacking up The sugarcane industry’s Smartcane BMP program has hit some important milestones in its first 18 months. More than a thousand growers are now registered in the system. That’s around a quarter of all of the sugarcane farmers in Queensland!
current practices can be recognised and so that they can see where things might be fine-tuned for improved productivity and increased environmental outcomes
The industry is proud of the buy in by growers and is expecting that commitment to strengthen as word continues to spread about the importance of all growers signing up to the industry’s best management practices program.
Mick Quirk explains that selfassessment is a series of multiple choice questions.
More than 820 of these registered farm businesses have completed selfassessments. That equates to almost 223,000 hectares of irrigated and dryland sugarcane farms now on the road to having their current good management recognised and further improvements identified. This effort will benefit each individual grower involved while also ensuring that any impacts those farms have on the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon are minimised. Project Manager Mick Quirk says self-assessment is the process by which growers can compare their current farming practices with what is considered by industry to be current best practice. “Growers can explain why they do what they do and, where their practices do not match with the description of best practices, they can outline how their practices achieve the same outcome in, for example, improving soil health, reducing nitrogen losses or managing weeds and pests,” he explained. “These numbers mean that half the area under sugarcane in Queensland is now represented in the BMP program! “Further, growers who manage 30% of Queensland’s sugarcane farm area have completed self-assessment in the core modules that address soil health and nutrients, weed and pest management, and irrigation and drainage,” he said. Once growers are registered with Smartcane BMP, they are encouraged to do the self-assessment so that their
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“It’s really relatively straightforward and can be done on computer or, as many have chosen, completed on paper with assistance from a district BMP facilitator,” he says. “Once growers start the self-assessment and work with the facilitator, they often see aspects of their farming system that they would like to discuss and perhaps new things to trial on farm.” “Facilitators are keen to recruit more growers into the BMP system because the more growers we have, the better the case the industry can make for its environmental stewardship.” Accreditation is awarded once a grower collates records and other information about their current farming practices and this is independently assessed and verified. “Accreditation is very strong evidence of the grower’s good practices and, when many growers are accredited, it will give the industry rock-solid evidence of its environmental stewardship,” Mick says. “Smartcane BMP is also helping the sugar industry get on the front foot to meet the changing needs of its export markets as international customers begin to demand sustainable farming credentials.” CANEGROWERS says that the significant level of involvement in the program is a real signal that growers are backing their own industry program and are happy that it will also assist Queensland to demonstrate that the Great Barrier Reef is being managed well. We commend the Federal and Queensland Governments for their support for proactive, farm-focused programs such as Smartcane BMP.
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Ethanol mandate for Queensland fuel The Queensland Government has introduced legislation into State Parliament that will require fuel sellers to meet targets for the sale of ethanol-blended petrol and biobased diesel. Minister for Energy and Water Supply said the proposed mandates outlined in the Liquid Fuel Supply (Ethanol and Other Biofuels Mandate) Amendment Bill 2015 will help Queensland transition to a clean energy economy, grow the biofuels and bio-manufacturing sectors and boost jobs, especially in regional Queensland. “Earlier this year I released a discussion paper, Towards a clean energy economy: achieving a biofuel mandate for Queensland and my department and I have been consulting widely with industry, interest groups and motorists on our biofuel mandate policy,” Mark Bailey said. “Nearly 300 people attended community forums held across the state throughout June, and we received 88 submissions in response to the discussion paper from a range of groups including fuel suppliers, ethanol producers, consumer representatives and members of the community.” The Bill includes an initial 2% ethanol mandate for petrol and a half a percent biobased diesel mandate. “In practical terms, this mandate will require E10 to make up 20% of regular petrol sales in Queensland,” Mr Bailey said. “Regular unleaded petrol will still be available for those who can’t or don’t want to use ethanol fuels.”
INDUSTRY NEWS
Parliament to vote on marketing The Queensland Parliament is set to debate a bill on sugar marketing before the end of the year raising hopes the confidence-sapping bid by three milling companies to seize complete control will be thwarted. The private member’s bill, put together by the Katter’s Australian Party, seeks to change the Sugar Industry Act to recogniser grower’s economic interest in the sugar produced from the cane they deliver, secure grower choice in the marketing of that sugar and set up an industry dispute resolution process. These issues were triggered last year when Wilmar, MSF Sugar and Tully Sugar gave notice that they would end their relationship with the industryowned marketer Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) and exercise their regional monopoly powers over sugar marketing.
Parliament’s multi-party Agriculture and Environment Committee has reviewed the bill with input from grower representatives and millers and while the Committee recommended a further process of regulatory impact assessment be undertaken, the Queensland Parliament has voted unanimously in support of a fast track motion to have the issue voted on by 3 December. CANEGROWERS welcomes this decision by Queensland MPs as it is in the best interests of growers to have the issue resolved as quickly as possible.
The LNP also has a draft private member’s bill containing pro-competitive amendments to “This provides the the Sugar Industry numbers for the bill to be passed with the Act which is yet to support from either be introduced to the Government parliament. or the Opposition. CANEGROWERS is Immediate action urging all parties needs to take place to continue show – it is clear this bill the unity they have is the solution the over the fast track industry has been motion. crying out for.” Shane Knuth MP. “Time is desperately of the essence,” Chairman Paul Schembri said.
“Farming and business decisions are needing to be made for coming seasons but growers in some of our largest sugarcane regions have no contracts with mills beyond 2017. “We need all of the parties to engage constructively on this issue, to put party politics to one side, so that they can deliver a result through the parliament before Christmas,” he said. CANEGROWERS has also recently participated in a meeting in Canberra convened by the Minister for Industry and Science, Ian Macfarlane MP. He committed to appoint a mediator to work with miller and grower representatives to resolve the impasse over the future of sugar marketing arrangements. Mr Macfarlane delivered an ultimatum that if there was no resolution within 30 days of the appointment of a mediator, the government would deliver a solution which was likely to be unpalatable to either millers or growers. With the change in Prime Minister, Mr Macfarlane no longer has that portfolio and CANEGROWERS is waiting to see how the issue will progress under the new minister, Christopher Pyne.
28 September 2015
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Used fertiliser bags being offered a new life We’ve been doing it with chemical drums – now it’s time to recycle cane fertiliser bags. It’s estimated more than 350,000 one tonne bags and 2,000,000 25kg bags are used by the sugarcane industry each year. While some are returned, most are dumped, burned or piled up on farm. So a trial recycling program for polypropylene cane fertiliser bags is up and running with collection points open until mid-December. Farmers are being asked to fold up and deliver their used bags. The bags will then be collected by processors and recyclers. One of the key objectives of the trial is to demonstrate the feasibility of the program and to build support for it to become an ongoing feature of the sugarcane farming process. The trial is being run by Farm Waste Recovery with support from regional councils, the Queensland Government through the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, fertiliser bag manufactures Incitec Pivot Limited and Impact Fertilisers and grower organisation CANEGROWERS. Mr Jim Mole, CEO of Impact Fertilisers said his company has had a recycling program for its Single Trip Bags and Multi Trip bags for some time, which involved having the bags returned to one of their plants.
sustainable practices and I look forward seeing the benefits that this excellent initiative will generate.” The trial will operate in a similar manner to the successful drumMUSTER and ChemClear programs. Farm Waste Recovery Managing Director Stephen Richards says farmers are being asked to drop off fertiliser bags rolled up. “This is to help ensure that the bags are easier to handle and are less prone to being blown around the sites in the event of strong winds,” he said. “If the bags can’t be rolled, they need to be stacked flat or stuffed inside one another.”
“However, since joining the industry, I’ve had both a personal and business objective for a sustainable bag recycling programme at an industry level, making it easier for growers to dispose of their used fertiliser bags,” he said.
DrumMUSTER has collected and recycled over 26 million AgVet containers (31 million kilograms of plastic) and ChemClear has collected over 500 tonnes of unwanted AgVet chemicals.
