2 minute read
Rocky Point growers cross the border
A group of growers from Rocky Point district ventured south last month to learn more about the New South Wales industry.
With stops at Sunshine Sugar’s Harwood Mill and refinery, the group also saw variety trials at Condong, and learnt about harvesting modifications and drone technology used within the Northern Rivers paddocks.
The NSW sugarcane industry has adapted to the lower temperatures experienced in the growing regions of the Northern Rivers and growers utilise various agronomic and harvesting strategies, along with the planting of more frost tolerant varieties to successfully manage these conditions.
Nick Skopp, a young grower from Rocky Point, said a highlight of the trip was the chance to visit the Sunshine Sugar Refinery at Harwood to see how sugar is made as well as the sugar pricing discussions with Sunshine Sugar’s CEO Chris Connor.
“It was interesting to see the modification to the harvester to reduce losses on the John Deere tractor at Dave Bartlett’s farm in Condong,” Nick said.
“The farming system is pretty similar to Rocky Point’s. They grow more two- year-old cane, but the amount differs within each district.”
Ben Spann, who farms with his father Larry, coordinated the trip for the Rocky Point growers and was glad to see the growers’ interactions providing beneficial learnings.
“There has been excellent interaction with Sugar Research Australia, Sunshine Sugar and the NSW growers we visited,” Ben said.
“We should never be stuck looking in own backyard, it’s always helpful looking at how others do things.”
Many of the growers were taking back tips and tricks from the visit, whether that be experiencing the benefits and efficiencies of new drone technology, farming practices and harvester modifications, gaining a deeper understanding of the climate forecasting tools from the Bureau of Meteorology workshop, or the individual grower-to-grower networking. Field trips and tours like this provide the chance to share successes, understand similar challenges and gain insight into the dynamic Australian sugarcane industry. This trip organised by CANEGROWERS Rocky Point district and Sugar Research Australia, supported by Sunshine Sugar, was an invaluable peer-to-peer learning opportunity.
