INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY

The SIX EASY STEPS® nutrition tool has gone digital.

It’s been 20 years since the SIX EASY STEPS® science-based nutrient management tool was introduced to the sugarcane industry and in the past decade, it’s been critical to enabling the adoption of best practice nutrient management on-farm. Until this year, the course was only available via face-to-face workshops and one-on-one extension support.

In February, Sugar Research Australia (SRA) launched its first free eLearning program for growers: the Online Sugarcane Nutrient Management (OSNM) program, which is based on the SIX EASY STEPS ® workshops. More than 120 growers have enrolled and around 50 have received their certificates. Project Manager, SRA’s District Manager Southern, Lisa Devereaux, is delighted with the uptake.

Lisa Devereaux, Project Manager and District Manager Southern with Hywel Cook, Executive Manager, Industry Services

“There were two key drivers for SRA in developing the online program,” Lisa said. “SRA and our stakeholders are committed to supporting sugarcane growers with tools to help them adopt improved farming practices to increase their productivity, profitability and sustainability. That includes nutrient management based on knowing and understanding their soils and the nutrient processes on their farms.

By completing the OSNM program, a grower can be considered an Appropriate Person to develop a N&P Budget for their own farm under the definition of the Queensland Government’s Reef protection regulations

“This is particularly important now that the Queensland Government has mandated that sugarcane growers must have a farm nitrogen and phosphorus budget to calculate the amount of fertiliser they can apply.

"In the Wet Tropics, the Burdekin and Mackay Whitsunday regions this came into operation in the 2022 season while in the Fitzroy and Burnett Mary regions this must be developed in the 2023 season."

Lisa said initial registrations were from growers who are already familiar with online learning and were interested in being recognised as an Appropriate Person to calculate their N&P Budget. The program uses an external Learning Management System (LMS) platform called TalentLMS, which allows for self-paced learning.

“The program is not quick to complete,” Lisa said. “It takes the average person more than 10 hours to finish. But growers can, of course, complete a section and come back to it later without losing their place or the progress they have made.

“Of course, face-to-face learning suits many growers better and we encourage them to attend our SIX EASY STEPS ® workshops which will continue to be held in the districts.

Morrisey Ag’s Principal Agronomist John Panitz talks to growers at the SIX EASY STEPS workshop in Bundaberg about the correct method to sample cane leaves for nutrient analysis

However, the program is designed as a digital learning resource that adds value to face-to-face learning. In addition, there is an online community forum as part of the program that gives growers the chance to ask questions where they don’t follow something which is not always possible in the limited time available for a workshop.

Growers work on a nutrient and phosphorous plan for their farms. The face-to-face workshops were an opportunity to introduce the growers to the Online Sugarcane Nutrient Management program and encourage them to enrol

The OSNM program’s development was funded through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program and SRA. 