“This new programme is a big leap forward for the fertiliser industry, in demonstrating its commitment to
Stephen hopes that once the volume of available fertiliser bag material is realised through the trial, it will act as
IPF is proud to support the
Fertiliser Bag recovery trial program in conjunction with the Queensland Government and industry bodies. We encourage all cane growers to participate in this fantastic initiative for our industry.
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an incentive for expanded processing efforts. Used plastics can be used to make items including fence posts and outdoor furniture. Turn to page 22 for a full list of used fertiliser bags collection sites. Farmers are asked to ensure that all bags delivered are rolled and tied up before delivery. 1. Shake the used bag out thoroughly, to ensure it is empty. 2. Lay the bag out flat on the ground and smooth over to release captured air. 3. Roll the bag from top to bottom, ensuring the string ties are at the bottom. 4. Once rolled, use the available string ties to tie off the rolled up bag. 5. Visit your local Drop Off Point to neatly dispose of the used cane fertiliser bags.
INDUSTRY NEWS
CANEGROWERS Regional round-up By CANEGROWERS district offices
Mossman and Tableland To the end of week 18 Mossman Mill has processed 595,799 tonnes of cane for a mill average of 12.15CCS. The Mossman Pool average is now 11.63CCS and the Mareeba Pool is 12.78CCS. The mill crushed 35,949.50 tonnes in week 17 and 41,744.77 tonnes in week 18. The tonnes processed per week have started to settle since week 15 due to minor mechanical issues rather than the major issues from earlier in the crushing. The finish date prediction remains late November 2015. In addition to what Mossman Mill has processed, about 143,000 tonnes of Mossman Mill cane has been sent to the Tableland Mill for Toll Crushing so far. Tableland Mill experienced some maintenance issues during the last fortnight with 15,710 tonnes crushed in week 13 and 19,316 tonnes crushed in week 14.
Cairns Region The region has recently experienced some notable rainfall, which was welcome by some but certainly caused delays in harvesting throughout most of the region. CCS however continues to increase slightly. Reef Rescue round 8 projects are well underway with the supporting extension plans being developed under the Wet Tropics Sugar Industry Partners (WTSIP) program.
Innisfail Spring showers resulted in conditions unsuitable for harvesting which meant some 54 hours of lost crushing time at the mill. At week ending 16 September, 40% of the current official estimate had been crushed. CCS was improving before the rain, getting up to a 13.00 average for the week. That is much lower than what it could be but the crop is still green and continuing to grow. The recent rain will add to the continuing growth.
crushing operations or less than optimal performance of crushing operations. With a much larger crop combined with the significant delay to commencement of crushing at the beginning of the season, concerns are now being expressed about the removal of the crop.
CCS showed a healthy rise for week 13 of the season with an average of 14.0 for 213,000 tonnes crushed bringing the season to date to 12.67.
Tully
The official opening of the Mercers Lane Mosaic by Andrew Cripps MP took place on Friday afternoon 18 September with a well-attended ceremony to mark the occasion.
The crush in Tully is nearing the 50% mark of a crop that is still increasing in estimate. Crop forecasts have the yield at 100 tonnes per ha which is 15% above the average and 10% above the original estimate. The district received up to 60mm of rain last week which was most welcome for next year’s crop however it may stimulate late suckering in the cane waiting for the harvest. A good harvest and milling run for the balance of the season suggests that there will still be cane available for crushing in the week before Christmas. Growers are currently reviewing their rotations and some are identifying blocks that would be suitable for standover should the need arise. Growers and harvesters are concentrating on filling bins with the cleanest cane possible to maximise the crush rate of the mill and this year bin weights are significantly higher than last year. The fibre and Extraneous Matter in the supply has reduced. Cane planting is mostly finished and Tully growers are reminded to complete and return the form for planting subsidy to Tully Sugar by the 30 September.
Herbert River The Herbert’s combined crushing has been a little off the pace required for the target estimate and finish date adopted by the working group oversighting the arrangements for a staggered finish to the season after considering the preserved tonnage arising from the wet weather incentive.
Planting operations were able to get fully underway and perhaps the recent rain provided some welcomed moisture the new plantings.
The target estimate had risen to 4,569,616 tonnes and the expected finish date based on 31,000 tonnes per day is now 23 November but to achieve that we need to crush an average of 217,000 tonnes of cane per week.
There is growing discontent among harvesting operators with the transport operations because of very late delivery of empty bins, well outside scheduled times. This has led to lost time of
Under the arrangements for the staggered finish, each group has its own target finish date according to the preserved tonnes accumulated under the wet weather incentive.
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If the CCS continues its recent trajectory there is a good prospect of no further downward adjustment of seasonal estimated average CCS.
CANEGROWERS Herbert River is pleased to have been an in kind supporter of this project which skilfully and visually tells the story and the history of the cane cutters and sugar industry in the Herbert. In a speech at the opening Chairman Stephen Guazzo congratulated Karen Venables and Kate Carr on a magnificent achievement in steering this project to fruition with the voluntary assistance of more than 3,000 helpers from amongst the community who have painstakingly delivered the finished product. The mosaic is a great attraction for Ingham and well worth a visit to view the mosaic tile panels and the interpretive boards that were written by historian Bianca Vidonja Balanzategui.
Burdekin Over 64%, representing 5.3m tonnes, of the 8.27m crop had been crushed at the end of Week 14. â–ş
INDUSTRY NEWS
Since the start of the crush on 9 June only 3 hours has been lost due to wet weather. CCS continues to rise, hitting 15.47, and the four mills are averaging over 377,000 tonnes per week. If the mills can maintain this throughput and there are no weather stoppages, the crush is likely to be completed by early November. To put this into perspective at the same time last year only 56% (4.4m tonnes) of the harvest was complete, even though the crush started a week earlier and the crop was slightly smaller. The Burdekin Falls Dam level continues to drop and is now at 64% - this compares to 91% at the same time last year. Water restrictions remain in place, with allocations reduced to 71% for the BRIA and 50% for the Delta area. There is a great deal of concern of the impact if the region is hit with another failed wet season. CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan paid the region a visit and provided an overview of his first 100 days in the role to around 45 attendees at a Member Information Forum. Dan also provided an update on the latest Queensland and Federal Government activities relating to resolving the marketing impasse. The theme of the Information Forum was “Improving Profitability with Rotational Crops”. Other speakers included Bryce Wenham from QSL providing an update on future pricing and Mike Hanks, Principal Scientist at the Qld Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Mike
addressed yield decline by improving soil health with changes to fallow practices and rotational crops. Chris Richards, Northern Manager of the Blue Ribbon Group, provided an overview of the opportunities Blue Ribbon offers to growers for profitable rotational crops. Craig Feil, Sales Manager of Swire Shipping, spoke of the company’s recently launched express containerised shipping service between Townsville and Shanghai and the opportunities it offered to growers. Terry Granshaw, the Burdekin Smartcane BMP Facilitator, shared with attendees why it is so important for cane growers to become accredited.
Proserpine Proserpine’s 2015 crush passed the million tonne milestone late last week with the season to date total now standing at 1,017,329 tonnes. With the district estimate now revised down to 1.65 million tonnes, the crush is 62% complete. Mill throughput for the past fortnight was 175,965 tonnes – down on budget due to a number of stops required to address mechanical issues however overall, the mill remains slightly ahead of budget. CCS continues to improve with last week’s mill average jumping to 15.06 bringing the season to date CCS average to 13.66. The district received a few isolated showers late last week. While this did not disrupt harvesting, it was enough to impact CCS for the current week. Harvesting conditions remain ideal and, weather permitting, should see the crush completed by the end of October.
Isis At the end of Week 14 Isis Mill had crushed 861,545 tonnes or 69% of the crop estimate. Week 14 also achieved the highest weekly tonnage crushed by the mill so far this season at 71,824 tonnes. Seasonal average CCS is 13.78. For the last few weeks individual CCS tests have been recorded in the low to mid 17s. Ingham café owner Karen Venables, CANEGROWERS Herbert River Manager Peter Sheedy and artist Kate Carr at the official launch of the Mercer Lane Mosaic Mural ‘A tribute to the cane cutter and sugar cane industry’.
