Australian Canegrower - April 2024

POUNCE ON OUR MOST POWERFUL PUMA + AFS CONNECT.

+18% FOOTPRINT

66 dBA QUIETEST PUMA

+11% MORE POWER

+8% ENLARGED CAB

Editor:

Robyn Devine

Design & classifieds:

Eleanor Fraser

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

Published monthly by: CANEGROWERS, GPO Box 1032, Brisbane, Queensland 4001 Australia.

ABN 94 089 992 969

Telephone: 07 3864 6444

Email: editor@canegrowers.com.au

Website: www.canegrowers.com.au

Subscriptions

Yearly subscriptions for 12 issues (postage included)

Within Australia: $190 inc GST Overseas (AUD): $290

COVER IMAGE

Innisfail grower Joe Zappala found alternative solutions when cane varieties were scarce.

Photo credit: Renee Cluff

Read more on page 24

NEWS BRIEFS

QSL CEO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Greg Beashel has announced his retirement and will step down from 30 June 2024.

Mr Beashel’s impending departure will conclude more than 24 years’ service at QSL, including 12 years as CEO and Managing Director, where he played an integral role in the introduction of Marketing Choice for Queensland cane growers.

QSL Board has advised that Mark Hampson has been appointed as QSL’s new CEO and Managing Director from 1 July 2024. Mr Hampson has been with QSL since 2017 and is currently QSL’s General Manager Marketing, where he is responsible for QSL’s Marketing, Risk Management, Treasury, Grower Services and Supply Systems teams.

NEED A NEW PODCAST?

Did you know that Australian growers are the only sugar producers in the world fully exposed to a world sugar market which is distorted by interventions such as price supports and subsidies in other producing nations.

But CANEGROWERS is fighting to make sure Australian sugar gets the recognition it deserves in all trade agreements. Check out the latest episode of the Around the Paddocks podcast on the CANEGROWERS website or from your podcast listening program.

THAI-AUSTRALIAN DIALOGUE

In February, CANEGROWERS Chair Owen Menkens, Vice-Chair Joe Marano and Chief Executive Officer Dan Galligan travelled to Thailand where the 11th Thai-Australia Sugar industry Dialogue was held.

This annual gathering is an opportunity for the Thai and Australian sugarcane industries to consult and cooperate on issues of importance to both countries.

Mr Menkens co-chaired the dialogue with discussions including sessions on market developments, trade technical matters on the diversification opportunities in the bioeconomy, sustainability and emissions reporting, and research and development on the agenda.

The Thai industry is significantly larger than Australia’s industry and is more advanced in some areas in particular the milling sector.

The Australian sugarcane industry does have an edge in areas like mechanised harvesting and sustainable sugar. In fact, the Thai industry has just introduced a best practice program for farms which they freely admit is a carbon-copy of our Smartcane BMP project.

CANEGROWERS was joined in making presentations with Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL), Sugar Research Australia (SRA) and the Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC).

Mark Hampson (QSL), Owen Menkens ( CANEGROWERS Chair) and Greg Beashel (QSL) at Port of Townsville July 2023

MOSSMAN GROWERS URGED TO CONSIDER OPTIONS IN WAKE OF MILL COLLAPSE

Mossman growers have been urged not to make any major decisions about the management of their 2024 cane crop until any options for successfully harvesting the crop have been fully exhausted.

CANEGROWERS is continuing discussions with the Administrator, the State Government and other potential stakeholders to look for the best possible outcome given the circumstances.

“Local CANEGROWERS representatives are still working with a number of parties behind the scenes to see if there is any way we can get this year’s crop off,” CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan said.

“I know growers are frustrated and feeling very pessimistic about the future, but I would urge them not to make any decisions until the dust settles and all options have been exhausted.”

The small north Queensland community was dealt a devastating blow late last month, with a mystery investor pulling the plug on plans to purchase the local sugar mill, sending the region’s single largest employer into liquidation.

The mill’s parent company, the Daintree Bio Precinct Group, had been facing liquidation since going into voluntary administration last November.

The company received a lifeline on 29 February, when creditors supported a proposal put forward by an unnamed investor who stepped in at the last minute with plans to save the mill. But those plans collapsed on 21 March, with the investor backing out of the deal just before the end of a 15-business day statutory deadline.

“It’s heartbreaking, not just for growers and the local sugar industry, but for the whole Mossman community,” CANEGROWERS Mossman Chairman Matt Watson said.

“Local growers have been backing this business for years through investment in our crops and in the mill itself, and we had high hopes when this investor approached the company administrator with a plan to save the mill.

“They laid out their plans for bringing the mill back to profitability over the next four years, before transitioning into a green energy hub.

“To have those hopes crushed at the last minute and for the investor to simply walk away from the community is just devastating.”

CANEGROWERS immediately called on the State Government to honour its commitment to provide the $12 million in funding, announced by Premier Steven Miles at a Community Cabinet meeting in Cairns on 28 February. However, growers have been left in limbo, with the government announcing that money would go to a ‘Transition Program’.

The initial response would be focused on helping “workers find new jobs, access upskilling or training, as well as counselling services” a government statement said.

CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan said many local businesses would suffer if this year’s crop was not crushed.

“Growers have already invested more than $14 million into this year’s crop and the harvest is rapidly approaching. We need the government to come through on its funding commitment so that growers can recoup as much of that money as possible, otherwise a lot of families and businesses in the town will go to the wall,” Mr Galligan said.

“This is not just about growers getting paid, it’s also about mill workers, suppliers, tradies, businesses of all shapes and sizes, right across the region. Growers have put millions into this crop, but if they can’t get it harvested, more than $40 million will be lost to the community.

“Now is the time for government to step up and support the entire community by ensuring we can get this crop off,” he said.

At the time of printing the State Government had agreed to meet directly with cane growers in the region to discuss the transition package and options for the management of their crop.

STRONG STRATEGIC DIRECTION

The Policy Council gathered in Brisbane during March to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing growers and the industry.

CANEGROWERS Policy Council is made up of 19 growers nominated by the district companies and provides strategic guidance for the CANEGROWERS group and industry policy as it relates to the grower community. The Council meet formally three times a year with frequent and ongoing communication on key issues at other times.

At this meeting grower representatives asked the hard questions about election policies, rating practices and load restraints and much more when Opposition Leader David Crisafulli MP, Shadow Ag Minister Tony Perrett, Valuer General Laura Dietrich, and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s Jennifer Rotili addressed the CANEGROWERS Policy Council meeting.

Sugar Research Australia (SRA) also provided updates on their research and development projects implementation.

NEW FACE FOR CANEGROWERS BOARD

Tully grower, Bryce Macdonald, is the first in his generation to grow cane and the first to admit that agriculture, in particular the sugarcane industry, has supported him throughout his life.

Bryce began growing cane in the tropical north when he purchased his first farm in 2009, he has always been a strong community advocate for the Tully region. He was elected to the Tully CANEGROWERS Board in 2019 and in 2020 he joined the Queensland CANEGROWERS Policy Council as the district’s grower representative.

At the March Policy Council meeting held in Brisbane, Bryce was appointed to a seat on the Queensland Cane Growers Organisation’s ( CANEGROWERS ) Board of Directors. He was elected to the vacant position left when Stephen Calcagno, from CANEGROWERS Cairns Region, stepped down earlier this year.

Bryce is very proud of the industry and his local community and wants to be part of the leadership team to ensure a healthy future.

“Why become a board member? Because everything I do is, and has been, supported by and related to the sugarcane industry. I want to ensure there’s a sustainable future for the industry and the community,” Bryce said.

“Agriculture in general, but the cane industry specifically, is susceptible and vulnerable to many diverse challenges, whether that be environment, regulations, input costs, the fluctuations of global sugar pricing or weather events.

“There’s always an issue or two impacting the industry and its important to be part of the voice and to provide strategic direction.

“I have never grown better cane than since I joined CANEGROWERS ,” Bryce said.

“I have gained so much knowledge and understanding from organisations like Tully Cane Productivity Services, Sugar Research Australia, Tully Sugar and CANEGROWERS .”

Bryce believes that CANEGROWERS is an important resource, an active unified peak body talking to government and community to represent growers and the industry.

“The Policy Council and the Board are a collective that have been put there by membership to give direction to our industry and to secure the future. I am dedicated to this new role.”

NHVR Load Restraint Summary

When cane is transported in a heavy vehicle—a vehicle with a GVM over 4.5t—then drivers and parties in the Chain of Responsibility must comply with the Heavy Vehicle National Law requirements about load restraint, among other obligations.

Load restraint is the subject of a specific provision in the HVNL. It is also a component of the primary duty, the broad safety duty that applies to parties in the Chain of Responsibility (CoR).

Section 111, HVNL—Loading Requirements

This provision creates an offence for failure to comply with the “loading requirements” which are set out in Schedule 7 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension & Loading) National Regulation and include the following:

‚ Load must not be placed on a heavy vehicle in a way that makes it unstable or unsafe

‚ Load must be secured so it is unlikely to fall or be dislodged from vehicle

‚ An appropriate method must be used to restrain the load

For more detail about appropriate methods, refer to pp 88-90 of the www.nhvr.gov.au/road-access/massdimension-and-loading/loading#guide. For loose loads and agricultural products, it recommends containment, or covering the load.

Another way of demonstrating that an appropriate method has been used, is to prove that the load will not move to the extent that it makes the vehicle unsafe or unstable, nor fall from the vehicle when subjected to the forces described in the “Loading Performance Standards” ie:

‚ 0.8g deceleration in a forward direction

‚ 0.5g deceleration in a rearward or lateral direction

‚ 0.2g deceleration in a vertical direction relative to the load (for uncontained loads)

Evidence that a load does not meet the loading performance standards would be evidence of a breach of section 111. There is also an evidentiary provision in the HVNL—s115—which states that evidence that a load or part of a load has fallen from a vehicle is evidence of a breach.

Penalties for breaches of section 111

Note: This offence can apply to a driver and to a person who permitted the driver to use the heavy vehicle when its load was not compliant.

There are three categories of breach for this offence, each with a different maximum penalty.

Minor or substantial infringements can be issued by an authorised officer at the roadside. They typically impose a fine that is 10% of the maximum. Severe infringements can only be dealt with by a court. An authorised officer will issue a court attendance notice or similar.

Penalty amounts are indexed annually. NHVR publishes up to date information on its website.

https://www.nhvr.gov.au/document/262

Chain of Responsibility

Businesses and individuals who consign, receive, pack, load, or unload goods on a heavy vehicle, or who contract, employ, or schedule heavy vehicle drivers, or who manage premises where five or more heavy vehicles are loaded or unloaded each day, are parties in the Chain of Responsibility. This means they have a primary duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of their transport activities. This is a duty that is shared by all parties. Executives of businesses that are CoR parties have a separate executive duty, to ensure that their business or organisation complies with its primary duty.

The loss of sugarcane billets and trash on public roads could pose a risk to road users.

CoR parties are not automatically liable for other parties’ failures, but each of them must be doing what is reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk that sugarcane billets and trash will fall from vehicles or to minimise that risk so far as is reasonably practicable.

NHVR has published guidance about load restraint for parties in the Chain of Responsibility: www.nhvr.gov.au/ safety-accreditation-compliance/chain-of-responsibility/ regulatory-advice/loading-and-load-restraint

For more information visit nhvr.gov.au or contact the NHVR via phone at 13 NHVR (136487) or email at info@nhvr.gov.au.

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH LOAD RESTRAINT

In 2014 the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) came into effect, providing rules and oversight over the loading and transportation regulation of heavy vehicles, although the enforcement of the law did not change and remained with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).

On 20 April, this year the NHVR will take over responsibility for the enforcement of the law in Queensland.

CANEGROWERS has been advised that the 2013 Guide for Loading of Sugar Industry Cane Haulage Units is unlikely to be in full compliance with the NHVL and load restraint regulation. With the withdrawal of the guideline, some changes to load restraint methods will be required, although the current practice of using freeboard may be sufficient in certain low speed environments.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) have provided a summary of the relevant load restraint NHVL and regulations on the opposite page.

CANEGROWERS has met with representatives from the NHVR and TMR to understand the NHVR position and develop an industry response.

This is clearly a whole of industry issue and CANEGROWERS has led the formation of a coordinated industry task group to work on the issue. To start this process, we have met with milling company cane supply managers to ensure everyone understands the issue.

This is clearly a whole of industry issue

The goal is to work together as an industry to communicate to NHVR the complexity of the current systems to move 30 million tonnes of cane and identify suitable and cost-effective methods of compliance with the NHVL.

To this end CANEGROWERS has submitted a project application to the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative to assist with the development of technical solutions and advice and a communication plan for the industry.

CANEGROWERS is organising a meeting with the CEO of the NHVR to ensure that there is a smooth transition with a reasonable process to meet compliance.

Further CANEGROWERS will also meet with State and Federal Ministers and their opposition counterparts to inform them of the matter and the potential risks to the industry.

There is a lot to do, and we will keep our members updated as further information comes to hand.

SUNSET NO MORE

BY DAN GALLIGAN, CEO, CANEGROWERS

“It’s a dynamic industry. There is always something happening, and adapting to change and looking ahead is key to navigating the challenges and opportunities.”

That is the response I give to friends, family and colleagues when they ask me what I love about working at CANEGROWERS and being part of the sugarcane industry.

Events over recent weeks have made me really think about just how much change has occurred and how much is still ahead of us.

Not more than four or five years ago, certainly just before COVID, it would not be uncommon for me to meet with government officials or other agricultural industry reps who would be entirely focused on the demise of the industry.

The general focus was on issues that characterised sugarcane as an industry on the way out, a sunset industry.

Issues such as environmental performance, sugar consumption and sugar tax, or the perennial issues of profitability and succession planning.

Fast-forward a few years and, while those issues have certainly not disappeared, they are being well managed, and I can report that meetings are no longer about sugarcane being a sunset industry. Instead, they are dominated by expectations of growth, diversification and expansion.

Most of this expectation is driven by a rapidly growing interest in developing the bioeconomy, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in particular.

My recent engagements with Bioenergy Australia at the Australian Renewable Fuels week proved just how large the market is and how prominently discussions are focused on the future use of sugarcane as a feedstock.

Always referenced with the comment that it would have to be certified sustainably produced and reliably sourced “feedstock”.

CANEGROWERS has been active in these discussions since they began. Not least, when in 2021-2022, we developed and released the Sugar Plus industry road map, along with industry colleagues from Australian Sugar Milling Council, Sugar Research Australia and Australian Cane Farmers Association.

We have since completed a number of reports around the market demand and technical opportunities from biofuels and bioplastics.

These reports built on the exceptional efforts of growers to have over 42% of the crop certified as sustainably grown via Smartcane BMP.

It will see the sugarcane sector well placed and ready for action when speculation turns into production from the many developers and refiners of biofuels.

Our work at CANEGROWERS will continue, as we talk to industry players about their future needs with respect to feedstock.

But our focus will remain on how we support growers to ensure they achieve a better business outcome from this opportunity.

The numbers associated with the demand for SAF production are huge. This will be global transition, and demand for feedstock for fuel will equally be a global challenge.

No matter which way you look at it, regardless of whether we are growing sugarcane for food or fuel, we have hundreds of thousands of hectares of stored energy in sugarcane that growers across this state sustainably grow every year single year.

If managed well, it should be a new dawn for everyone in the industry.

Women

Powering Agriculture

Women

Women

Powering Agriculture

P owering Agriculture

RSVP & Pay

Last chance to register

GAINING INSIGHT

Seeing first-hand behind the scenes what is happening in the industry, increasing networks, and gaining insight are key outcomes for a group of enthusiastic young growers from Herbert River.

CANEGROWERS Herbert River Young Growers Development Group ventured south this month visiting the CANEGROWERS Brisbane office, Sugar Research Australia (SRA) Woodford’s Research Station and the CANEGROWERS Rocky Point district.

The group had an intensive itinerary to get through over a three-day period but the passion for their industry, from the growers, the organisations and the people they visited helped to ensure the trip was a great success.

Brenden Accornero, from Ingham, said the opportunity to see first-hand diseased cane and understand the robust testing and trials that SRA do

was very instructive, to gain a greater knowledge of biosecurity and its challenges and will help him when he goes back home.

“We have been looking at the different diseased cane, and learning about the susceptibility of the different varieties, they showed us what the symptoms actually looked like, a lot of the times we don’t get to see that, and we don’t know what to actually look for,” Brenden said.

Rebekah Pace from Pace Farming at Crystal Creek and Bambaroo and has been growing sugarcane since 2018 after she left high school, she said the trip had been both enjoyable and informative.

“It’s a good bunch of people, everyone is asking questions and they’re getting their questions answered,” Rebekah said.

“It’s important to learn new things, you can never stop learning.”

Rebekah highly recommends other young growers to step up when these opportunities are available to gain more knowledge.

“There’s always things to learn and ways to innovate, I’d 100% encourage other growers to be more involved.”

the

While in the Rocky Point district the group visited the Rocky Point mulching facilities, where owner Josh Keith showcased their facilities. The Group were also given a tour through the Rocky Point Mill operations. There was also a great grower-to-grower time when they met up with other young growers from CANEGROWERS Rocky Point.

Todd Erkkila from Abergowrie was suitable impressed with not only the operations of the mulching facility but the possibilities that are available within the industry.

“It was a good eye-opener to understand that there is more to sugarcane than just sugar,” Todd said. This young growers’ group is just one of several districts that are actively visiting other CANEGROWERS districts this year, taking the opportunity to extend networks and gain a better understanding of the industry, as a whole.

Over page: The young growers received a tour of the Rocky Point Mill complex

This project has been funded by the Integrated Engagement and Capacity Building project through the Queensland Government's Queensland Reef Water Quality Program

Top left: Dr. Shamsul Bhuiyan provided insight into the disease trial at SRA's Research station in Woodford while top right the group were fascinated by the operations and opportunities at the Keith Family mulching facilities at Rocky Point

FROM THE CHAIR

BY OWEN MENKENS, Chairman, CANEGROWERS

It is hard to go anywhere these days without hearing about greenhouse gas emissions.

All levels of government, both here and around the world, are looking at ways to legislate a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

They are doing this by forcing large companies to report their emissions regularly. This includes not only their own emissions, but also the emissions of linked entities in their supply chain (scope 3).

Unfortunately, this means agriculture will get dragged into this emissions reporting process, even though we are still exempt. At CANEGROWERS , we decided that there is no point discussing emission reduction targets unless you know where growers have come from in our farming practices.

CANEGROWERS commissioned a report into the greenhouse gas emissions on farms in the Wet Tropics, Burdekin, and the Mackay regions, inputting all activities that relate to emissions.

When compared to a similar analysis done in the early 2000s, the report found a huge 30% reduction in on-farm emissions during that period due to practice change.

How is this possible you might ask?

As modern growers, we use practices that are not only more efficient they also reduce emissions.

A lot of the efficiency gains we have made on-farm were triggered by economic factors, like a low world sugar price.

It also means that we are one of the lowest emitters of CO2 per tonne of cane in the world. We have a good story to tell, and we should be proud of our current achievements.

The issue is, now that we have an assessment of emissions, how do we continue to reduce them in the future?

Fertiliser and fuel are the main area of emissions on farms and farmers know that if we put on less fertiliser than the SIX EASY STEPS methodology, we may all go broke.

It will come down to technology that probably hasn’t been developed yet. But there is still time for these changes to occur so no one should panic just yet.

Fertiliser manufacturers will have pressure on them to come up with lower emission blends as well.

The area which is concerning is the soil carbon space. There are a lot of tyre kickers out there trying to sell dreams that are not properly researched.

I would ask growers to think very carefully before signing up to programs that are not backed by good science and don’t focus on a profitable and productive farming businesses.

Beyond the individual decision of each farmer, as an industry, we don’t want to sign up to unrealistic emissions reductions targets. This is something some other industries have ended up doing.

We need a science-based approach because eventually all these processes must be tested against the needs of the industry.

I think we should be proud of what we have achieved as growers and not be reluctant to tell our story. We can play a sensible part in the need to reduce emissions, but we must be in the driver’s seat on how.

CANEGROWERS will continue to lobby for sensible rules in this space while also pushing the positive messages about our industry’s achievements.

Take your spraying program to the next level of accuracy and performance with RightSpot™ precision technology from Ag Leader. Suitable for retrofitting to most self-propelled or trailed sprayers, RightSpot utilises blended pulse technology to maintain consistent droplet size and coverage at all operating speeds. With independent control of up to 144 nozzles, automatic turn compensation and automatic reticulation, priming and flushing, RightSpot significantly reduces input costs and the potential for spray drift. Contact your local Ag Leader dealer and find out how RightSpot can optimise the efficacy of your spraying program.

NEW PUSH TO SWEETEN SOYBEAN PLANTINGS

BY REBECCA THYER Supplied by GRDC GroundCover™

From a project instigated by a mayor in Queensland’s tropics to a new industry development officer further south, there is a push to reinvigorate the soybean industry in the northern region.

When he was elected mayor of the Hinchinbrook Shire Council in 2016, Ramon Jayo’s platform was to diversify the region’s economy and reduce its reliance on sugar.

In this part of tropical north Queensland, sugarcane has been the number-one crop since it was first planted in the 1860s.

Mr Jayo says sugarcane is “bomb proof”, which suits the area’s volatile weather. “We can have no rain for six months and then 16 inches (400 millimetres) overnight. Sugarcane can handle that.”

However, as a sugarcane grower himself, he knew that practice changes, including controlled-traffic farming, would help improve the chances of alternative crops also having success. He instigated a ‘Grain in the Rain’ project with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF).

“I wanted to show that we could grow something in conjunction with and complementary to the sugarcane cycle, diversifying our economics. We needed an alternative cash crop that would give us a cash boost while providing a break crop and enhancing soil quality.”

The project is one example of a recent push to reinvigorate the soybean industry across the state, with DAF agronomists and industry development officers playing a key role.

Mr Jayo is working closely with DAF’s Brock Dembowski, while further south DAF’s Carla Atkinson and Neil Halpin are working to boost soybean growth around the Burdekin, Mackay and Bundaberg. Soy Australia has also appointed its first-ever industry development officer—well-respected soybean agronomist and grower Judy Plath.

GRDC grower relations manager— north—Vicki Green says soybeans are a great fit in high-rainfall coastal and hinterland areas. To support growers as they explore increasing soybean production and the crop’s fit in the coastal farming system, GRDC has

Right: Ramon Jayo

Far right: Soybeans are pushing north into Queensland’s Ingham region. (credit Brock Dembowski, DAF)

invested in two projects. One is with DAF in Queensland and the second with DPI in New South Wales, both focused on growing agronomic knowledge. Soybean’s fit with cane Together, DAF and GRDC have worked closely over the past 20 years with the region’s sugarcane growers and industry to increase soybean production as a means of diversifying operations, improving soil health and reducing nitrogen fertiliser use in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area. Today, the growing alternative protein market gives this added momentum, with Australian-grown soybeans being used in non-meat alternatives.

For Townsville-based Brock Dembowski, an industry development officer with DAF, the aim is twofold: to diversify sugarcane growers’ portfolios and de-risk the option of planting soybeans. “And we’re pushing further north of the Burdekin into Ingham, a traditional cattle and cane area,” he says.

Mr Dembowski has been working with Mr Jayo and other growers in the Hinchinbrook region and as far north as Mossman, and credits newer varieties Kuranda HB1A, Mossman HB1A and HaymanA, developed by CSIRO’s Dr Andrew James, in allowing this to occur.

“For many of these sugarcane growers, new soybean varieties have given those in the north the opportunity to grow beans. They have been a game changer.”

He says Kuranda HB1A tends to yield an extra half a tonne compared with other varieties. “But HaymanA is preferred by soybean processors as a food grade bean. Its gelling capabilities for tofu are meant to be better.”

That said, Mr Dembowski tells new growers not to worry too much about this. “Soybeans have great benefits to the following sugarcane crop. So, I tell new growers to work back from when they want to harvest and plant the variety that suits that timeframe; aim for crushing and not food grade.

What are the agronomic benefits?

Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) principal farming systems agronomist Neil Halpin says research findings show soybeans are a great fit for those wanting a legume rotation crop.

“Our department has been involved in a range of soybean research projects over the last 20 years or so and we’ve come to understand just how valuable this legume is in the sugarcane farming system,” he says.

Cane growers can expect a 10 per cent yield increase in the cane crop following a well-grown soybean

crop, compared with a ploughout replant.

DAF research has also shown that a well-grown crop of soybeans can return 300 kilograms of plantavailable nitrogen to the soil if green manured.

“Growers who are growing soybeans for harvest can gain extra income from the soybeans and still expect 60kg or more of ‘free’ nitrogen for their next crop,” he says.

The soybean expansion project, jointly supported by GRDC and DAF, is planning to run a bus tour to southern Queensland and northern NSW in early 2024.

“If it gets to food grade, that’s great. But often weather impacts during the wet season influence seed quality and market pricing.”

Mr Jayo says the ‘Grain in the Rain’ project has been well received and opened local cane growers’ eyes to other opportunities to better use fallow periods. About 20 young growers are keen to keep growing alternative break crops in the fallow.

“The first-year trials of soybeans, mungbeans and industrial hemp were smashed by drought and then heavy rain. But, since then, a few growers are harvesting food grade soybean and mungbeans.”

Pests and prices

Challenges remain for the northern Queensland region though. “The general feeling is that soybeans are more labour-intensive and riskier than mungbeans,” Mr Jayo says.

“Soybeans have a propensity to attract insect pests. And if they do, we want to spray them quickly. But if it’s been wet, we may not be able to get on paddocks. We’d prefer to use ground rigs but have been trialling some drones too, to get around this issue.”

DAF senior development extension officer Carla Atkinson says this region and south to the Burdekin has also faced the perfect storm for disease pressure in recent years. “Humidity adds to the disease pressure, but we can decrease the likelihood of disease via agronomic choices. We are looking more into that, ensuring growers know about varieties that will tolerate disease,” she says.

Other challenges include traditional cane farm size, Mr Jayo says, and with that header access. “There are limited areas where we can get headers on, so trials have been done on more broadacre areas. A lot of other areas in my region are crisscrossed by rivers and creeks.”

High sugar prices—at $900 a tonne—in late 2023 tend to “make growers forget

about other options”, he says. And with many buyers located in Queensland’s south, logistics can be challenging. But he is positive that pulses have a place in traditional sugar areas. “If we keep at it, the markets will follow.”