Failing any major disruptions to harvesting, the 2015 crushing season is expected to terminate at the end of October. The cane supply area has picked up the occasional rainfall event which is beneficial both for the plant cane and ratoon crops.
The spring plant distribution has completed and Isis Productivity Limited is now preparing to hot water treat cane for planting Tertiary Increase Plots for next year’s distribution. Isis growers are reminded to register their expressions of interest in having a pump efficiency audit undertaken. The pump audits will commence shortly. Board staff will be contacting growers shortly to register for the Smartcane BMP program.
Maryborough At the end of week 13, MSF has crushed 486,625 tonnes of cane at CCS of 13.20. Last week the mill crushed 47,612 tonnes at CCS of 13.89. Some rain has fallen throughout the district over the past week which has made harvesting conditions a little difficult for some groups. The crop continues to crush out to estimate and the mill remains on target to crush 830,000 tonnes for the season. Planting is in full swing and the spring distribution of seedlings has been completed.
Rocky Point Rocky Point mill has just completed week 9 and has crushed a total of 155,524 tonnes at a season average CCS of 13.28. CCS results have been good, with the average for the week sitting at 13.71. The estimate has increased slightly and is currently 377,368 tonnes. Extensive planting has been completed. Some farmers were in the process of watering their plant cane, however, some timely rain has reduced the need.
New South Wales We are approaching the half way mark of the crushing season with a total of 1,025,000 tonnes crushed across the three mills. The cane continues to be of exceptional quality with sugar content at reasonable levels. Harwood had its best weekly throughput since 2007 with 34,985 tonnes crushed for week 14. As ground conditions begin to dry out harvesting should proceed uninterrupted and finish in line with expectations. Planting has commenced and with dry conditions being forecasted, this operation should be completed by the end of October. Growers will be looking for the occasional drop of rain to help get the new crop away.
28 September 2015
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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
US politics, Australian sugar and the TPP By Warren Males, CANEGROWERS Head-Economics United States sugar lobbyists are fighting to keep sugar out of any Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement by using their political clout in Washington, as they have done for decades. Why are 4,579 sugar producers in a country of 320 million people so influential? In short, as the news agency Bloomberg reports, it’s because of money. Sugar accounts for less than 1% of US farm output, but the industry contributes more to congressional campaign coffers than any other commodity producer. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, between 2007 and 2014, US sugar growers donated $18.5 million to political parties and candidates. With new presidential vote and congressional elections due next November, that largesse is continuing. An article entitled “The Truth Hurts, Mate” posted on the American Sugar Alliance website recently (www.sugaralliance.org), asserting that the Australian sugar industry is out to harm US farmers could not be further from the truth and cannot go unanswered. Any significant increase in access to the US market for Australian sugar cannot and will not harm the US sugar program. More Australian sugar going into the US market will not reduce the incomes of US sugar farmers. Quite simply, the US sugar import need is large and it’s growing. The US already imports more than 3.5 million tonnes of sugar each year. The US Department of Agriculture predicts these imports will reach 4.5 million tonnes over the next decade.
with just 87,402 tonnes or just 2.5% of total US sugar imports. Australia’s base level of access is unchanged since the early 1990s. One of the largest quota holders to the US market is the Dominican Republic’s US owned and controlled sugar industry. Mexico, which is the subject of an adverse anti-dumping / countervailing (AD / CV) duty finding, accounts for almost half of US sugar imports. US refiners, operating below capacity, consistently seek access to larger volumes of Australian raw sugar because their supply options are limited. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, the centre piece of the US Pivot to Asia strategy, provides an important opportunity to rectify this situation to the benefit of Australian farmers and US refiners. TPP provides an opportunity for unsubsidised Australian sugar to help fill the US import need in a way which will not harm the domestic production program. Despite the import need, US sugar producers enjoy a suite of sugar specific supports offered under the US Farm Bill. These include: import tariffs (US$338.7/t tariff for raw sugar and US$357.4/t for white sugar); domestic supply controls; market share guarantees; price support through a comprehensive nonrecourse loan program; a payment-inkind program for inventory reduction; a sugar-to-ethanol fuel feedstock flexibility program; buy-backs of quota entitlement to limit third country imports; support for refiners capacity utilisation; industry support and financing for the construction and upgrading of storage facilities.
The USDA’s economic analysis shows that if the US had a more open access regime, the world sugar market would be less distorted and world sugar prices would be significantly higher.
None of these sugar support structures are available to Australian sugar producers. Increased Australian imports into the US would not require a change to any of these supportive programs or policies.
Australia, the world’s third largest exporter of raw sugar, supplies the US
The effective sugar tax on US sugar users and consumers arising from
10 Australian Canegrower | 28 September 2015
these support programs is worth more than $2bn to the US sugar industry. Around US$1.6bn of this comes from the price support offered by the Farm Bill. A further US$440M flows from the further price hike resulting from the US-Mexican sugar suspension agreement. It should not surprise then that the retail price paid by Australian consumers for sugar is less than half the price (US66c/lb) that the American Sugar Alliance says US grocery shoppers pay for sugar. The retail price for generic branded 2.2kg (4.4lb) pack of white sugar in Australia’s major supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths is $1.80 (approximately, US29c/lb). The Australian industry has proposed a number of mechanisms to secure increased market access to the growing United States market, some linking increased access to US domestic prices and others linking access to the size of the import need. Each is designed to enable a substantial increase in Australian raw sugar imports in a way that will not harm the US sugar program and will not reduce US sugar farmers’ incomes. As the US political campaign season gathers momentum, the question remains: Will the logic and imperative of a comprehensive TPP, one that includes sugar, the centrepiece of US trade policy in Asia win out over the power of a small, well-healed domestic US sugar lobby? n
Industry Spotlight sponsored by Smartcane BMP
SNAPSHOT | SRA
SRA seeks research ideas to benefit sugarcane growers and millers By Neil Fisher, Chief Executive Officer, Sugar Research Australia Sugar Research Australia (SRA) is seeking applications for new research projects that will deliver profitability, productivity and sustainability outcomes for sugarcane growers and millers. Researchers and research institutions are being invited to submit applications for projects as part of SRA’s call for projects to commence in 2016/2017. SRA is looking to commission research projects that will deliver on SRA’s strategic objectives for creating positive outcomes for sugarcane growers and millers. SRA continues to target gaps in our research knowledge with a priority on projects that are achievable and deliver a significant financial impact for sugarcane growers and millers. We also seek projects that have a focus on collaboration, that are developed in consultation with industry, and require an investment that is realistic in relation to the outcomes. I encourage researchers from within the industry and from the broader agricultural research sector to put their best ideas forward. SRA has a strategic focus on four priority Impact Areas: • Solving Yellow Canopy Syndrome; • Conventional and genetically modified plant breeding; • Minimising harvest losses and value chain improvements; and • Improving the adoption of research.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will pave the way for exchange of genetic material between the two countries’ plant breeding programs. The 10-year MOU is aimed to allow both countries to improve their sugarcane plant breeding and deliver improved outcomes for growers and millers. This will be done by SRA and the SRI Vietnam working collaboratively to exchange sugarcane germplasm between their respective breeding programs, as well as working cooperatively on research on sugarcane diseases and pests of mutual interest, and other collaborative research ventures such as trait development, molecular biology and crop management. SRA already has variety exchange agreements in place with more than 15 countries around the world and this new MOU with Vietnam is expected to deliver new opportunities for growers and millers, by allowing us access to a greater pool of genetic diversity. Vietnam is an important country to sign a memorandum of understanding with because incorporating new genetics into SRA breeding program can help us improve new varieties for sugarcane growers and millers. SRA and the Australian Government have completely rigorous and strict quarantine processes that ensure there are no biosecurity risks associated with the import of plant material. The
quarantine procedure in Australia takes two years and is overseen by the Australian Department of Agriculture. This involves an extensive battery of tests to test for diseases and pests. Many of the varieties in the field today contain some genetic material that has entered the plant breeding program through agreements such as this. Half of recently released varieties have a foreign parent – many more with a foreign grandparent.