The tyranny of distance

Ms Atkinson agrees that freight costs can be daunting. “Freight costs doubled from $100/t to $200/t at one point in 2022,” she says. It means that growers look to alternatives including the feed market and export.

DAF has tried to address this at grower days by inviting local transport companies. “They have had a chat about options. We’ve also had some more local processors come to our meetings, which could help some growers bypass the expensive freight.”

Transport itself is often a new idea for sugar growers. “Sugar growers tend to take it to the nearest mill and there is an extensive rail network for that. They just take it a kilometre or so, always to a train pad area. Soybean marketing is very different; it’s a different mental mindset.”

Two decades of benefits

Jeff and Judy Plath integrated soybeans into their farming system 20 years ago.

Jeff says he saw immediate benefits. “Not only do soybeans supplement our income, but they also improve our soil structure, return nitrogen to the soil, and allow us to reduce cultivation in our farming system.”

The Plaths use a zero-tillage planting system that allows them to plant the soybeans directly through the trash from the previous cane crop.

After soybeans are harvested, the soybean trash is left intact

for as long as possible to protect the soil from erosion, conserve soil moisture, improve soil organic matter levels and allow for the strategic release of the nitrogen stored in the soybean plant material.

Before planting sugarcane, Jeff cultivates the soybean paddock with two passes. “Occasionally the seasonal conditions mean I need to cultivate earlier, or more often, but in general over the last 10 years or more I have been able to plant most of my soybean blocks back to sugarcane with minimal cultivation,” he says.

the official magazine of australia's sugarcane industry

Mr Dembowski agrees. “Growers are also often bottlenecked by freight. To increase production in the north, I think we need to continue to focus on local feed markets and look at export opportunities through the Port of Townsville. Supplying local markets reduces freight costs. There’s a chook farm here using an extruder, and many growers will sell to them. On-farm storage buffers this supply, so some growers are putting in silos.”

Retelling the soybean story

To encourage more soybean plantings, the story of soybeans may need to be retold—something that Judy Plath, a grower and soybean agronomist from Bundaberg, is keen to do.

In late 2023 she was appointed as a soybean industry development officer with industry body Soy Australia. The newly created role aims to help boost plantings in coming seasons to meet targets to double annual production over the next decade.

Ms Plath has been involved in the coastal Wide Bay soybean industry for 20 years. “I began promoting soybeans as an ideal legume break crop for sugarcane in the Wide Bay area in 2003. In time I married into a local cane farming family and have seen first-hand the benefits that soybeans offer to our farming system and our bottom line.” She says there was a lot of momentum 20 years ago. “Since then, there has been a lot of change in the sugar industry. We don’t want knowledge lost.”

Those changes include a move to more macadamia plantings. “We’ve lost a lot of growers. A lot of hectares in this area have converted from sugarcane to macadamias. Once a farm is planted to trees, there’s no opportunity to plant something else, such as soybeans.”

Crop competition is another issue, with some cane farmers opting to lease land to horticultural growers,

while some have chosen peanuts over soybeans. “Peanuts are a higher-risk crop, but there’s a higher potential income. However, with the recent jump in soybean prices, soy is definitely worth revisiting.”

Ms Plath says the other challenge has been growers’ age, with many transitioning to retirement. “Fitting in another crop may not be their highest priority. Many will be a one-man band and they focus on their core business, which is cane.”

She says the initial excitement about soybeans needs to be revitalised. “When we first really got excited about soybeans 21 years ago there was a real excitement about them. It was being talked about a lot. There were trials and we were all learning about it.

“All those things created a buzz and kept them front of mind for people. And then, as we became more confident with them, some of those learning opportunities dropped off and they became more of a matter of course.

“Some people kept at it and soybeans became a core part of the farming system every year.”

Ms Plath sees an opportunity to educate the next generation about soybeans and their soil fertility benefits. “There’s plenty of good data available

on the sort of nitrogen returns to expect from a well-grown crop of soybeans, whether it is green manured or harvested.

“Growers can feel really confident in that data and in knowing that if soybeans are grown, they are going to get a fair chunk of free nitrogen which they can allow for in their fertiliser programs.”

Soy Australia chair Paul Fleming, who is a grower from the northern New South Wales region, says the organisation is keen to help build broader awareness of agronomic best practice as well as the economic benefits of soybeans in key growing regions such as the coastal regions of North Queensland, the Wide BayBurnett, the Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands of NSW and the Riverina region.

“While the Australian soybean industry is small by global standards, it plays an important role in many farming systems across Australia and is increasingly providing a highervalue crop option for growers,” Mr Fleming says.

“Soy Australia believes the demand for non-genetically modified, Australiangrown, good-quality soybeans is strong, but we need to increase production if we hope to develop long-term relationships with our end users.”

On-farm storage helps to support local supply chains, while reducing freight costs. (Credit: Brock Dembowski, DAF)

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR POWER SUPPLY AND COSTS WITH FREEDOM WON AUSTRALIA

Electricity on commercial farms is a critical element for stable and reliable operations.

It is also one of the major cost items in the production of the end product. Having reliable power and control over the cost of it, is instrumental in a successful farming operation.

A growing number of farmers in Southern Africa, who deal with similar weather conditions as those in Australia, and a consistently unreliable and expensive power supplier, have turned to Freedom Won technology to transform their agricultural operations which has reinstated the needed power reliability and saved them money.

“If you had asked me 10 years ago if there would be power the next day, I would have said the odds are very high. If you ask me that today, I’d say there’s a certain chance there won’t be power tomorrow.” So says Lourens du Plessis, owner of Louma farm between Thabazimbi and Koedoeskop in South Africa. Louma Farm engaged Freedom Won and Thaba Solar, a local solar installer, who joined forces to provide Louma Farming with the stability and peace of mind that they urgently needed: to be completely independent from the country’s power provider,

Eskom, and instead rely on their own renewable energy network to power the daily operations of the farm.

Louma Commercial Farming now runs 30,500ha of commercial farming under 70 pivots, which operate on 9MW of solar panels and 8MWh of batteries, with 23km of overhead lines. With this solution, Du Plessis’ high power bills are history and he is saving $240,000 per month. Along with the guarantee of a reliable power supply and energy cost savings, Louma Farms can also be confident that Freedom Won batteries will endure long beyond the warranty period. The batteries will only lose 20-30% of their storage capacity after 18-20 years, as long as they are not discharged more than 50-60% on a regular basis.

Du Plessis has now grown his first wheat crops under solar energy from start to finish and he is very pleased. “I got my tonnes and on top of that, I could rest assured that the pivots would never stop. It was also much easier for my managers in these consistent circumstances.”

Freedom Won offers custom power room solutions in collaboration with local renewable and electrical engineers, tailored to meet your specific operational needs and budget. We provide end-to-end solutions with market-differentiating products for integrated wind and solar energy. Ongoing support is guaranteed for the lifespan of the solution.

Take back control of your own power generation and supply and transform your business. Contact us for a free, no obligation, consultation. We would love to show you what is possible for your business.

Contact us on:

+61 422 251 938 or sales@freedomwonaustralia.com

QSL GROWER PRICING UPDATE

Market Update

The raw sugar futures market traded in a relatively narrow range in late February into March as market participants awaited the beginning of the upcoming Centre South Brazil (CS Brazil) harvest. The March 2024 futures contract expired at 22.58 USc/lb with 1.3 million tonnes of exclusively Brazilian sugar delivered to the tape, representing the second largest March contract expiry.

BRAZIL

There has been much debate around the size of the upcoming CS Brazil crop which has experienced below-average rainfall for the last 3 and a half months. The key cane growing region of Sao Paulo has received approximately 700mm of rain in that period, significantly less than the historical average of 1000mm. Whilst the rainfall deficit is expected to hinder the size of the cane crop, the hot and dry weather will likely boost sugar yields in early-season cane and partially offset the reduced

Grower Pricing Update

The highest grower-managed pricing levels achieved across all growing regions using QSL products to date (all gross price actual/tonne) are:

crop size. In conjunction, CS Brazil mills have seen investment in their sugar crystallisation capacity in the off-season due to the 8 USc/lb premium that sugar has been paying over ethanol. The asset upgrades could see the maximum sugar mix increase by 1-2% and produce an additional 1-2 million tonnes of sugar for their industry. With Brazil expected to be responsible for 70% of all sugar exports in the 2024/25 Season, the risks around weather disruptions and logistical issues are heightened. Any interruptions during the upcoming harvesting season will likely result in volatile market action.

THAILAND

Strong sugar yields and additional cane supply has resulted in higher-than-expected production figures for the Thai harvest which has kept some downward pressure on the raw sugar market. In early February many analysts had revised current season forecasts down to 7-7.5 million tonnes of sugar, however in the final stages of the harvest season production has surpassed 8.55 million tonnes.

• 2023 Target Price = $950 / IFC $960 (Mar24)

• 2024 Target Price = $840 / IFC $870 (Jul24)

• 2025 Target Price = $735 / IFC $735 (Oct25)

• 2026 Target Price = $685 / IFC $690 (Jul26)

• 2027 Target Price = $650

Current as at 18 March 2024.

SPECULATORS

Speculators have been largely inactive in the ICE 11 raw sugar futures market over the past month, holding a position of just 88 lots net long as of 5 March. The speculative community appear to be content with non-participation following the mass close out of their large net long position in December which caused the market to collapse 8.5 USc/lb.

CURRENCY

Foreign exchange markets remain largely focused on the commencement of interest rate-cutting programs by global central banks. With inflation in the US services sector remaining sticky, projections for the first rate cut from the Federal Reserve has been delayed from March to June. This change in outlook saw the US Dollar strengthen and push the Australian Dollar below the 65-cent mark in early February. Many economists from large banks are expecting the Australian Dollar to appreciate towards 70 US cents in the second half of 2024 should the US begin cutting interest rates before Australia.

Key Dates:

• 20 April: Last day to achieve pricing allocated to the May 2024 ICE 11 contract through the Individual Futures Contract and Self-Managed Harvest contract. Any unpriced tonnage after this date will be priced by QSL at the next market opportunity.

• 20 April: Last day to price 2023-Season Target Price Contract tonnage. Any unpriced tonnage after this date will be priced by QSL at the next market opportunity.

• 30 April: Last day to nominate tonnage to QSL’s 2024-Season Actively Managed Pool, Individual Futures Contract and Target Price Contract.

PARLIAMENT TO SIDE

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) implored politicians to use common sense and do the right thing by Australian farmers, as the controversial Biosecurity Protection Levy was debated in the House of Representatives on Tuesday 19 March.

NFF President David Jochinke said despite the mounting evidence the levy was poor policy and should be scrapped, the government had the numbers to wave it through the lower house.

“We call on Senators to see commonsense and hit pause on this legislation so they can listen carefully to the criticism this flawed policy has drawn,” Mr Jochinke said.

“It’s not just Australia’s 85,000 farmers who have raised alarm bells, it’s also the Productivity Commission, the Australian National University, the Office of Impact Analysis and even importers.

“While we never wanted this legislation to get this far, the best-case scenario is

for it to be sent to Senate Committee for appropriate scrutiny and this will provide the time and analysis to properly consider farmers’ concerns.

“We remind Senators, Australian farmers already spend millions of dollars each year in existing levies that incorporate biosecurity spending as well as through managing the pests and diseases on-farm brought to our shores by importers and travellers.

“By paying another tax towards biosecurity services, they are effectively subsidising foreign competitors who import food products into Australia.

“Along with it being at odds with standard policy design and tax practice, this levy simply isn’t fair.”

Updating our grower shareholders

STL recognises the need to keep Shareholders and the broader industry regularly updated. Outlined below are just some of the items already underway or completed in the current FY. As always, we welcome your feedback!

First Half Financial Performance

STL’s H1 results were recently released and included the announcement of a $15.9M profit. This enables STL to have the funding to invest in the Terminals for their long term future, provides a modest dividend to our shareholders and also holds costs down for terminal users.

2023 Crushing Season

The 2023 crushing season saw most mills crush out in early December which hopefully provided the opportunity for a well earned break for Growers across most regions. In total, we received 3.5M tonnes of raw sugar and experienced a strong shipping program in H1. Currently the terminals are sitting at roughly 35% of capacity which enables detailed inspections of shed floors and walls that are typically covered with stored sugar. STL is well prepared to start receiving when the crush commences in late May / early June 2024.

Investing in the Industry’s Assets

Whilst STL is the custodian of these vital industry assets, the importance of maintaining them to the highest possible standard requires significant ongoing investment. Works undertaken in H1 of FY24 include:

• replacement of the 12km Lucinda Conveyor Belt in late 2023 (circa $9M)

• progressing HV substations at Lucinda and Townsville (circa $4.8M)

• fire system improvements at all Terminals

• installation of Shiploader Anti Collision Systems

Income Diversification

STL reached a milestone in H1 with the successful completion of the Bundaberg Common User Infrastructure (CUI). The CUI will allow STL to handle a wide range of bulk agricultural and mineral products without impacting our priority to handle raw sugar. This project is a joint venture with Gladstone Ports Corporation and was delivered on budget by STL despite significant construction cost inflation. Loading of a commissioning shipment of silica sand is shortly due to occur. A few other examples of diversification currently being explored include:

• bulk minerals through Mourilyan woodchips through Lucinda

• sugar cane biofuel pellets through Townsville

A key aim of income diversification is to reduce terminal operating costs borne by the Sugar Industry.