SRA September and October publications The latest edition of SRA’s magazine for the milling sector, Milling Matters, has been sent to SRA’s milling members and is available for download on the SRA website at www.sugarresearch.com. au/page/Growing_cane/Milling/. This magazine provides updates on SRAfunded research for the milling side of the industry. Meanwhile, the spring edition of CaneConnection magazine will be sent to SRA members in October. This magazine provides important updates on SRA-funded research and extension information.
Subscribe to our updates To subscribe to our enewsletters, media releases and other information about SRA activities, you can do so via www.sugarresearch.com.au.
This call for projects has a focus on these four Impact Areas, while SRA also recognises that important research is also needed within the eight Key Focus Areas (KFAs) identified within SRA’s Strategic Plan. The eight KFAs and more information on this call for projects can be found on the SRA website. Questions can also be directed to the Research Funding Unit at SRA on (07) 3331 3333.
New MOU to strengthen sugarcane breeding in both Australia and Vietnam Sugar Research Australia (SRA) and the Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI) of Vietnam have signed an historic
Peter Allsopp, SRA Executive Manager, Development discusses sugarcane breeding with staff at the Sugarcane Research Institute of Vietnam
28 September 2015
| Australian Canegrower 11
QSL
Sign up for market updateS and QSL newS at www.qsl.com.au
ICE No.11 Prompt Futures Contract 20.0 19.0
Market Update By Shaun Tupou
18.0
Current as of 21 September 2015
17.0 16.0
Sugar
15.0
The past fortnight saw a firming sugar market, with flat prices rallying for consecutive sessions. The prompt October15 contract continues to show promise as we near its expiry, rallying to 11.74c/lb during the period. This was followed by some weakness and another modest bounce late in the week. Notably, in the last session of the fortnight the October15 contract weakened remarkably to 10.96c/lb as news broke of India announcing a 4 million tonne export quota.
14.0 13.0 12.0 11.0 10.0
While it was a quiet week following the index roll period, volatility in the front spread has amped up over the past three sessions. Notably, the front spread October/March traded in to -77 points, with this subsequently overshadowed by a rampant last session of the week when the spread traded in to -65 points. Heavier volumes appeared to be the main driver of these fluctuations.
Australian Dollar (AUD v USD) 0.97 0.95 0.93 0.91 0.89 0.87 0.85 0.83 0.81 0.79 0.77 0.75 0.73 0.71 0.69 0.67 0.65
The latest Commitment of Traders report on Friday printed largely as expected. The nonindex funds have continued to reduce their short position with a sustained rally in flat prices prompting speculative buying. The non-index funds bought around 20,000 lots over the Tuesday to Tuesday period covered, and now sit net long 8000 lots. This means that the nonindex funds have bought near 67,000 lots over the fortnight. Fundamentally, there were not many developments of note, as weather in the major producing regions remained the same. On Friday night, the Indian Department of Food and Public Distribution issued a circular note to mills stating that the department had calculated a Minimum Indicative Export Quota (MIEQ) of 4 million tonnes. Despite the fact that this is indicative rather than regulation and was not issued by a government Minister, it does suggest that the Indian mills are by no means being forced into anything. However, as markets do, the sugar market reacted negatively and the October15 contract crumbled 73 points. While it is still too early to create speculation on the treatment of such a notice, it would be negligent to ignore it. The Brazilian Real has continued to slide further into the abyss, with a firming US Dollar taking no steps back. The Real continues to fall, surpassing last week’s low of 3.87 with a fresh low of 3.96 for the fortnight. A softening Real continues to illustrate the disconnect between sugar prices and the Brazilian currency.
QSL Forward Fixed Price Contract (A$/mt)
Despite falling short in Friday’s session on some speculative news out of India, overall market sentiment has been largely positive. With the UNICA (Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association) report for the first half of September due this week, the short-term risk remains on the downside as headlines surrounding India should hold the market’s attention.
520
Currency
500
Two key points have dominated the currency front for us over the last two weeks. Firstly, markets were in a consolidation period following a China/Shanghai Complex meltdown. The Aussie dollar traded back to a 70-cent handle, trading a rather subdued week. Secondly, markets continued this subdued behaviour in the build up to Friday’s September Federal Open Marketing Committee Meeting. The Fed choose to keep rates unchanged despite the increased speculation surrounding a rate hike.
480 460 440 420 400
Additionally, we should mention that the RBA released the Minutes from their September meeting yesterday but were not willing to give away much. Also, the change in Australian Prime Minister caused some intraday price action, albeit short-lived.
380 360 340 320 2015
2016
2017
Data source: QSL Daily Market Report (Futures and Currency) & QSL Daily Indicative Prices
12 Australian Canegrower | 28 September 2015
In the short term, risk remains on the downside for the Aussie dollar as the Fed hold firm on its decision to delay its tightening cycle due to the uncertain global economic environment. With no key drivers in local economic data, our focus turns to the US (GDP Quarter over Quarter report) and China (Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index). 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
Annual Report details strong results By QSL Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Greg Beashel
QSL has released its 2014/2015 Annual Report and I’m pleased to report that it details a strong performance in what was a challenging year on the global sugar market. QSL surpassed average market measures in all of its 2014 pools, with a weighted average pool return of $40.23 per tonne IPS above the Passive Management Benchmark (PMB) of $369. Of the eight QSL-managed pools operated during the 2014 season, our best performer was the Actively Managed Pool, which finished the season at $440.40t/IPS net – over $70 per tonne above the PMB – illustrating the enormous value delivered by the management strategies employed by the entire QSL team. Even the 2014 Harvest Pool, where we have the least amount of discretion or ability to employ financial instruments to manage returns, surpassed average market results by over $32 per tonne, with a net return of $401.88/tonne IPS.
CAPTURING VALUE AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY In a fifth year of global surplus that offered little good news for producers, QSL explored every avenue available to maximise returns to our members, prompting changes to the pricing guidelines for the Harvest Pool which increased the pricing window without compromising the important risk mitigation provided by the Production Buffer. The ability for growers to conduct individual forward pricing via smaller increments also provided QSL’s members with more opportunity to secure value in a subdued price environment.
On the sales front, our Marketing team defied a market awash with sugar to capture marketing returns above the FOB physical market premium average and secure new supply agreements with key refinery partners in Korea and Indonesia. QSL was also the first Australian raw sugar exporter to send Queensland Hi-Pol sugar into Japan under the new Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement. Despite an environment of industrywide uncertainty, the QSL Finance team not only increased the borrowing capacity of our finance facilities to enable us to take advantage of the carry structure in the market whilst maintaining our Advances program, but also secured an ongoing Payroll Tax exemption worth $1 million per annum. And of course an integral part of the value delivered to Queensland growers and millers alike was QSL's management of our state's terminal assets and logistics systems. QSL and its predecessors have been the operator of Queensland’s Bulk Sugar Terminals (BSTs) since their inception in the 1950s, honing a logistics system that is integral to the highly sought Queensland sugar product. This was perhaps best illustrated by our perfect 100% Delivered In-Full On-Time performance record during 2014/15, a feat achieved with no Lost-Time Injuries and a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate at the year’s close of 4.98 – well below our original target of 8. It’s an impressive result that is not only a reflection of the pro-active safety plans and positive attitudes in place at each QSL site, but has also caught the attention of other businesses keen to replicate our success.
TERMINALS UNDERPIN INDUSTRY’S SUCCESS By managing our state’s six terminals on an open-access and cost-recovery basis, we are able to leverage pricing, marketing and shipping advantages for every Queensland grower and miller that are simply unsurpassed by any of our industry’s competitors. We currently hold a five-year lease with Sugar Terminals Limited (STL) to operate the BSTs through until the end of 2018. However, changes to marketing arrangements could see this lease revisited as early as July 2017. We sincerely believe that our long history of superior performance and our independence as a not-for-profit industry service organisation leaves us in an unrivalled position to continue our world-class terminal management operations well into the future. The value created by QSL’s management of the terminals must not be underestimated, and we remain committed to ensuring this advantage is not lost to our industry in the midst of its current transformation. The highlights I’ve touched upon above are just a few of the many achievements secured in what was an important year for our business. I urge you to take the time to read QSL’s 2014/2015 Annual Report to gain a greater insight into the year that was and how QSL worked to advance the interests of its members and the Queensland sugar industry as a whole. The report is available online at QSL’s website: www.qsl.com.au. n
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WHAT’S NEW
New soil conservation guidelines for Queensland By Phil Norman, Principal Scientist, Landscape Sciences, Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation
Soil feeds, clothes, and houses us, cleanses the water we drink and the air that we breathe, protects and nurtures native plants and animals, and creates the landscapes that we love. In this, the International Year of Soil, we are reminded that all life depends on this thin outermost layer, or skin, of the earth. Just like our own skin, the important contribution that soil makes is frequently overlooked. It takes hundreds of years to form just one centimetre of soil, and yet that same centimetre of soil can be lost in a matter of minutes in a single short wind or water erosion event. Here in Queensland we need to be particularly vigilant to prevent erosion.
It takes hundreds of years to form just one centimetre of soil, and yet that same centimetre of soil can be lost in a matter of minutes. Here in Queensland we need to be particularly vigilant to prevent erosion. Intense (and at times prolonged) rain events are a feature of our climate and many of our soils have characteristics that make them particularly vulnerable to erosion especially when they have
lost protective vegetation cover and/or surface structure. In the past we haven’t always practiced this vigilance and as Queenslanders we continue to pay the price for these past mistakes in lost agricultural production potential, increased expense to treat water, damage to infrastructure (such as roads and bridges), and loss of biodiversity. In this respect, the release of updated Soil Conservation Guidelines for Queensland (available online for no cost at www.qld.gov.au/soilguide) is an important milestone. The guidelines bring together decades of research and practical experience in Queensland’s soils and their management to provide a wealth of information to help farmers and graziers, and those who advise them (such as agronomists and agency extension officers), to prevent soil degradation (in particular water based erosion) and to remediate degraded areas.
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This is the third edition of soil conservation guidelines for Queensland—the first was published as long ago as 1966. With each succeeding edition the information contained has become more extensive and comprehensive reflecting growth in our knowledge of soils and how to conserve them. This edition in particular represents a significant expansion from the previous, with new information about stream and gully erosion and on management of floodplains, property infrastructure and horticulture. This edition of Soil Conservation Guidelines for Queensland is dedicated to our dear friend and respected colleague Bruce Carey who recently passed away. Bruce will have been known to many on the land. Motivating and educating people about soil and the need to conserve it was more than a job for Bruce, it was his life-long passion. For more information contact: soils@qld.gov.au
WHAT’S NEW
Increased yield in the field! Supplied by Mineral Mulch The wait is over, the rumours are true and the results are proven. Using Mineral Mulch can result in an increased cane yield. At the time of writing this article, the results have been available for less than 48 hours. You’ve read it here first! The recent harvest of replicated field trials in the Bundaberg region shows Mineral Mulch has delivered an average 25% increase in cane yield at a 6 tonne/ hectare application. Mineral Mulch is a sustainable soil amendment product containing muchneeded soluble plant-available silicon and calcium silicate. The fact is Mineral Mulch delivers an increase in stalk height and an increase in cane yield with no loss of sugar content. If anything, a mild statistical trend towards an increase in sugar content can be inferred, but we are not going to brag too much about it right now although it is there.
In a period of low sugar prices, an economical product that results in proven increased yield is exactly what each and every grower needs right now to still be here in the future. Benefits of silicon for sugarcane have been known since the mid-1970s from research across several countries. The symptoms of silicon deficiency in sugarcane are distinctive. The upper side of lower leaves in the canopy develop a white fleck and a bronze freckle which can cover the whole leaf surface.
Around 30% of soils in most sugarcane regions of Queensland are candidates for silicon supplements.� (Dr Graham Kingston) From now, until 1 January 2016, Mineral Mulch will remain priced at $25.00 per tonne, exclusive of GST and exclusive of freight. To give Mineral Mulch a go and see the results for yourself, give Wendy (0447 888 029) or Rob (0447 888 018) and call, or send an email to info@mineralmulch. com for further information.
Symptoms develop during the peak growth phase in summer when the soil can longer meet crop requirements. Research in Australia has shown yield responses between 0 and 45%, with the average at 16%. The requirement for a silicon fertiliser supplement can be reliably indicated by soil or leaf analysis with sandy or light textured soils most likely to be deficient in silicon.
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ON FARM
Mark and Brian Pressler have demonstrated that the benefit of installing this low pressure irrigation system along with a more efficient mainline and pumping equipment is a 60–70% reduction in energy used to pump irrigation water.
SHORT & SWEET OF IT • Mark and Brian Pressler have won a 2015 Reef Award for their five year program of farm improvements. • The final stage was installing a lateral move overhead low pressure irrigator which has cut pumping costs and increased cane production by over 20%. • The Presslers access a network of soil probes and weather stations in the Bundaberg district to keep their soil moisture at an optimum growing level and avoid runoff. • GPS guided machinery and sub-soil fertiliser application are also part of their sustainable farming effort. This on farm story has been brought to you by the Australian Government Reef Program
Great lateral move pays off on Bundaberg farm Story by Amy Claireton Bundaberg growers Mark and Brian Pressler had a choice—buy a new tractor or invest in new irrigation infrastructure. “The choice was easy really, our old irrigation system was costing us money and we knew we wouldn’t earn any extra dollars from a new tractor,” says Mark.
The Presslers grow cane on around 90 hectares of mostly red and black volcanic soils in the Millaquin mill district. Although the soils have good moisture holding capacity it was difficult to get around the whole area fast enough in the peak growing period using water winches. The brothers spent at least 12 months researching their options and decided to invest in a Bauer lateral move overhead low pressure irrigator. The $200,000 investment for the irrigator and system upgrades is paying off.
16 Australian Canegrower | 28 September 2015
“Fortunately, the savings and increased production have been impressive and immediate,” Mark says. The system has saved the Presslers 60 – 70% of their previous water application costs and production is up by over 20% - from 100–110 t/ha estimate to over 130 t/ha. The combination of savings and increased production is valued at over $50,000 per year at current sugarcane prices, making a great return on their investment. ►
ON FARM
“We thought long and hard about the change,” says Mark. “We spent time planning it all and comparing different options so it is great to see the benefits straight away.”
System upgrades The new Bauer irrigator is 216 metres long and, with end guns, covers a distance of 230 metres. The four spans of the irrigator have been assembled to suit the layout of the farm. The design includes a steerable cart that allows the irrigator to undertake a 30 degree deviation in the middle of its run. It uses silicone-based rotating sprinklers that apply water to the crop at 52 litres per second with minimal fly-away drift when compared with the water winch. Making the change from water winch irrigation has also involved the installation of 1.2 km of 200 mm standalone underground mains and the realignment of several blocks.
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Using a 135m long 125 mm soft hose they are able to reliably deliver water to just over half their total cultivation area. Friction losses in soft hose are high so the Presslers chose to pay more for the larger diameter hose to reduce pumping costs over the 20-year lifetime of the irrigation system. “We have also replaced two centrifugal pumps and two 42 kW motors with one 27 kW close-couple low pressure, high flow pump and motor combination,” says Mark. “We have decommissioned two water winches and can irrigate the same area for one-third of the cost. One of the motors is still in use on a small winch block that the lateral can’t get to. “Instead of 24 winch runs and working flat out to get around the farm in 12 to 14 days where we were not able to deliver the necessary 7 to 8 mm a day required for optimum production, we can now easily apply 50 mm to the whole 47 ha in six days,” he says. The lateral move accesses water from four hydrants along the underground main, taking 24 hours to move between hydrants. “Along with all the other benefits, the lateral move system has removed most of the stress from irrigating our cane,” says Mark. “When we changed the irrigation system we also purchased an EnviroScan probe to monitor plant water use and the water penetrating the profile from irrigation and rainfall.”