Inactive Growers

STL has constantly reminded shareholders of the need to dispose of their shares once they become an ‘inactive’ or dry shareholder. To further progress this issue STL has established a subcommittee chaired by Independent Director Leanne Muller and supported by G Class Directors Tony Bartolo and Steve Kirby and M Class Director Rohan Whitmee. The focus will initially be on identifying inactive growers and then consideration of the options to transact such shares into the hands of active Growers. We will keep you updated on progress and will work with the various Industry Associations to seek their input.

Simplified Operating Model

STL continues to progress towards an insourced operating model by 30 June 2026 (or earlier by mutual agreement). We are actively planning for this transition with significant work already underway in relation to key functions like IT, Finance and Payroll. This change will remove unnecessary duplication, reduce cost and drive greater efficiencies.

Regional Visits by STL Directors

STL Directors have recently embarked on a series of ‘face to face’ information sessions in the regions. Meetings were recently held in the far north and further visits are scheduled in the Herbert, Burdekin, Mackay and Bundaberg regions amongst others. These sessions will give you the opportunity to engage with Directors on items of interest. Dates will be communicated well in advance.

Thank you for your ongoing interest in STL and I wish you a safe and productive crush.

David Quinn Chief Executive Officer

TAKING CONTROL

BY RENEE CLUFF

An Innisfail cane grower has made tissue culture the foundation of his planting program.

Joe Zappala farms in Innisfail’s Mena Creek area on picturesque, unique red soil. The 100 hectares, predominantly under sugarcane but also papaya, contain the basalt-derived Eubenangee soil series, a Red Ferrosol of the Krasnozem soil group. Eubenagee soils make up just two-per-cent of the sugarcane area in the Johnstone catchment and are considered a rarity nationally and globally due to their physical and chemical properties.

“One of the major properties is they have a very tight bonding of phosphorous so the application of phosphorous is critical and it can get locked up in our soils very quickly,” Joe explained. “Our Phosphorous Buffer Index (PBI) on our best soil is probably about 450 and on our most difficult soil it can be up to 700 to 800 PBI.

“That’s unheard of in most places around Australia”

The volcanic Eubenangee soils are fertile because of their topsoil structure and ability to hold nutrients. They’re also naturally acidic and despite having a high clay content, are considered a sandy clay and drain quickly. Because of these divergent properties, sugarcane variety selection is vital, and Joe describes access to a choice of varieties as crucial for productivity.

“Soil nutrition is one thing, but our biggest challenge at the moment in our area is varieties,” he said. “In the red soils it’s a bit more difficult because there are more challenges in regards to drier soils when the rain stops, and you need a good cover and good trash blanket for weed and erosion control.”

Access to new varieties has posed a problem for Joe in recent years, which he says dates back to the smut incursion of the late 1990s. “There are a couple of promising varieties now, but that is something we have lacked for a very long time,” he said.

“After smut came into the industry, SRA had to change the breeding program because of susceptibility to smut and they more or less had to target smutresistant varieties.

Bottom: Joe uses a seedling planter to plant both his sugarcane tissue culture and papaya plants

Right: Tissue culture growing in the red soils of the Innisfail district

That had to happen, but we have sacrificed a lot in our productivity. Our yields and CCS aren’t indicative of the potential of our soil types.”

About eight years ago, a lack of access to newer varieties was in part why Joe began planting tissue culture trials. However, this initiative transitioned to become a permanent part of his planting program, as he sought to prevent disease. “Initially, I dabbled with tissue culture a little bit, but I predominantly used to get whole stick cane from the local productivity services,” he said. “In 2018-19, SRA26 was released in this area. I planted in clean ground only to find it was infected with RSD.

“That really put my planting of SRA26 back two years. That’s cost me a fair bit of money because subsequently, we have learned that SRA26 is a good producer and returns good dollars per hectare for the growers.

Fortunately, Joe was well set up to plant tissue culture because he also has a horticulture crop. The seedling planters he uses to plant papaya are also suitable for the sugarcane

“I needed to take back control”

seedlings. This method is now being replicated across the Johnstone catchment through the Cassowary Coast Reef Smart Farming program, which is also planting tissue culture to accelerate adoption of the newer, higher-performing varieties.

Joe said the irrigation system he has for the papayas can water the sugarcane seedlings, too. “I only plant about 200 metres of tissue culture,” he said. “It’s quick and easy and then I run drip tape off one of my main lines to irrigate it, so I water it every time I water my papaya.

“Weed control can be an issue so what I use is something like S-Metolachlor over the top of the tissue culture, it doesn’t seem to affect it too much. I do not use Paraquat. If there are some broad-leaf weeds, I might put a bit of 2,4-D with it or a bit of MCPA depending on the weed pressure or the weed type.

Joe continues to plant tissue culture for his own seed plots simply because it’s easier and more efficient.

“If I can plant 200-metres, I can get equivalent to two whole stick cane trailers the following year,” Joe said. “That’s enough multiplication of clean seed material to keep me moving. I can rapidly escalate my volumes.

Joe grows sugarcane on the unique, red Eubenangee soil series in the Innisfail district

the official magazine of australia's sugarcane industry

“It’s not cut and dried, you’ve got to adapt as you go”

With whole stick, there’s a bit more involved, especially when it comes to transporting that material from the productivity board plot to my farm, which isn’t easy and involves crossing the Bruce Highway. I find I can get enough in trays of seedlings.”

The papaya and cane also work in tandem through Joe’s fallow cropping system. Papayas are planted as a break crop to regenerate blocks over a two-year period. The other big bonus is that the papayas also earn an income for Joe’s enterprise.

“There’s no point having ground sitting there and not earning you an income or costing you money because you’ve got to keep it clean or plant a legume crop,” he said. “I plant papaya and it’s probably the best situation for the soil because it’s a totally different crop, you’re following totally different management practices, and it reduces a lot of pathogens in the soil.

“Nutrition also has to be more spot on with papaya so you’ve got to get your pH right and they use a little bit of fertiliser so you build your nutrition up in your soil. When I plant a sugarcane crop after papaya, I don’t have to top dress with potassium or urea, I just use DAP fertiliser at planting and that’s it and I usually get a very good crop. The nutritional capacity of the soil is a lot better.”

Top: Tissue culture plants are grown in an agar gelling agent

Middle: Tissue culture seedlings growing in the nursery at Sugar Research Australia’s Tully station

Bottom: The Cassowary Coast Reef Smart Farming program has adopted Joe’s method of using seedling planters to plant tissue culture plots

SHINING THE LIGHT ON SUPERIOR SUGARCANE

SUPPLIED BY SUGAR RESEARCH AUSTRALIA

The Annual Variety Selection Meeting focuses on the best performance.

Every year a pivotal event shines a spotlight on superior sugarcane performance to date and that is the two-day meeting of the Sugar Research Australia (SRA) Variety Development teams from across the industry.

This year the Annual Variety Selection meeting was held in Bundaberg in March. District teams joined the meeting from as far away as Cairns and northern New South Wales.

To the outsider, the meeting may look dull - just a group of people in a room presenting tables of figures and graphs on a screen to each other. But this is where the rubber hits the road in plant breeding terms and the discussions can become intense.

The most advanced sugarcane clones which have been developed and trialed for the past eight to ten years are being put through their paces.

District performance data is closely scrutinised for the best clones to put forward to the industry.

“New cane varieties form the foundation of SRA’s work to improve the productivity, sustainability and competitiveness of Australia’s

sugarcane industry,” General Manager Variety Development Dr Jason Eglinton said.

“The SRA breeding program must identify and select parents for crossing with traits that will enhance their progeny’s performance to meet each district’s challenges. These parents come from the vast SRA germplasm collection of experimental clones, old and current varieties, and wild and foreign varieties. It is a huge library from which we can draw on lessons of past superior performance and incorporate the latest techniques to ensure a pipeline of strongly performing varieties for the future,” Jason said.

“SRA plants around 100,000 new seedlings annually as potential varieties for the future. It then takes between 10 and 12 years to evaluate the target traits and their performance in trials across crop classes and environments. Only a small number of candidates will have the commercial potential that survives the selection process.”

Every year new clones are assessed for their suitability for local release by six Regional Variety Committees

(RVCs). Each committee is presented with detailed data from new candidates compared to the relevant commercial varieties of the region. The commercial merits of candidate clones are considered against the local production constraints and challenges of each region and the strengths and weaknesses of the current mix.

The committee, comprising voting members from local grower representative organisations and milling companies, must vote unanimously on what should be released.

Productivity is the priority, so the weighting of tonnes of cane per hectare (TCH) and commercial cane sugar (CCS) is paramount. However, other characteristics that affect the agronomic fit of varieties are also considered including lodging, arrowing, suckering, side shooting, germination behaviour, and early vigour.

A range of milling and sugar quality parameters are also considered in release decisions.

Experimental clones advancing through the selection program are screened for disease resistance to smut, Fiji leaf gall, leaf scald, mosaic and red rot at SRA’s Woodford station; yellow spot, brown rust and orange rust at SRA’s Meringa Station; and Pachymetra root rot at SRA’s Tully

station. This means disease ratings are available before commercialisation decisions are made.

The RVCs have a formal responsibility for biosecurity. Once a variety is released it is added to the Approved variety list for the region which is required to meet every grower’s General Biosecurity Obligation under the Queensland Biosecurity Act (2014). Cane supply agreements also commonly reference delivery of only Approved varieties.

Maximising profitability and minimising risk by adopting a balanced mix of varieties across a farm with different productivity constraints, disease

pressures, and harvest timing can be a complex task. Good decision-making in variety adoption and management relies on good information about variety characteristics and performance.

Each year SRA publish Variety Guides for each region summarising productivity data, disease resistance profiles, agronomic characteristics, herbicide toxicity information, and increasingly maturity curves to support selection of varieties to propagate and evaluate on your farm.

Guides for the 2023/24 season will be released in the coming weeks.

Variety Officer Herbert, Juan Briceno, presents performance data on new clones to the team

THE VALUE OF KEEPING IT CLEAN

BY KATE REARDON Smartcane BMP Program Manager

Cutting corners or doing it on the cheap may save you initially but in the long run, it can end up costing you more.

A key element of Smartcane BMP is ensuring growers are using clean seed for replanting.

Why use approved clean seed?

Planting Clean Seed cane is one of the easiest ways to increase productivity on a cane farm. Diseases alone can have the potential for yield losses of up to 40% or more of the infected cane crop.

Diseases such as ratoon stunting disease (RSD), Fiji leaf gall, smut, leaf scald, chlorotic streak and mosaic can be transmitted in planting material from one block to another, reducing the crop yield significantly.

Because the disease can be transmitted via plant material so easily, best management practice doesn’t support planting approved seed into plough out replant blocks, as it creates a mixed selection of varieties and, possibly, infected planting material from the previous crop.

Ideally, clean seed should be planted into blocks that have had legumes, small crops, or sprayed out fallows with trash retention.

Local productivity service groups have conducted surveys and found that growers who regularly obtain clean seed cane have better yielding crops than those who do not obtain clean cane, particularly in districts where RSD is prevalent. Evidence shows disease pressure is minimised and productivity potential maximises, if growers only plant 1% of their plant area with approved seed cane.

Local productivity services groups produce clean seed under strict quality assurance guidelines in their propagation and distribution blocks. All cane planted into seed plots for multiplication is supplied by SRA and is treated and screened for diseases before release. Tissue culture can also be sourced through local productivity service groups, which is another way of obtaining approved seed.

It is an effective way of obtaining quantities of a new variety for early propagation and bulking up for commercial production.

Clean seed is the building block of a crop and is a relatively low cost investment when given the overall high cost to establish and harvest a crop of cane. It makes good commercial sense to purchase clean seed regularly from clean local plots while taking care to keep it disease free for future plantings. The potential yield of a crop will not be attained if planting seed is of poor quality. So, investing in planting cane free from the risk of disease gives the crop the greatest opportunity to be a profitable one.

CANEGROWERS delivers the Smartcane BMP project (2022-2026) with funding from the Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program and CANEGROWERS

CANEGROWERS REGIONAL ROUND-UP

SUPPLIED BY CANEGROWERS DISTRICT OFFICES

MOSSMAN

Surprisingly, even though we had a wet February, and it felt like a continuation of a very wet summer, the monthly average rainfall was only 73% of the long-term average for the month.

There was very little change when the month rolled over to March which means efforts to get onto headlands and slash or spray continue to be hampered. The grasses and vines are starting to be a real issue in some places and cane in low areas is stunted due to continual wet feet. However, there are also paddocks of good cane so it continues to be very difficult to estimate what the ultimate crop size and yield might be for 2024.

As reported in the last edition of the magazine, Mossman mill continued to defy the odds as an Investor provided sufficient information for the Administrator to change his recommendation to the Creditors and proceed with securing a Deed of Company Arrangement. The Administrator had 15 business days to secure this which was by end of day 21 March 2024. The Investor visited Mossman mill on 18 March and Bargaining Agents met with the Administrator on 19 March for an update. However, even though all efforts were made to get a DOCA executed by the

deadline, creditors were notified on 22 March that the Investor had withdrawn and the DBP group of companies, including Far Northern Milling, were in liquidation. The priority now is the 2024 crop for growers and how to ensure it is harvested and delivered to a mill so they can recoup their investment in the crop and have the income needed to move forward.