Fortunately, the savings and increased production have been impressive and immediate. The lateral move system has removed most of the stress from irrigating.
Soil probe data
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The Pressler’s soil moisture probe is part of a network of soil moisture probes and weather stations across the Bundaberg growing area that are linked together on the Bundaberg Sugar Services website. Once logged in, the Presslers can access data from the whole network to monitor rainfall events and water usage near their other farms and leased blocks, making it easier to decide when to irrigate. “Using the probe we can keep ‘within the green zone’ of optimal soil moisture to avoid both waterlogging and moisture stress,” he says. “This takes the guesswork out of when to start watering because we can see that plant water use is going up and can begin applying water before the plants begin to stress.
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ON FARM
“We can also make better use of rainfall events by only applying a small amount of water at a time and we can stop if a rainfall event re-fills the profile,” he says. “With winches you can’t really stop once you’ve started so rainfall is not as effective as it could be during summer.” Having installed the probe in their driest block, Mark and Brian have the luxury of starting watering wherever they feel is best at the time.
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We want to still be farming here for a long time yet. Investing in the new technologies available will help us achieve that and at the same time we are doing our bit to protect the environment.
had an opportunity to realign some of the blocks to achieve extra efficiencies through longer rows. The Presslers cut about 11,000 tonnes of their own cane and another 5,000 tonnes on neighbouring properties so they have been able to enjoy the harvesting benefits of the 500 m rows as well as the production benefits.
Mark and Brian Pressler have worked with Bundaberg Sugar Services Productivity Officer Maurie Haines as they've set up their low pressure irrigation system.
No nutrient losses Along with a boost to production, another of the many benefits of the low pressure irrigation combined with the soil moisture probe is that they can avoid any losses to deep drainage. This ensures that applied fertiliser stays within the root zone to be used by the crop rather than potentially polluting the groundwater.
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The system has minimal automation and they are waiting to see just how much telemetry is really required. The machine has an automatic stop if water pressure drops or if there is a mechanical failure and an SMS alert is automatically sent to their mobile phones. “It is still quite expensive to make these irrigators fully automated so we haven’t rushed into things that we don’t need,” he says. “We have fitted a useful switch that turns off the first two sprayers while you are working at the control panel though. This has made everything safer and more comfortable.” The lateral move operates on the Pressler’s main farm but they still use winch and furrow irrigation on their other farms that are close to, but not adjoining, the home farm.
As part of the investigation and planning for the new system, Mark and Brian
There is also almost no runoff during irrigation so there are soil particles or nutrients are not being washed into the waterways. Another way that the Presslers are keeping nutrients in their place is by applying fertiliser through the trash blanket and into the soil using a side dresser unit rather than applying CalGran products on the soil surface. Mark and Brian chose the side dresser option rather than a stool splitter to suit their soil type. Mark says that using a stool splitter on their clay soils can do considerable damage to the stool and leave the soil looking like it has been ploughed. “The machine we bought is fitted with a variable rate mechanism but we don’t use it to apply different rates within a paddock because we don’t have yield monitoring capability in the harvester,” he says. “The GPS technology in the tractors and the harvester though is excellent and makes a huge difference across the whole cane cycle.”
With their clay soils not suited to stool splitting, Mark and Brian use a side-dressing system with a coulter and double dic openers to apply fertiliser through the trash and under the soil.
Mark is particularly pleased with how evenly cane flows through the machine now that the harvester is always held on track. This also means there is much less damage done to the stool and the row profile during harvest.
Reef award reward The Pressler’s commitment to sustainable cane farming was rewarded recently when they took out the prestigious Australian Government Reef Programme Sugarcane Grower Award for 2015. This award recognises the efforts the Presslers have made, particularly over the past five years, to implement efficient and sustainable practices and to leave their farm in excellent shape for the next generation. “Our family has been farming here since 1908 and there has been a lot of change in cane farming over that time,” says Mark. “We want to still be farming here for a long time yet and investing in the new technologies available will help us achieve that and at the same time we are doing our bit to protect the environment.”
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ON FARM
20 – 25% more than any estimate that he has had before with the first full year of this system in place and a change to a different irrigation system, the lateral move, where he’s able to be more precise in the way he delivers water.” “They have started cutting and their first crop was estimated at 110 (tonnes to the hectare) and when we talk to him this afternoon I believe he’s going to tell us that it’s doing better than that.” Growers in this region have at their disposal the industry’s most comprehensive data set to assist with scheduling of irrigation. It is powered by a system of 25 soil moisture probes and 10 weather stations strategically located around the district. The probes and weather stations are linked via telemetry to a server which reproduces the data in real-time for growers on a user-friendly web-based interface that is even accessible via smartphone.
Data driven irrigation boosts Bundaberg’s potential Story by John Flynn Home to the Queensland sugar industry’s most extensive network of telemetric soil moisture probes and weather stations, the Bundaberg district is leading the way in rural water use efficiency. The proof is in the productivity gains growers are seeing when they combine their thirst for data with more modern, efficient irrigation technology.
pressure lateral move overhead irrigator has been commissioned as part of a strategic upgrade of the farm’s irrigation infrastructure.
The grin on Maurie Haines’ face was impossible to conceal as the Bundaberg Sugar Services Productivity Officer poured over a series of soil moisture probe results on his office computer.
What the graph clearly demonstrated was how the precise, measured irrigation supplied through the low pressure overhead system was neatly balanced with natural rainfall events to keep the crop within the ‘green zone’ of readily available water.
For someone who has spent decades in sugar industry extension, the outcome justified the countless farm visits and hours spent on the telephone to growers, offering his advice on how best to achieve their cropping potential. The graph Maurie was analysing was an Enviroscan soil moisture probe reading from Mark and Brian Pressler’s Rubyanna farm, where a new Bauer low
“This period here is November to March and on this particular crop we have not seen that graph dip outside the proposed moisture zone, so that’s important, that’s very important,” Maurie said. “What that’s resulted in, he has an estimate this year that is around about
The data is presented in a format that allows growers to target irrigation so their crop remains within a ‘green zone’ for optimal growth, above the refill point, below which the crop becomes stressed and below the fill point where the soil becomes waterlogged. Why is the soil moisture probe data so crucial? Experience over many years of measuring crop performance in the Bundaberg district has led the team at Bundaberg Sugar Services to some very firm conclusions. In a district where, according to Maurie Haines, the climatic potential of the crop is some 42% above the crop average, maintaining readily accessible water in the soil profile is vital. “Since we’ve started doing the probe work I’ve been monitoring growth relative to the time spent in the green zone and counting the days where any crop had dropped out of the green zone and it’s worked out to be about .74 tonnes of cane per hectare per day for any crop that’s not within the RAW zone,” Maurie said. “It’s a lot of cane. Every day, if you have a 100 day growing cycle, and you’ve got fifty out where you’re not keeping the water up to the crop, you’re probably blowing fifty tonne off your potential and the drier it gets the bigger the problem becomes.”
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ON FARM
INVITATION FOR SUGARCANE INDUSTRY RESEARCH INVESTMENT Sugar Research Australia (SRA) is inviting applications for sugar industry research to commence July 1, 2016 in identified areas of priority. Weather stations provide growers with up-to-date information on rainfal to help determine scheduling of irrigation events
In addition, the weather stations provide growers with accurate up-to-date information on rainfall to help determine scheduling of irrigation events. They calculate wind speed which assists in scheduling of spraying and soil temperature that is becoming increasingly useful in determining timing of planting and successful crop germination.
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The beauty of this work is we’re able to demonstrate to people what is happening in the paddock in real time.