Everyone cast their votes at the local government elections on the 16 March 2024. The shire held two forums which were well attended, and the community had lots of questions as the recent disaster had focused the public eye on water infrastructure and road access issues.

The Manager and one CANEGROWERS Mossman Director attended the QCGO Policy Council meeting over two days in Brisbane during March.

The past month has been very busy for CANEGROWERS Tableland, attending workshops and meetings in preparation for the coming season.

Sugar Research Australia (SRA) organised a field trip to the Burdekin region to highlight the

irrigation trials that are being undertaken. This was a very informative trip for those who attended, with numbers a little disappointing.

The Tableland Mill is starting preparations for the 2024 season with the coordinating of estimates. There is some ambiguity with regards to the

TABLELAND

Community Cabinet Cairns rally—3 Feb 2024

Policy council 3 March 2024

MSF growers’ workshop “Securing the Future through Productivity” held at the Babinda RSL

the official magazine of australia's sugarcane industry

crop size, due to the flooding that occurred in December and the ongoing rain. Some of the statements that have been issued is that the early plant and ratooned cane appears to be better than last season, with the late ratoon not performing as well due to the wet conditions.

The crushing season is set to start at the end of May.

MSF has received approval from the parent company to upgrade the cooling tower at the Tableland Mill at a cost

of $4,000,000 to help offset issues that arise when the temperatures increase towards the end of the year.

MSF held a grower workshop, “Securing the Future through Productivity”, for all their mills, i.e. Tableland, Mulgrave and South Johnstone. Krisda Monthienvichienchai, President/ CEO at Mitr Phol Sugar Corp, gave an opening address, where he advised that the aim was to increase productivity to 4,000,000 tonnes for the three mills by 2027.

CAIRNS

Wet weather has continued across the CANEGROWERS Cairns Region throughout the month of March.

The Chair, Manager and Environment and Sustainability officer took the opportunity to meet with Minister for Agriculture Mark Furner whilst in Cairns for the Community Cabinet to discuss growers’ challenges following the Cyclone Jasper and subsequent flooding event.

Issues raised with Minister Furner included the lack of assistance available to severely affected growers who needed to undertake substantial replanting operations in 2024 to recover from the event.

Cane Supply Agreement negotiations have continued in both the Mulgrave and South

Johnstone Mill areas, with negotiations nearing completion.

The GBRF Mulgrave Russell Water Quality Project is now in its final stages with the Project set to wrap up 30 June 2024. To date the Project has been a major success with an overall investment of $6.2 million within the catchments involving two on-ground delivery providers, Farmacist and TropWATER engaging growers as part of the investment under the Reef Trust Partnership.

The Program aims to support precision agriculture, improved farming practices, water quality monitoring and controlled drainage to reduce Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen runoff and improve catchment water quality, productivity, and sustainability outcomes.

INNISFAIL

CANEGROWERS Innisfail, along with other industry stakeholders in the MSF Mill Areas, met in early March to discuss potential solutions to the region’s declining productivity.

Industry experts, including CANEGROWERS Innisfail Grower Services Manager, Deb Telford gave presentations on topics such as cane breeding, productivity constraints and disease pressures as well as current and potential remedies. The event, spearheaded by Thai mill owners, Mitr Phol, reiterated their commitment to investing in the cane industry in the Far North. Innisfail growers gathered for the Organisation’s annual pre-season meeting in March. As always, the meeting was a valuable opportunity for growers to mingle and catch up as well as hear the latest industry updates. Topics of discussion on the night included Cane Supply Contract negotiations,

Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants, transport legislation, the 2024 season forecast and foreseeable issues and productivity services.

Growers welcomed a presentation from SRA’s Phil Patane and CANEGROWERS

Innisfail’s Deb Telford regarding the South Johnstone Productivity Plan Review. Special thanks to invited guests and members for their participation in what is always a very interactive meeting.

CANEGROWERS Innisfail

Directors welcomed the opportunity to meet with STL representatives on the 18 March. CANEGROWERS

Innisfail Chairman, Joseph Marano, reiterated his concerns regarding STL’s commitment to insource terminal operations. The Company’s focus on diversification was also discussed with reassurance from STL that these activities would not compromise the service provided to the sugar industry.

South Johnstone Productivity Plan Review

Tableland District growers getting the rundown on irrigation trials in the Burdekin

Continuous wet weather has impacted crop growth, with lack of sunlight and water logging occurring throughout the district.

Preliminary estimates suggest that the crop could be around 2,440,000 tonnes, but latest suggestion will be more like 2,250,000- 2,300,000 tonnes due to impacts. The higher growth season is coming to an end as daylight hours decrease. Generally, April is the time of year that flowering commences, which is only weeks away.

Decreasing Harvester numbers are a concern in the Tully district. Four businesses have closed their doors for season 2024 with two new businesses opening. This has created plenty of changes in group formation.

Tully Sugar’s agronomist, Greg Shannon will be commencing

HERBERT RIVER

On Thursday 7 March

CANEGROWERS Herbert River hosted its Season Review, reflecting on the challenges and successes of the previous season and preparing for the upcoming 2024 season.

The meeting was attended by a strong representation of our members, and fruitful discussions took place.

During the review, we delved into various aspects of the 2023 season, addressing the issues that arose and gathering valuable feedback from all members present. Your insights were invaluable in understanding the challenges faced and identifying areas

testing of sugarcane maturity in the last week of March through the mobile mill. Testing procedures give an evaluation on the progress of the growth pattern in the plant. Decisions can then be made on whether a particular paddock will be ready for harvest when the mill starts, or consideration of a crop ripener.

Critical to the industry is the ability to have access to appropriate varieties. Tully has eight sub districts, each relatively different in weather patterns and soil types. Adopting the most suitable varieties to each region is paramount. The Northern Variety Management Group will meet in April to consider new varieties.

Safety in any workplace is paramount, in particular shared

workplaces where harvesting operations and trains integrate. Compulsory online courses will need to be completed via the mill website prior to the commencement of the crush. An Ergon Look up and Live session is planned for next month and all are welcome to attend.

Tully Sugar hosted a grower meeting this month to provide

updates on area under cane production, operations, capital works and marketing.

The annual Tully Industry Pre-Season Meetings are also scheduled for 7, 8 and 9 May. The meetings will provide updates from Tully Sugar, Tully Cane Productivity Services and Sugar Research Australia.

for improvement as we move forward.

In addition to reflecting on the past season, we took the opportunity to proactively discuss any potential issues or concerns that may arise in the forthcoming 2024 season. It's crucial for us to stay ahead of the curve and address any foreseeable challenges.

Also in March, the CANEGROWERS Herbert River Young Growers Development Group had a very informative and productive trip to Brisbane, which commenced at CANEGROWERS Brisbane office on the first day hearing from the Policy Managers. During their second day, they had the opportunity to learn

about the important work being done at the Sugar Research Australia's Woodford Pathology Research Station, including research on major sugar cane diseases and the development of disease-resistant varieties. Dr. Shamsul Bhuiyan provided insights into disease identification and the efforts involved in breeding resistant varieties. The group also had a practical session in the field with Dr. Bhuiyan and Andrew Greet to observe disease symptoms firsthand.

Additionally, Phil Patane, the Herbert River District manager, discussed the District Productivity Plan and SRA's local initiatives, providing further context for the group.

Overall, the trip provided valuable knowledge and experiences for the young growers, enabling them to contribute to their farms and communities upon their return. The project has been funded by the Integrated Engagement and Capacity Building project through the Queensland Government's Queensland Reef Water Quality Program.

Tully Sugar grower meeting

CANEGROWERS Hebert River members 2023 season review meeting

BURDEKIN

Towards the end of March

Wilmar were in the final throes of ruling off the 2024 season estimate.

This along with completion dates for major maintenance and capex projects, will then determine start dates for the upcoming season.

The consensus is that we may be looking at a crop estimate in the vicinity of 8.45 million tonnes and a start date in the first week of June, but all will be revealed in early April at the latest.

Due to the favourable sugar price, there has been more country planted to cane and ratoons left in the ground to go around again for another lap to take advantage of the good prices. Enquiry levels from the farmers to put country under cane continue to be received which Wilmar has the capability to influence with planting incentives which are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

March saw a reprieve in rainfall which created a window for growers on some of the more well drained soil in the district to get some early planting done.

The government is continuing to engage with stakeholders on water issues. March saw CANEGROWERS Burdekin representatives participate in several workshops to do with the Rising Groundwater issue and the Burdekin Water Plan Working Group, which will be an ongoing process for the management of this important commodity.

Wilmar hosted their annual meeting with grower collectives to run through 2024 season grouping change applications where Wilmar flagged the status of which applications were; acceptable, are to be declined or further investigation

was required. What is causing complications with this process is the continued rationalisation of harvesting groups across the district, which has created challenges for; some growers actually securing a contractor to cut their cane, siding access, bin delivery, group size and associated rostering. Roaming groups and an underinvestment by Wilmar in not expanding siding capacity has exacerbated this issue.

On 15 March, the CANEGROWERS Burdekin Board met with STL Chair and CEO to discuss a range of issues and a frank and robust discussion was held from both sides and it is pleasing to see that STL will be coming to the Burdekin for a grower update meeting in early April. This is a meeting we encourage all growers to attend as these are vital industry assets that provide the sugar industry with a competitive advantage.

CANEGROWERS Burdekin also met with the Burdekin Shire Council and school principals and representatives to conduct the launch of our new initiative being the Burdekin’s Sweetest School Competition. This a unique event where schools showcase their skills in growing the best sugarcane. The competition is expected to start in April this year, concluding in May 2025 to coincide with the 2025 Sweet Days, Hot Nights festival. Participating schools will be given sugarcane to plant and nurture for twelve months assisted by a grower mentor, with industry experts judging the best cane produced. The winning school will receive a trophy, a monetary donation to the P&F and bragging rights. We would like to thank the Burdekin Shire Council, SRA, BPS and schools for their support for this community initiative.

PROSERPINE

Early crop growth was turning out to be a tale of two halves.

Some paddocks had already seen significant growth due to continued rainfall through the January to March period. Unfortunately, poorly drained soils, low lying paddocks and late ratooned areas showed stunted growth where water logging continued to be a challenge.

General sentiment across the region indicates a slightly improved crop on the 1.7m tonnes of 2024, but this would depend on a pick-up in radiation levels over the next two months. Without good sunshine, there would likely be a comeback in the estimate as the start of the crush moved closer. It is hoped that as the months progress, growers would see preliminary crop estimates improve.

With the mill maintenance program in full swing and more management being appointed locally, growers are also hopeful for an improvement in mill performance.

The Proserpine Young Farmers Group had 14 young cane farmers, pictured below, a tour of the Burdekin and Tassel Prawn Farm from 11 to 13 March. The trip included demonstrations of various irrigation technologies on three separate properties, a tour of Inkerman mill and the ‘taste’ experience of a Tassel prawn.

Growers also got insight into Tassel Prawn Farm’s hatchery,

control room for water quality output monitoring and their packing operation. The trip was sponsored by the ‘Integrated Engagement and Capacity Building project’ through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program.

CANEGROWERS Proserpine held a member meeting to present on changes to the Relative CCS system for 2024 and continued discussions on the CSA and insurance book. Meetings were also held with Wilmar and Council regarding the industry and future with additional meetings planned for April.

Assistance with business plans continued with a good amount of grant funding being accessed through the QRIDA Drought Preparedness Grant Program. All Central region sugarcane growers are encouraged to contact CANEGROWERS

Proserpine office for assistance in this regard.

Lastly, CANEGROWERS

Proserpine contributed a prize for auction in support of the Proserpine ‘Cut-Out - Sugar Bush Shindig’ Party. Through tremendous support from the community and a job well done by the organising committee, the event was able to raise close to $45,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service Charity. We look forward to the continued difference this event can make to other worthwhile causes in future.

MACKAY / PLANE CREEK

CANEGROWERS

Mackay has been busy on many fronts in the past month, with the launch of the annual Harvest Labour campaign. This includes the two Haulout Driver courses, which had a growing list of over 35 applicants for the twenty places available within five days of its media-advertising

launch. The focus is to place people intending to work in the Mackay-Plane Creek area, so places will go to those with that clear intention, although there was interest from people wishing to work in other growing districts.

The Mackay campaign uses a multi strand approach. On digital platforms including

BUNDABERG

The weather continues to remain favourable to our growing conditions with small amounts of rainfall received across the district, although some growers are now having to irrigate crops in addition to the rainfall.

Estimates are due in April and once a final figure is calculated the Board will agree on the start date for the core season and growers will be notified. Planning is underway for a pre-season meeting in May and a meeting notice will be mailed once final details are confirmed.

Sugar prices look strong for the next couple of seasons and QSL are running a series of workshops in April for growers to learn more about the features of QSL Direct. For further information contact Glenn Harris on 0409 601 349.

At the time of writing, Oreco payments remain unpaid, and we are actively following this up on behalf of growers.

We welcome Helen Blackburn to the role of Bundaberg Regional Council Mayor and look forward to working with Helen and fellow Councillors over the next four years.

websites, e-news and social media, the region is promoted as an attractive working holiday destination for working travelers, targeting both the backpacker and grey nomad demographic.

Locally, we are advertising on mobile e-billboards, print media, and social media jobs and community pages across the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region. We had good coverage from local media following a media release, with stories appearing in Mackay Life and the NQ Register, and on Channels 7 and 9 News.