“Essentially, what we’ve tried to do is have this extension program that has close to 300 participants,” Maurie said. “Everybody can be involved and everybody can be involved every day if they wish to do so. “We’ve tried to be strategic in the way we’ve placed the probes to give people in all areas the opportunity to have some reference.” Maurie Haines has a take-home message for growers that he believes will ultimately see the industry in the Bundaberg district shift closer to achieving the crop’s climatic potential. “What we need to do is get people thinking about what’s red is bad, what’s green is good.
“So our graphs on the screen are all about whether the moisture is rising, whether the moisture is falling, whether the crop is using moisture, whether it’s not using moisture, that’s the message,” he said.
SRA is currently placing a priority for research investment on four Impact Areas that have been identified as requiring urgent attention for the Australian sugarcane industry. These are: • Conventional and genetically modified (GM) plant breeding • Minimising harvest losses and value chain improvements • Adoption of research
“If you have got your own probe and you can stay within those boundaries that’s good, if you can see how to stay within those boundaries by a neighbouring probe that’s also good and it doesn’t mean you have to understand exactly what the moisture volume is, it’s showing you a graphic example of what the plant is actually doing to the moisture.”
SRA is not seeking applications at this time for its fourth impact area, Solving Yellow Canopy Syndrome.
The thousands of hits the website receives are also evidence that the system of web-based extension is working, arguably more successfully than other systems that have been tried over his 23 years in the industry extension role.
Applications must specify the industry need for the proposed research, provide a clear description of the research outputs and outcomes, and describe plans for their subsequent adoption. Projects are expected to demonstrate a significant return on the project investment for the Australian sugarcane industry.
“I’ve been in the industry all my life but I’ve been in this job now for 23 years and I think we’re now probably the most advanced we’ve ever been in the form of technology in understanding what happens with our water and being able to demonstrate to people,” Maurie said. “The beauty of this work is we’re able to demonstrate to people what is happening in the paddock in real time.”
Watch our Virtual Bus Tour to the Pressler farm www.youtube.com/ canegrowers
20 Australian Canegrower | 28 September 2015
While this project call has an emphasis on these four Impact Areas, important research is also required within the Key Focus Areas (KFAs) identified within the SRA 2013/142017/18 Strategic Plan and available on the SRA website.
Preliminary Research Proposal (PRP) applications are to be completed using the SRA online application SugarNet. SugarNet will be open for applications on September 14, 2015 and project applications need to be submitted no later than COB on October 26, 2015. Proposals submitted after this date will not be accepted. SRA will run a two-stage assessment process for research projects, with a shortlisted selection of PRP applicants invited to submit a Full Research Proposal (FRP). Successful applicants are expected to be contracted to begin project activities from July 1, 2016 onwards. For further information visit www. sugarresearch.com.au or contact the SRA Research Funding Unit via funding@ sugarresearch.com.au or (07) 3331 3333.
ON FARM
Sunflowers supplement soil project This vibrant paddock of yellow sunflowers in the Marian cane growing district is turning heads, but no one is surprised that it’s on Simon Mattsson’s farm. Simon has made a name for himself over the past year growing some surprising plants in an effort to improve the quality of his soil and holding field days for other farmers to visit his farm. Earlier in the season he harvested cane from a block which had been alternately planted with a mixed species row as part of his Nuffield scholarship-inspired trial into the benefits that increased diversity can bring to a farming system. The cane in the trial yielded 11 tonnes/ ha less than his conventionally grown cane, although the CCS content was identical, but that’s a result Simon expected.
“I was never expected to see change in just one or two seaons,” Simon says. “This is at least a four year project to demonstrate some improvement in soil health.” The cane has been ratooned and the mixed species interrow has been
re-planted with a slight change in the cocktail of seeds: for example lupins have replaced chickpeas and triticale is replacing rye. The sunflowers too will soon be harvested and Simon plans to sell them into the horse feed market.
Financial assistance for farmers The Australian Government is confirmed the continuation of the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) with a $3.5 million extension for existing service providers until 31 March 2016. 120 qualified rural financial counsellors work across 14 regions, including 23 in Queensland. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, said the extension of funding provides certainty for clients and service providers, while allowing time for a meritbased competitive grants process to allocate a new round of contracts. Applications are now open for organisations seeking to deliver the free service from April 2016 to June 2019. The RFCS programme provides grants to non-government organisations to provide free financial counselling to farmers, fishers and small dependent rural businesses that are suffering financial hardship and have no alternative sources of impartial support. For more information on the RFCS, visit agriculture.gov.au/rfcs.
The Australian Government also has a Farm Household Allowance available for farmers and their families experiencing financial hardship. It is administered by the Department of Human Services and Centrelink. To be eligible the applicant must contribute a significant part of their labour and capital to a farm enterprise, meet income and assets tests, undertake a Farm Financial Assessment and be willing to enter into an agreement to help improve their financial circumstances. The amount of Farm Household Allowance paid depends on individual circumstances but is usually the same rate as Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance. For more information contact the Farmers Assistance Hotline on 132 316 or follow this link www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/ services/centrelink/farm-householdallowance/print
28 September 2015
| Australian Canegrower 21
Farm Waste Recovery Used Fertiliser Bag Collection Sites DOUGLAS SHIRE REGION Killaloe Transfer Station MAREEBA SHIRE REGION Joanna enjoying some mummy time with 2-yea
Julatten Transfer Station r-old Eva and 4-year-old Leo
Getting to know you This column is about putting faces to the people you may hear from at the CANEGROWERS office. This edition, meet Joanna Gesch. What’s your role in CANEGROWERS? I work in the accounts department two days a week. I am responsible for the accounts for several areas of our business, including insurance, grants and superannuation as well as various stages of our end-of-month accounting process. In any spare moments, I complete any required project work for the accounts department. What’s the most rewarding part of your job? I enjoy completing work accurately and promptly to help our department fulfil the monthly accounts requirements. I relish the opportunity to resolve particularly complex processes or reconciliations and implement more streamline procedures. What do you see are the challenges? While I enjoy the task of implementing a new process or finalising a large reconciliation, it can also be my biggest challenge at work. Legislation changes resulted in the requirement to restructure our superannuation reconciliation and payment process which was as challenging as it was rewarding. However, as a parent and part-time worker my biggest challenge
is that there are not enough hours in the day! Where and what was your first paid job and what did that lead to? I worked in the local hair salon as a tea and tidy. As the amusingly outdated job title describes my role involved making tea (and coffee) and tidying the salon.
Mareeba Transfer Station & Landfill Dimbulah Transfer Station TABLELANDS REGION Atherton Transfer Stations, Landfill & Recycling Centre CAIRNS REGION Gordonvale Transfer Station Babinda Transfer Station CASSOWARY COAST REGION Stoters Hill Transfer Station Bells Creek Waste Transfer Station
I have been with CANEGROWERS since 2007 and have worked in various areas of the business, including crop insurance claims, assisting with membership enquiries, travel arrangements for the board members and the accounts department.
HINCHINBROOK SHIRE REGION
What do you like to do on your days off and on weekends?
BURDEKIN SHIRE REGION
Two adorable young children keep me busy with all the usual domestic joys. Having a four year old boy, Leo, and a two year old girl, Eva, means my Lego building skills and tea-party etiquette are highly developed. I can tell you the location of every playground in a 5km radius, colour in pictures while simultaneously playing matchbox cars and recite the words to countless story books. On weekends, my husband, David, is able to join in the fun!
CANEGROWERS MEMBER OFFER Do you want a FREE electronic version of Australian Canegrower delivered to your email inbox every fortnight?
To receive your free electronic copy, email us on editor@CANEGROWERS.com.au
22 Australian Canegrower | 28 September 2015
Tully Transfer Station
Halifax Transfer Station Warrens Hill Waste Facility
Giru Transfer Station Ayr Transfer Station Home Hill Transfer Station WHITSUNDAY REGION Bowen Landfill Cannonvale Transfer Station Kelsey Creek Landfill MACKAY REGION Bloomsbury Transfer Station Kolijo Transfer Station Seaforth Transfer Station Paget Waste Transfer Station Gargett Transfer Station Sarina Transfer Station
WHAT’S NEW MEMBER SERVICES
*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 2 October 2015.