On other fronts, we are looking forward to participating in the

ISIS

The Isis District has continued to receive plenty of patchy, scattered showers with most growers back into full irrigation mode.

The crop is looking superb with the mill providing a preliminary conservative estimate of 788,000 tonnes and working towards a start date in early June.

At the time of writing, it looks as though we will have a change in the elected Mayor and possibly five new Councillors on the Bundaberg Regional Council. We are very pleased with this outcome. We supported a coordinated local government election campaign calling for a change in the people on our Council. Our aim was to secure a functional transparent council to act fairly and equitably, and we look forward to working with the new Council once sworn in.

biennial Mackay Ag Trade Expo, an event that was originated by CANEGROWERS Mackay and with which we still have close ties. The event will run Fri 19-Sat 20 April at Wests Tigers, Walkerston (see more on page 7). A great event, with plenty of machinery and services to check out, and entertainment for young and old.

Any growers requiring assistance with any issues are encouraged to call 4944 2600 to get the ball rolling on a solution. Keep an eye on our Facebook page, The Billet and weekly District Manager Updates for emerging training and industry opportunities.

We lodged a regional QCA water price submission through our involvement with Bundaberg Ag-Food & Fiber Alliance. The key points included electricity pass through, RAB v Annuity, Insurance CSO, distribution loss allocations, and billing system cost to Bundaberg scheme.

This month QSL hosted two shed meetings providing growers with a market update and we hosted four Business Essentials workshops. We had 11 growers and three staff members participate in the workshops across the two days and have received some great feedback from those who attended.

QSL shed meeting Wallaville

Bundy Hayden Attard accepts the Young Industry Achiever Award from Mark Pressler, Chairman Bundaberg CANEGROWERS

the official magazine of australia's sugarcane industry

MARYBOROUGH

Wet, Wet, wet—apparently the month of March had some rainfall predicted but we have had more wet days than dry over the month and another wet weekend ahead.

Big benefit for the local crop with continued good growth however concern becomes the likelihood of early lodging in blocks with a few incidences already sighted.

Shed Meetings conducted midMarch were very well attended with two sites used - Bauple and Maryborough.

The ability to have reports from agronomy, mill and marketing was well received, and we would like to conduct some more through the year in a similar format.

SRA has been active in the area with progression on the soldier

fly project, even in the rain a team has been trying to locate larvae and signs of populations to work on creating lab supplies for testing.

The next grower event planned is the MCPS field day which is set for Wednesday 17 April and will be in a different format this year. No bus this year, but a farm visit with presentations on a number of changes impacting the industry. The day kicks off at 8:30am at Robyn Wade's Farm at Yerra. An invitation with more details is due out soon.

Isis Mill will be looking for estimates for the season ahead very shortly and it will be appreciated if we can get these back quickly to commence with Harvest roster discussions for the 2024 season.

ROCKY POINT

The Rocky Point cane crop, especially the standover crop, is doing exceedingly well, the 2024 estimate is approximately 300,000 tonnes.

However, the soybean crop has been planted on a reduced area this year due to the 2023 late finish and excessive wet weather hampering planting efforts.

Fall Armyworm was detected in a block of soybeans this month. In the local agronomist’s experience, this is the first time

Good Numbers at Shed meeting number 2 at Maryborough, 20 growers and partners had attended the Bauple meeting in the morning

they’ve been found in a young soybean crop.

Last season was one of the driest on record, a stark contrast to this year’s flooding, intermittent showers and cloudy weather.

On 21 March 2023 Rocky Point had the pleasure of hosting 15 young growers from the Herbert River district, visiting local cane farms, the Rocky Point Mill, Rocky Point’s mulch facility and meeting with other young growers.

Make time this year to focus on where you want your business to go

These half day sessions provide hands-on tools for either you or someone on your team and this year will be provided FREE of charge.

BUSINESS BOOKKEEPING

Streamline administrative tasks

FARM RECORD-KEEPING

Overview of tools and templates for the business

FARM BUSINESS PLANNING

Managing amidst uncertainty

SUGAR MARKETING UPDATE

Future risks and opportunities for the market

This program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program.

LOCATIONS & DATES:

• Herbert River: 10 & 11 April

• Tully: 23 & 24 April

• Innisfail: 14 & 15 May

• Burdekin: 21 & 22 May

Other locations & dates will be confirmed soon— keep an eye on our webpage.

THEN GET THE CELLI SPIKE ROTOR.

The removal of UK tariffs for Australian sugar following Brexit has sent demand and prices skyrocketing. So, calculate how much your returns and income would increase by switching to sugar production, then get a Celli Spike Rotor, proven to produce a better performing crop with:

Better performance in heavy and wet soils

Angled boron steel spikes to penetrate the ground deeply

Non-panning, unlike an ordinary rotary hoe

Even more effective when combined with the Celli (Combovator) bed former

“The cane grows higher when I use the spikes rotor because it doesn’t pan” - Len Collins, Cane Farmer, Tully Want a free Esky? and 50% off your first set of blades Scan here Purchase your Spike

Don’t wait. Take full advantage of the sugar boom with the Celli Spike Rotor and Celli Bed Former 1800 327 642 | +613 8001 3015 | sales@farmgard.com.au | sugar-smart.farmgard.com.au/farmer

by March 2024

THERE HAS BEEN NO LOST TIME DUE TO BREAK DOWNS!

Robson Farm Manager at ISIS Cane Services invested in a Delmade 1050 Series 48 plate Offset Disc back in 2013.

“Isis Cane Services farm approximately 200 hectares of sugarcane with break crops of peanuts, soybeans and green manure. The company was looking for a new set of Offset Discs for use on our farms.” John explains.

Isis Central Sugar Mill Co. Ltd. operates a modern sugar mill and rail infrastructure located about 40km south of Bundaberg. With a history spanning more than 120 years, the company produces raw sugar, molasses and renewable energy. Isis Cane Services is the agricultural part of the business.

After inspecting paddocks, crop situations and tractor horsepower the Delmade team recommended a Delmade 1050 Series 48 Plate Offset Disc. Post delivery John comments: “they have handled every situation with no problem at all. Performing all tasks from stool destruction in sugarcane crops to ground preparation for peanuts, soybeans and green manure as well as fire breaks around fallow blocks of land.”

In speaking with Delmade John mentioned the following key points which made the Delmade Offset Disc

stand out to him. “Ease of dealing with the Delmade Company, movement between farms is not a problem as the disc are folding, simplicity of altering the set (cut) on the Offsets, weight of the Offsets and quality of the workmanship in the manufacture of the offsets.”

When speaking on his experience using the Disc John highlights an average speed of 3 hectares per hour, less passes for ground preparation and zero lost time.

“There has been no lost time due to break downs, bearing failure etc. during these cultivations and in saying that we also have a competent operator who takes good care of all machinery that he operates.”

“We did price other Offsets and although Delmade are not the cheapest on the market they have proved to be a good investment and I would recommend them to any person or company who are looking to invest in a new set of Offsets.”

The Delmade 1050 Series 48 Plate Offset Disc purchased by the ISIS team weighs in at just under 7 tonnes, runs 28” x 5/16” Disc Plates and has a working width of 5.5m or 18’. Requiring between 174 and 223 Hp to pull this unit has an unrivalled 142kg weight per disc ratio.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the Delmade Offset Disc range log onto www.delmade.com.au where you can find tonnes of helpful resources and video. If you’re looking to improve efficiency and lower maintenance in your tillage program talk to Delmade today 1800 335 623

John

NOT ALL HOT AIR

Sustainability & Environment

BY MICK QUIRK

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be one of the most common issues discussed these days in government circles, in the finance sector, and in our supply chains. Agriculture, like all industries, is expected to contribute to reductions in GHG emissions to the atmosphere.

But how can this be achieved. And how much reduction can happen before production and profits suffer?

Emissions from cane farms arise from three main sources:

‚ Application of nitrogen feriliser, which gives rise to emissions of nitrous oxide (about 1.5 kg of N2O per 100 kg of N applied, although this varies greatly).

‚ Diesel for machinery operations, including harvest and haul-out, which gives rise to carbon dioxide (about 2.7 kg of CO2 per litre of fuel burnt);

‚ Electricity for irrigation pumping (about 0.7 kg of CO2e per kWh)

The accounting rules for farm emissions also include the embedded emissions in N fertiliser, herbicides, and pesticides—these are the emissions created in their manufacture and are particularly significant for fertiliser.

A calculator designed for farm GHG emissions will take usage data for fertiliser, fuel, electricity, and crop chemicals, and use standard emission factors to convert these into two estimates:

‚ Total emissions per unit area cropped

‚ Total emissions per unit of production, in our case per tonne of cane harvested.

The latter estimate is called the emissions intensity and, as a measure of efficiency, is a more informative measure of your farm’s emissions footprint. Note that emissions are measured as kg of CO2 equivalent (kg CO2e) per tonne of cane, with a conversion factor used to account for the higher warming potential of nitrous oxide.

So, what is the emission intensity of typical cane farms?

CANEGROWERS recently commissioned an analysis of emissions for cane farming in three regions, assuming current practices were consistent with Smartcane BMP.

These virtual case studies were representative of the Wet Tropics, the Burdekin, and the Mackay region. The emissions intensity values were, respectively, 37, 35 and 51 kg of CO2e per tonne of cane. These values compare favourably with those reported for sugarcane produced in Brazil (30 to 42), Thailand (28 to 39) and South Africa (30 to 90).

Importantly, when compared to emission estimates made for each of the three regions in the early 2000s, emissions intensity has reduced by at least 30% over the last two decades, and perhaps much more than this in the Burdekin region.

Our study also looked at the sensitivity of farm emissions to changes in key practices that drive emissions. As expected, nitrogen use is the biggest driver of emissions, but there is little room for reducing rates below those derived from the SIX EASY STEPS nutrient management program.

Urea treated with nitrification inhibitor can help further reduce losses of nitrous oxide, as these formations have an inherently lower emissions factor. In some cases, they may also achieve similar crop yields with a lower rate of N application.

Under full irrigation in the Burdekin, any system efficiencies that result in reduced amounts of water application will reduce emissions intensities by up to 6% (assuming fossilfuel derived electricity is in use). Small to modest reductions of 2 to 4% in emissions intensities can be achieved from adoption of wider row spacings and reduced tillage. But varying the amounts of pesticides and herbicides used had little impact on GHG emissions (<1%).

Therefore, where improved practices have already been adopted, there is limited scope for further reductions in farm emissions. In fact, the next big step change for cane farming, and agriculture as a whole, will require economywide transformations in technology that reduce reliance on non-renewable energy inputs.

With respect to nitrogen, reducing embedded emissions awaits a green energy pathway for urea synthesis that is commercially viable. Nitrification inhibitors have potential to reduce N2O emissions but their higher cost and perceived variability in effectiveness will likely constrain their adoption.

WHAT IS YOUR “NEW NORM” SUGAR PRICE?

Industry & Farm Inputs

BY BURN ASHBURNER

For quite a period prior to 2020 and COVID, grower input prices were relatively stable and although of concern were arguably manageable.

However, over the last few years there seems to be much greater volatility and uncertainty in the price of inputs (e.g. fertiliser) and perhaps growers are facing a greater long-term increase in prices than in the past (e.g. harvesting, fuel and rates).

This world of greater than expected input prices and supply uncertainty (harvesting) is perhaps unsettling for many growers although the sugar price has more than compensated so far.

I have heard growers, and a marketer, talk a few times now that between $500/tonne sugar and $600/tonne sugar is the “new norm”. I assume this means that the average sugar price will be higher in the future to compensate for increased costs.

Of course, in the long term the “new norm” will be mostly related to the largest exporters costs of production, Brazil and Thailand. If the cost increases in Australia are echoed worldwide then the long-term price of sugar will perhaps settle into a “new norm”. Australia will remain competitive.

We all know that growers are price takers on a distorted world market, so costs become a focus.

CANEGROWERS Business Essentials has been on about knowing your costs of production in terms of a sugar price for some time and provides a cost of production tool to do this. As a simple rule of thumb for every $1.00/tonne of sugarcane increase in production costs, the grower needs about a $12.00/tonne sugar increase in the sugar price, this will depend on CCS.

Thus, if overall the cost of production goes up by say $4.00/tonne sugarcane then the sugar price would need to increase by $48.00/tonne sugar.

There are some useful ready reckoners and a cost of production tool in the CANEGROWERS Business

Essentials information in the member only section of the CANEGROWERS website. Try it out. There is no reason why each grower cannot work out their own “new norm” sugar price.

I would argue that putting effort into the sugar price and sugar pricing is equally, if not more, important than input prices. From a CANEGROWERS perspective this is why we have close relationships with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and attend international trade talks to ensure that sugar is part of trade deals.

A lot of effort and resources are put into ensuring that we fully understand the world market to try and determine the nuances and fundamentals of supply and demand to provide some insight. We are part of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers and participate in the International Sugar Organisation meetings. This all assists in building relationships and when necessary, CANEGROWERS has combined with other countries to fight unfair trade practices (taking India to the WTO for dumping subsidised sugar on the market). Although hard to quantify this is a whole of industry benefit.

CANEGROWERS work with all the marketers to understand their offerings and information and ensure grower choice is maintained. The CANEGROWERS Market Information Service and Business Essentials program are designed to give each grower a better understanding of the sugar market and pricing and thus achieve a better outcome for their individual pricing. I urge growers to take an interest in this part of their business, it is just as important as input costs.

PLANTING THE SEEDS OF A VIBRANT FUTURE

Membership Engagement & Innovation

BY MATT KEALLEY

By 2034, our young growers will be working in a world of transformational change.

In a report authored by KPMG called Futuresphere1, the next decade will see advanced quantum systems in computing, communications and sensing, biotechnology innovations supporting gene editing, bioprinting and bioinformatics and AI integration into all aspects of business, health and everyday life.

CANEGROWERS is keeping abreast of these technologies and are actively looking for opportunities to support diversification and add value. More importantly, we are working with our younger growers to create awareness, get more ideas and nurture their skills through field trips, grower engagement and mentoring.

Next Ratoon is underway

CANEGROWERS mentoring program Next Ratoon is underway and the feedback from the mentees has been extremely positive. Mentoring for young growers offers invaluable guidance and the opportunity to share wisdom, foster new skills and create a plan for their professional and personal development.

This program is one of the ways we are supporting our younger growers and future leaders. CANEGROWERS is looking forward to seeing their progress over the coming months.

Young growers' professional development

Young sugarcane growers from the Herbert River district visited CANEGROWERS in Brisbane, SRA in Woodford and the Rocky Point district in March as part of a young grower professional development trip.

CANEGROWERS Herbert River coordinated the visit with Brisbane and the group of 16 took part in a busy three days which started with an overview of the advocacy, programs, and services that CANEGROWERS provided to members, growers and the industry.

The growers heard from Dan Galligan about the advocacy CANEGROWERS provides on a local, national and international level. Dan was dialling in from the Bioenergy

Australia conference in Canberra as sustainable aviation fuels and bioenergy forms a part of this emerging future.

The CANEGROWERS team from Brisbane provided updates on biosecurity, sustainability, greenhouse gas and ESG needs and the continuing growth of the Smartcane BMP program, as well as information on member benefits, communications, mill reliability, harvesting, and transport.

The Herbert Growers discussed the risks and opportunities to their businesses and the approach CANEGROWERS take to prioritise and work on these issues for growers and the industry.

Day two saw the growers head to SRA Woodford to learn about the research and field testing of sugarcane varieties against a variety of pests and diseases.

The final day was spent in the Rocky Point sugarcane growing district. Ben Spann Vice-Chair of CANEGROWERS Rocky Point and Samuel Mischke provided a guided tour which took in the practices, diversification, the challenges from fire ants and urban encroachment as well as a tour of the Rocky Point sugarcane mill. The group stopped at the Fischer farm and met with Shaun Fischer who spoke about their bailing equipment and practices.

One of the highlights of the trip was the visit to the mulching facility, Rocky Point, where Josh Keith who is always generous with his time, provided a tour of the facility. The growers were impressed with the mulch bagging and automated packing facilities, composting equipment, and the scale of the operation.

The growers also caught up with some of the young growers from the Rocky Point district over lunch which provided a great chance to form new friendships and talk about farming and the future.

Just how the predicted transformational change will impact their businesses remains to be seen. These CANEGROWERS initiatives give our growers a chance to connect and share their ideas with others across the industry.

1.

Current revaluations

ANNUAL QUEENSLAND LAND VALUATIONS—2024

CANEGROWERS

Legal Advisor

BY CHRIS COOPER

During March 2024 the Valuer General will issue new land valuations for 20 local government areas in Queensland, some of which are in sugarcane districts including Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, Gold Coast and Whitsunday.

The valuations will reflect values at 1 0ctober 2023 and will be effective from 30 June 2024. Affected Council areas will use these new values for determining rates for the 2024/25 year. If your property is in a Council area that was not revalued, then your land valuation will remain unchanged.

What are land valuations used for?

Land valuations are used and relied upon by various government authorities for a variety of purposes including the levying of various taxes and charges against land holders. These taxes and charges are calculated at a specified rate in the dollar of land value. Examples include local council rates, state land tax and state land rental on state leasehold lands. An increase in your land valuation may, but does not automatically, lead to an increase in your relevant government rates and charges.

Will my council rates increase?

Just because your Valuer General land valuation increases does not automatically mean your local council rates will also increase. Councils have very wide powers to manage rating and changes in property values. Councils can apply caps, averaging of values over several years, differential rating and most obviously, changing the rate in the dollar of land value. From my experience, I have noticed many local councils use as an excuse the increase in land values by the State Valuer General to justify increases in local rates. There however is no valid basis for this approach and councils certainly have many ways in which it can ensure that an increase in land values does not equate to an increase in rates.

How is the valuation calculated?

Lands that are zoned rural are valued on an unimproved basis by state government department valuers. The unimproved basis is intended to reflect the land in its original, natural and undisturbed condition. The unimproved

value is the notional amount the land could be expected to sell for without any physical improvements such as houses and sheds, land clearing, levelling and earth works.

Department valuers usually monitor the local area real estate market and analyse sales of properties within the area. From these sales, they will make calculations about the value of improvements forming part of the sale and deduct them from the gross sale price to come up with a notional unimproved value for the land component involved in that sale. Valuers will also consider physical attributes and constraints on use of the land. These items include matters such as the shape, nature and size of land, any adverse effects of natural disasters, limitations on land use, encumbrances such as easements including cane tramway and powerline easements, planning restrictions and environmental and vegetation issues.

The department does not physically inspect every property in the local authority area every year.

Quite often the department will simply carry out desk top valuations using maps and aerial images. Also, in some cases the department will merely apply a factor to adjust the value of all farms by a set percentage. These short cut approaches can lead to anomalies and inconsistent valuations.

Objection process

A land holder can formally dispute a valuation by lodgement of a notice of objection. The notice must follow a set format and be lodged with the department within 60 days of the valuation issuing. In certain special circumstances the Valuer General may accept a late objection.

Review process

If a properly made objection has been lodged by a landholder, then the objection must be considered by senior valuer within the government department who was not involved in the original valuation. With the agreement of the objector and the valuer a conference to discuss the valuation may also be held. In some circumstances if there are a significant number of cane grower objectors, CANEGROWERS may also make submissions to the department. The department will reconsider the valuation and notify the objector of the decision.

Appeal process

If the objector does not agree with the decision on the objection, then an appeal can be lodged with the Land Court within 60 days.

Further advice and assistance

The Department of Resources website (www.resources. qld.gov.au) contains useful information about the valuation process undertaken by it. Your local CANEGROWERS district office can also assist with advice and information.

This article contains general advice only. The particular facts and circumstances of each case always need to be taken into account.

The comments in this article are general in nature. For further free advice and information about this topic or other legal matters, members should contact their local CANEGROWERS office or please contact CANEGROWERS Legal Adviser, Chris Cooper on Free Call 1800 177 159

FIRST 5 LINES FREE* FOR CANEGROWERS MEMBERS!

Book online 24/7 at www.canegrowers .com au or email us at ads@canegrowers .com.au

Next deadline is 17 April 2024

MOSSMAN TULLY

MF102 cane harvester, good condition, $5,000. Ph: 0428 644 135.

Great Plains 6m 3PL planter, currently set up for zonal planting however have all units for solid planting, $20,000 + GST. Ph: Peter 0427 976 416

10 Blade Faggy chopper box for 3510/3520. $6,000 + GST. Ph: 0437 434 280

Heavy duty Tatu offset disc 25 plate $50,000. Ph: 0439 965 921

JD 4030 4800 hrs. Front weights, back wheel weights, ROP, GC. $10,000. Atkinson plant cutter $300. Hodge blower and topper a/c $2,500 Tully. Ph: 0429 681 264

Power Harrow / Airator for soil—fits on a rotary hoe $900. 2 old fertiliser box implements—each $300. 186 Ross Road Deeral. Ph: 0412 968 434

Harvester for sale. Babinda area. 2010 JD 3520 track harvester, 10,000 frame hrs. 1,200 hrs since engine rebuild. 10 blade Twyford choppers. Base cutter box, turn table and chopper box, 300 hrs use. D5 tracks. Ready to go. $180,000 & GST. Ph: 0439 676 186.

One tonne bag lifter $2,200 GST incl. Ph: 0448 345 139

USED/NEW MACHINERY FOR SALE

SECONDHAND 8970

JOHN DEERE TRACTOR

NEW CYCLONE SLASHER/MULCHER

All machines located in Ingham.

DIESEL FITTER POSITION AVAILABLE PARTS MANAGER POSITION AVAILABLE

Contact us via phone or email for further information.

SNG Machinery Sales

90 Origlasso St, Ingham

07 4776 6003 (Parts)

07 4776 1066 (Sales)

admin@sngmachinerysales.com www.sngromano.net.au

* 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 non-cane growing activities. Advertisements must relate exclusively to cane farming activities, such as farm machinery, etc. Advertisements from non-members are charged at $11 per line incl GST. Only prepaid ads will be accepted.

Celli rotary hoe 120 inch good condition. $6,000 + GST ONO. Front bucket for 580E backhoe $800 + GST ONO. Ph: 0407 675 361

Valley centre pivot 8 span all running gear tires & rims $1,000 gearboxes $750.00, electrical motors & gear boxes$1,000 each ONO. 6 Irvin spray legs $80.00 each, 2x Torsion axles v-shape 2,200kg each $500 ono. Ph: John 0418 198 177

Plant cutter $200; cane stripper $500; binder billet planter $18,000; 2 x Newton 4T Tipper bins $4,000 each—All plus GST. Ph: 0429 653 461

6 Cyl. Perkins Turbo-Charged motor, mounted on trailer to Kelly & Lewis water pump $5,500; 6T Newton bulk fertiliser bin $2,500. Please call after 7pm or txt 0402 686 714 / 0407 144 637

2012 Case 8800 fulltrack cane harvester fitted with Trimble GPS and new walking gear. All in good condition. Near new 6t side tipper. Mulgrave area. Ph: 0407 160 673

Kubota Zero Turn ZG 222 with Catcher 48" cut. Fiat 980 2WD-3,500hrs, Fiat 1000 2WD— 5,000hrs, John Deere 4040 2WD—3,600hrs, Chamberlain JD 4080 2 WD—5,000hrs, Case 2590 2WD—5,700hrs, 6 tonne tipper bin, Silvan Euro Spand CX2 spreader, portable bulk bin, Bunning Lowlander Mk 40-60 Ag spreader (near new), complete tracks to suit cane harvester, and Fuel trailer tank. Mulgrave area. Ph: 0407 160 673

1968 International Farmall 756, 2WD, Tricycle, 6 cyl, 5,560 hrs, $5,950. 1993 140″ Howard Rotary Hoe, crumble roller, serial 060301095, $24,500. 2006 Case iH 7700 full track harvester, Iveco 10.3L 6 cyl motor, 2912 hrs, $156,000. 1976 rear feed whole stick planter, s/s fertiliser boxes & chutes, 2x200L spray tanks with 4 sprays, hydraulic ram trailer hitch, $4,250. 1990 8-ton bulk fertiliser bin, 3 easy chute doors, 4 stands for storage, $5,150.

Ph: Romy 0467 198 700

Fertiliser bin M.S.W, double row, 4 tonne stainless bin, with double compartment and 4 cutters $25,000 (inc. GST).

Ph: 0400 729 457

Heavy duty two tines (legs) to suit rotary hoe $1,000 incl GST. Ph: 0438 988 858.

1956 International Super AMD Tricycle Tractor— good condition—Tully Mill Area—$3,000 ONO.

Ph: 0428 850 214

1980 Ford 7710, 4WD, 4 cyl, canopy, 5,323 hrs, $21,000. 1960 Inter tractor 574, 2WD, 4 cyl, canopy, $9,500. 1960 Inter tractor 574, 2WD, 4 cyl, canopy, 4891 hrs, $7,950. 1975 Cat D3 dozer, angle tilt blade, 4 cyl, hyd tow hitch, root rake blade, 4,836 hrs, $51,900. 2010 Kubota ME9000, 4WD, cab with trimble with GFX-750 GPS, 5,031 hrs, total for both $47,900. 2018 Kubota, 4WD, M7040, 4 cyl, canopy, 482 hrs, $46,900. Ph: Mark 0427 017 717

2022 Case 9900 cane harvester. Ph: Craig 0436 332 044

Service unit/fuel tanker, flat 115-90 4wd tactor set up with hitch & brakes. 4500L diesel fuel tank. 2000L aluminium water tank, many more extas. Phone for more details. Ph: Craig 0436 332 044

Bonel whole stick harvester / Double fan cane stripper / Four trailers. Ph: 07 4056 1742

2 x 480/70R34 tractor tyres. 5 years old. 95% rubber. 1 tyre needs minor repair. $1,000 (inc GST) for both tyres. Ph: 0408 728 072 (Tully).

Hydraulic spraying machine—High rise diesel motor, 1600L stainless steel tank $25,000 + GST. Ph: Tim 0428 183 307

Toft 6000 harvester $20k Liquaforce 5 row applicator $25k stainless steel 25,000L tanker on tandem axle trailer $15k 10 tonne side tipper $12k kubota 8580 $22k grubbers ploughs plus more call Rodney. Ph: 0429 984 920

Hodge Bulk bag lifter—$700 (plus GST). Ph: 0439 965 921

Olympic 20.8.42 65% $500+ GST; front end loader with 4 in 1 bucket, blasted and 2pac painted, resembling required $4500+GST. Ph: 0437 434 280

2012 Case 8800 fulltrack cane harvester fitted with Trimble GPS and new walking gear. All in good condition. Near new 6t side tipper. Mulgrave area. Ph: 0407 160 673

Rotocult 1 shot cultivator $7,000 ONO + GST Ph: 0149 988 158

2018 Case 8810 harvester. Ph: Craig 0436 332 044

Babinda area—2006 Case 7700 track harvester. 10.3Lt Iveco motor 3,500hrs. Very good condition. Ph: 0467 198 700. AH: 4067 1498.