Beaulieu R.U.M.
Graham Twyford Machinery Sales Pty Ltd
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.
2011 MASSEY FERGUSON 5465 4 WD Tractor 120 HP. 1,967 Hrs. Fitted with 6 tonne Side Tipper BSM type.
For a cost of around $25 per acre Can you afford not to give it a go?
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.
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
WESTHILL TRACK INFIELD TRANSPORTER Front Unloader 4 Metre Delivery. 12/14 Tonne Elev.
The 2015 sugarcane harvest is underway • Are you looking for work? • 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. www.canegrowers.com.au/Industry_ Centre?Careers CANEGROWERS has a web page to help you find harvesting work and workers. BRowse the listings or put up one of your own. Good Luck!
JOHNNY FARMING COMPANY New Hydraulic Heavy Duty
Australian Distributor Belshina Tyres & Chinese Imports 5 Tractor Tyres 5 Earthmoving Tyres 5 Truck Tyres 5 Cars & 4WD Tyres DROVER EQUIPMENT AUSTRALIA
UTV’s, ATV’s & AG BIKES 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
CAT. 3306 TA Eng. 275 HP. Eaton Track Drive Pumps, Sunstrand Pump Driving Elevator With Radial Piston Motors. NEW Walking Gear, Inc. 24’’ Curved Grousers, Chains , Track Rollers, Front Idlers & Sprockets.
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
Specialising in Used Cane Harvesting Equipment Sales
Johnny Farming Company
Phone (07) 4952 2577 or 0412 535 887 (John) or 0407 638 674 (Andrew) 133 Schmidtke Road Mackay Qld 4740
WRECKING TOFT 6500 Track Harvester. CAT. 3306 T.A. 275 HP. Eng. Pump Box & Pumps, Tracks. 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 49526 668 graham@gtmachinerysales.com.au www.gtmachinersales.com.au
28 September 2015
| Australian Canegrower 23
CLASSIFIEDS 20 Molloy Street, Toowoomba QLD Ph: 07 4615 0100 Email: manager@gessner.com.au www.gessner.com.au
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
Rainfall Report Recorded rainfall (mm) Location
7 days to 9am
Average rainfall (mm)
Year to date
Jan–Sep
14.09.15
21.09.15
Mossman
0
0
1009
Mareeba AP
1
0
577
736
Cairns
8
4
1374
1689
Mt Sophia
23
24
2958
2800
Babinda
0
0
1422
3641
Innisfail
53
19
2002
3052 3548
1834
Tully
47
15
2261
Cardwell
0.2
0.2
1065
1754
Lucinda
4
0
737
1790
Ingham
2
3
826
1671
Abergowrie
9
0
961
1522
Townsville
0
0
248
908
Ayr DPI
0
0
350
752
Proserpine
6
1
618
1098
Mirani
3
2
631
1211
Mackay
14
1
663
1256
Sarina (Plane Ck)
18
0.4
801
1368
Bundaberg
2
7
600
722
Childers South
4
8
640
618
Maryborough
13
10
765
865
Tewantin
10
49
1176
1261
Eumundi
3
32
1415
1288
Nambour
2
12
1489
1270
Woongoolba
0
26
1128
1006 1196
Murwillumbah
0.8
31
1345
Ballina
6
40
1518
1411
Woodburn
21
35
873
1088
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.
24 Australian Canegrower | 28 September 2015
WHAT’S NEW MEMBER SERVICES
Mossman –Tully 55 KW ELECTRIC MOTOR with Southern Cross pump. Ideal for hard hose irrigator. Good condition, $5000 inc gst. Dixon irrigation filter with auto flush system. In new condition, $5000 inc gst. 6-inch galvanised suction filter strainer, good condition, $1600 inc gst. Ph: 0418 184 146 HBM 3PL, Steel, 1t Side Dresser Fert. Box, Double compartment.POA Bonel 2t Fork Lift, front attachment with controls and side shift.POA 2000 RAV4, Auto with air VGC. Ph. 4098 8136 2 X SECOND HAND Goodyear 16-9-30, 10 ply tyres. Ph: 0488 633 777.
Herbert River – Burdekin TOFT 6500 Series 3, Good Condition, Ph: 0415 626 715 1 X POWER HOE 4 meters, 1x HBM dual row modified planter. Call Gary 0429 488 077. CASE 770 offset 56 disc, hydraulic fold for transport. Good condition $25,000. PH 0417 765 044. JOHN DEERE 8970, 400HP with linkage. 20.8 x 42 tyres. Good condition. PH 0417 765 044 2007 TM190 coupled to 1998 12 tonne Carta Tipper, double doors. Good Condition. POA Ph: 0407 636 055
Mackay – Proserpine JOHN DEERE Harvester Full Track 2007 Model 3510 Phone 0427590326
12T SELF-PROPELLED 6x6 elev infielder VGC. 6t side/tipper on Leyland tandem GC. Don Mizzi 741 model on Fiat 750 special turbo plus MF102 half-tracks to suit. Mason 9550 4-row precision vacuum seed planter GC. 0438 606 578 (Mackay) CAMECO 2000 track harvester, 5ft primary extractor, leg base cutter box, all new walking gear, $110,000 inc GST. Ph: 0407714172 MASSEY HARVESTER 102 model. Ph: 0749588001 MASSEY FERGUSON 3090, 4WD, a/c cab, 110HP, 6000hrs. VGC. $25,000 + GST. Howard HR40, 80in, rotary hoe with crumbler roller & new blades. VGC. $8000 + GST. Pope T35 water winch with 10 chain hose. GC. $6000 + GST Ph: 0417 635 232 Valtra 6400 4WD Tractor - 1ooHP, AirCon Cab, 2004 Model. 3700 Hours. Good Condition. $30 000. (incl GST) ONO. Ph: 0418710958 / 49503048.
Bundaberg - Rocky Point 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 TOFT 7000 harvester – early model. 240hp, Komatsu base cutter, 2 x chop. Ph 0413 584 728 TOFT 6000 cane harvester, Series 4,Swinging Knife, Cat 3306 motor, Cut 300t plants last season, Good condition for age. $16000 ono. Ph 0447548902 Bundaberg.
RT FINANCIAL REPO 2014/15 ANNUAL REPORT 2014/15
990 DAVID BROWN with front end loader; International 856 with front end loader; Fiat 100-90 4WD; Isuzu Ute 4X4. All good condition. Phone 0419 577 110.
Wanted TRACTOR TYRES of all sizes. 0418 775 698 all hours. HYDROLIC POST DRIVER with mast capable of handling up to 10ft posts, also angle and tilt on mast. Ph: 0417 086 157 (Ingham area) HODGE TRACTOR hitch or similar. Ph: 0417628044 (Mackay area) 2 TRACTOR TYRES 13.6 x 38 or 14.9 x 38. Reasonable condition. Ph: 0439 006 442 SECOND-HAND 4WD loader backhoe or excavator. Ph: 0417 765 044.
Work Wanted CONTRACT PLANTING, Babinda and surrounding area. Ph: 0401 530 690 after 7pm.
Property 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 WANTED TO LEASE: Cane farm; SarinaMackay area. Ph: 0419 771 504 WANTED TO LEASE: canefarm on a long term basis, preferably Mackay area. Do have considerable farming experience. Ph - 0409897557
Annual Report • The 2014/15 Annual Report is available online now. Members can download a copy from the CANEGROWERS website: www.canegrowers.com.au/page/reports • Alternatively, growers can drop into their local office to pick up a hard copy.
Financial Report • The Financial Report is also available online at: www.canegrowers.com.au/page/reports. It is available to MEMBERS ONLY and requires a login and password to download. Login details are available from the CANEGROWERS head office (07) 3864 6444. • Alternatively, drop into their local office to pick up a hard copy.
28 September 2015
| Australian Canegrower 25
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:
Sign up to Smartcane BMP Contact your local Smartcane BMP
facilitator. Get recognised for what you are already doing. www.smartcane.com.au