Farm clearance sale...all machinery in good working order all reasonable offers considered.

2 x 90″ Howard rotary hoes. Fiat 640 Hi Clearance 32″ 3,400 hrs, Hardi 600L sprayer 5 row boom +4 irvine spider legs. 3 row plant cane cleaner, Ford 4500 loader backhoe + 1t bag boom + tree trim cage. New Holland TS125A 125hp 4x4 16 speed ps 11,800hrs. Trailed 4T MSW 3 row stainless steel fertilizer bow with stool splitters or drop on top. John Deere 3130, Superior 8 ft galvanised Hd slasher, 2x 20.8 x38 tyres (30%), rims, centres & weights to suit ford or new holland axle, 900L cropland spray tank. Ph: 0437 504 272

2021 Case Puma 225 cut with 16T GTB razor tippers. All articulated units. Ph: Craig 0436 332 044.

Multi-weeder $350; Cane drill marker $250; Silvan 600L water tank $300. Ph: 07 4065 2165

Silkwood Implements whole stick plant cutter with topper $5,000 Includes GST. Ph: Ron 0407 667 819

Quantity of used harvester track plates— curved and flat. Ph: Ron 0407 667 819

2015 Case 280 Magnum Ultimate 1,750 hrs— equipped with Case Trimble FMX 1000 GPS $300,000 includes GST. Ph: Ron 0407 667 819

36 plate Case 770 offsets, 30 inch discs $44,000 and HBM plant cutter with topper $4,400. Ph: 0448 345 139

HERBERT RIVER BURDEKIN

Case Magnum 315 2012 dual tyres front and rear with weight pack, Trimble GPS, UHF and quick hitch 210,000 plus. Howard rotary hoe CH 2000 4.7 meters with crumble roller 40,000 plus. Ph: Gavin 0408 782 419

2017 Isuzu dmax dual cab with alloy tray, 67,400 kms, new tires, RWC, one owner in VGC. $43,000 ONO. Ph: 0438 821 683

Single row Scuderi fert. box mounted on 6 leg grubber. Good working order. $250 incl GST

Single row HBM upright stick planter. Working order. $200 incl GST. Ph: 0431 458 850

2015 Austoft 8800 harvester. Good condition. Ph: 0499 888 919 or 0429 989 502

1997 Fiat Agri Genius 190. Good condition, one owner, Hyd toplink, hubs for dwels—5,200 Hrs. Ph: 0419 666 544

LD3 Moore Scoop 4WD in fair condition, runs good, brakes need help. Ph: after 6.30 pm 07 4777 6148

Fiat 411R, good order, 1m clearance, $5,000 neg. 9ft roller, heavy frame $250 neg. Ph: Troy 0419 477 284.

1996 Fiat 130 with 80 inch Kuhn rotary hoe. Under 2,000 hrs. $45,000 + GST for both. Ph: 0427 337 929

MACKAY PROSERPINE

M1 15 New Holland tractor. 6,500hrs. Auto steer control valve fitted. Wanting $35,000 ONO. Ph: 0419 771 504

Rainfall Report

125mm Southern Cross hard hose irrigator in good condition. 350m hose. $30,000 incl GST. Ph: 0428 768 533

Bonel cane billet planter with 2 water tanks $6,600; 2x2T planter bins $500; Fiorini S/550 multifunctional hay rake $8,000. All GST incl. Ph: Lionel 0408 755 453. Proserpine.

GPS Autosteer kits and base station can be fitted to any tractor, FJ Dynamics brand, $14,000 excl GST. Ph: 0401 847 162

Brought to you by

Underground pipes 34 lengths, 150 ml X 6m, Class 9, never used, 25 years old. $35 each

Ph: 0418 159 998

T7040 New Holland 8,200 hrs and 16 tonne Aus quip elevator air/ hyd controls. Farm sold.

Ph: Cameron 0427 378 526

Hodge, one tonne three point linkage side dresser fertilizer box, with coulters + press wheels $3900+GST. Hodge, one tonne three point linkage side dresser fertilizer box, with coulters + press wheels $3900 (+GST).

Ph: 0420 600 943

1973 Ford 5 thousand 2-wheel drive Y series tractor for sale, 75 horsepower, with power steering, new ROPS, new seat, one set of remotes, 8430 tyres—90% rubber on front and 80% on back and 3-point linkage. Always sheded, kept neat and tidy, always serviced and oil dropped every 100 hrs.

Ph: 0459 596 782 for price.

2017 Case IH Puma 140—fully unlocked AFS GPS, fully unlocked Isobus control, 2,200 hrs, tractor in VGC, only selling due to upgrade, arriving soon. $140,000 neg.

Ph: Peter 0409 221 601

1997 Case top track harvester Komatsu engine, big hours, good D5 tracks $33,000.

Ph: Ambrose 0428 475 226

Suzuki LT-F 300F $1,100 60HP Western electric motor, foot & flange $2,750. Ph: 0417 158 656

Various farm implements: Hodge 4-furrow reversible plough. 3 row McLeod multi weeder rake. Two tires & rims to suit fiat 1000 and 1300. Agri/Master; CB538 Size 24.5/32R/1 12 ply. Ph: 0417 612 883 for price.

6 tonne side tipper Farview Engineering. Ph: 0407 761 364

Krone 1500 Vario pack baler $16,500. Krone mower 2.8m easy cut flail $36,000 as new. Ph: 0447 461 132

2020 Case Maxxum 135 CVX Premium, 50kph Fully factory optioned, Front 3PT linkage, 4 electric remotes, New One Lift 60 Challenge Loader with 4 in 1 bucket and forks, New Trimble GFX1260 GPS 3,120 hrs 160k+GST Ph: 0427 678 572

Bonel Plant Cutter for sale GC $450. Ph: 0428 782 202

AR 50" rotary hoe, fully reconditioned. HR 42 120" rotary hoe, fully reconditioned. Ph: 0407 643 441 for price.

Hodge side dresser fertiliser box—with 4 front fertilizer coulters, 2 centre rippers and coulters with crumble rollers and centre drawbar. Also can be used as a soil buster. In the Mackay area. $11,000 + GST. Ph: 0408 874 974 or 0418 874 974.

Massey Ferguson harvester 102 base cutter box. Ph: 4954 1174 for price.

Elevator chains for 102.

Ph: 4954 1174 for price.

7T Tractor 200 auto command, super steer, GPS ready, 5,549 hrs, great condition, farm work only. $110,000. Ph: 0427 503 738

Rover 52 inch mower, zero turn, Kawasaki motor, 19 horsepower. $4,000. Ph: 0427 503 738

3 point linkage cane topper. Ph: 0417 542 783 for price.

Pegoraro 120 inch rotary hoe in good condition. Ph: 0417 542 783 for price.

4,000L of 50/50 diesel/petrol mix suitable for firebug burners or parts washing. Ph: 0411 196 860

Southern Cross LAH 7 stage turbine pump. Ph: 0407 595 218

Water meter never used Siemens brand (no before or after the meter pipework required) 150mm flanged, table D/E Ph: 0411 196 860

6 and 8 inch cast iron flanged gate valves. New never used. Ph: 0411 196 860

1973 Ford 5,000 2wd with 4ton Newton side tipper $11,000 +GST. 3m niemeyer nr1411 Power Harrows $5,600 + GST Ph: 0437 184 822

2 fan stripper $500. Moller single chain planter $4,000. Roberts 6T goose neck trailer $5,000. Grubber & box $300. Hodge upright planter $3,000. Ph: 0408 776 336 OR 4959 1765 after 7pm.

Celli Tiger spike hoe, 2.5m wide with hydraulic crumble roller and oil cooler. VGC. Mackay. Ph: 0438 606 578

Don Mizzi 741 model on Fiat 750 special turbo plus MF102 half-tracks to suit. Mackay. Ph: 0438 606 578

12t self-propelled 6x6 elev infielder. VGC. Mackay. Ph: 0438 606 578

6t side tipper on Leyland tandem. GC. Mackay. Ph: 0438 606 578

Massey Ferguson 8110 4-wheel drive with cab, 135hp, only 2,636 hrs in good condition. $55,000 incl GST. Ph: 0438 606 578

Double Row McLeod fertiliser box with various sprockets for various applications. Ph: 0417 612 883 for price.

BUNDABERG ROCKY POINT

102 Massey Ferguson cane harvester $1,500. C670 Chamberlain 4 ton HPM tipper bin $5,000. Ford 5000 Tractor $6,000. Hodge fert. bin $1,000 Ph: 0403 064 708

2011 John Deere 3520 wheel cane harvester very tidy condition, negotiable. Ph: 0413 584 728

Austoft/Case wheel harvester 1995 to 2006 model. Any area. Ph: 0417 193 385.

Massey Ferguson anniversary 105 harvester $7,700 (incl. GST); trash incorporator $7,700 (incl. GST); Bonel 3-row cutaway $6,600 (incl GST); 3-point linkage offset 16 plate $2,300 (incl GST). Ph: 0419 577 110

Quinco side dresser fert. box, Bonel side dresser fert. box, Croplands boom sprayer, Bonel plant cutter, Don stick planter, 3 row folding cultivator frame, 3 row plant cutaway, 5 row plant marker 1.8 ctrs. Ph: 0473 989 961

FALC 3600 RU rotary hoe with twin bed formers, was set up for strawberries. Selling now as surplus to needs. $25,000 + GST

Ph: 0447 714 015

Howard HR100 inch rotary, Napier 24 plate offset discs, Yeoman 11 tyne chisel plough and other excess equipment.

Ph: 0417 617 084

No till vacuum planter fitted with disc openers and John Deere planter boxes, will plant 3rows at 2 x 400mm at 1.6 m centers, has water tanks for inoculant, row widths can be adjusted. Soybean plates included. $16,500 incl GST. Ph: Alan 0409 632 656

MF165 H/C 212 engine 8 speed original 4,225 hrs remotes ROPs canopy $12,500 inc GST. 2x two row 3PL Faun potato planters set up to lay trickle tape while planting $3,000 + GST each. 30 RJ Hydrant sealing caps, good condition $80.00 each. Two row potato harvester—Grimme D.L 1500—sorting table— canopy $40,000 + GST. Ph: 0427 597 363 or 0408 062 830

New Holland T6070 Tractor, $185,000 neg Challenge FEL, quad remotes, excellent condition, 450 hrs. Ph: Justin 0415 626 715

Brand new Howard AH4000/255 2.5m heavy duty rotary hoe w/wheels $44k inc GST. Rocky Point. Ph: Greg 0421 277 126

Plant cane cultivator 2 x 1.6m row w/ 3 weeder rakes and tines $2,200 incl GST, Land plane w/ 4m. hyd. tilt blade $4,400 incl GST, 2x1.6m. row cultivator w/ 10x 30ml. tines $2,200 incl GST. 4 wheel trash rake $ 1650 incl. GST Ph: 0408 761 463

7 tonne single axle Hi lift tipper bin $12,000 each plus GST. Ph: 0413 584 728

WANTED

Austoft/Case wheel harvester 1995 to 2006 model—any area. Ph: 0417 193 385

2.5 tonne or similar tipper bins suitable for billet planter. Ph: John 0427 563 318. Mulgrave area.

24 Plate Bonel heavy duty offset disc In good condition. Ph: Lance 0499 117 078

1996 to 2004 Toft/Case 7000, wheeled cane harvester. Ph: 0420 600 943

100HP, late model John Deere tractor.. Must be in good condition. Marian area

Ph: 0420 600 943

4.5" Layflat hose in good condition. 200-250m.

Ph: 0419 952 119

90'' Howard rotary hoe chain drive. 7' Howard slasher. Aluminium irrigation pipes 4'' or 6''.

Ph: 0438 213 190

Old cheap cane harvester suitable for wrecking for the hydraulic pumps and components.

Ph: Lloyd 0439 375 301. Herbert / Ingham area.

3-row stool splitter Confidor applicator in good condition. Mulgrave area. Ph: 0415 386 322

New Holland 8970 Tractor suitable for wrecking. Contact 0419 710 280 or tctownley@bigpond.com

All panels for Fiat 780. Ph: 0438 421 217 Mackay / Sarina area.

1x Ford 6600 or Ford 7600 two-wheel drive tractor. Ph: 0439 591 455

6 FT 3 Point linkage grader blade in reasonable condition. Ph: 0478 228 375. Area Bundaberg.

Trailer with side tippers suitable for billet planter. Ph: 0448 482 213 before 7pm.

11-12ft roller—Herbert River area.

Ph: 4776 1386

Crumble roller to suit Howard HR40 90" rotary hoe or two 50cm steel depth wheels. Ph: Alan 0467 786 464.

Hi-clearance spray tractor. Must be a trike and must have air con cab. Send photos and information to 0407 639 985

Tractor with FEL 100-140 HP up to $50k. NQLD area. Ph: Peter 0427 760 449