CaneCONNECTION
Summer 2019
8 Understanding the soil through digital mapping 10 Building soil health one step at a time 14 Protecting Australia from biosecurity risks 20 Accounting for legume nitrogen with Cane to Creek CONTENTS WELCOME TO THE 3 BY THE NUMBERS SUMMER 2019 EDITION 3 PROSERPINE YOUNG FARMERS
LEARNING TOGETHER OF 4 NEXT GENERATION SETS THE PACE OF SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT Sugarcane soil health is once again a hot topic in this edition, as we visit a 6 USING MILL DATA TO IMPROVE number of growers who are modifying their farming practices to boost soil PRODUCTIVITY health and productivity. We talk with farmers about their experience with legume rotation crops, using bio-solid, widening row spacing, reducing 8 UNDERSTANDING THE SOIL compaction, and the results they are getting. You can also access more THROUGH DIGITAL MAPPING information and videos on the Soil Health Toolbox via sugarresearch.com.au.
10 BUILDING SOIL HEALTH On the same topic, we also meet with researchers from the University of ONE STEP AT A TIME New South Wales working on an SRA-funded project looking at digital soil mapping technologies. 12 FARMING SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS DELIVERING PROFITABILITY At another end of the research spectrum we also provide a run-down on a & SUSTAINABILITY project that has been working with the Indonesian sugarcane industry on sugarcane streak mosaic virus, and learn how this project has provided a 14 PROTECTING AUSTRALIA benefit to both the Australian and Indonesian sugarcane industries. FROM BIOSECURITY RISKS On page 24 you can also read about cutting-edge research that is assessing the potential for unmanned aerial vehicles to enhance the sugarcane breeding 17 USING LEGUMES TO BOOST SOIL program. There is a lot of buzz about drones in agriculture and how they can be HEALTH AND PRODUCTION used to assist farmers, and in this article we explain one of the practical ways 18 LEGUMES IMPROVING SOIL that they could add value to the Australian sugarcane industry. HEALTH AND FARM Along with this magazine, you’ll find the 2020 edition of our Sugar Snaps PROFITABILITY calendar, which features some of the stunning entries from our Sugar Snaps photo competition earlier this year. I’m sure it will look great on the shed or 20 ACCOUNTING FOR LEGUME office wall. NITROGEN WITH CANE TO CREEK
22 INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS Brad Pfeffer STRENGTHEN AUSTRALIAN Executive Manager, Communications CANE INDUSTRY
24 A NEW EYE IN THE SKY FOR SUGARCANE BREEDING
26 NEW PEST & DISEASE SURVEILLANCE TECH TO LAUNCH
27 TRIALS TO INFORM FERTILISER OPTIONS
28 WORKSHOPS HELP TRIGGER PRACTICE CHANGE
30 PREPARING AUSTRALIAN
AGRICULTURE FOR A DIGITAL ISSN 2203-1111 (Print) ISSN 2203-112X (Online) © Copyright 2019 by Sugar Research Australia Limited. All rights FUTURE reserved. No part of CaneConnection (this publication), may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Sugar Research Australia Limited. Sugar Research Australia Limited acknowledges and thanks its funding providers, including levy payers (sugarcane growers and millers), the Commonwealth Government, and the Queensland Government (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries). Disclaimer: In this disclaimer a reference to ‘SRA’, ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’ means Sugar Research Australia Limited and our directors, officers, agents and employees. Although we do our very best to present information that is correct and accurate, we make no warranties, guarantees or representations about the suitability, reliability, currency or accuracy of the information we present in this publication, for any purposes. Subject to any terms implied by law and which cannot be excluded, we accept no responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred (Cover page) Examining soil health, including by you as a result of the use of, or reliance on, any materials and information appearing in this publication. You, the user, accept sole responsibility and risk associated with the use and results of the information appearing in this publication, beneficial fungi, at the Abergowrie property of and you agree that we will not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever (including through negligence) arising out Lyle Glenwright. of, or in connection with the use of this publication. We recommend that you contact our staff before acting on any information provided in this publication. Warning: Our tests, inspections and recommendations should not be relied on Design: Catherine Jorissen, SRA. without further, independent inquiries. They may not be accurate, complete or applicable for your particular needs for many reasons, including (for example) SRA being unaware of other matters relevant to individual crops, the analysis of CaneConnection is a registered trademark. unrepresentative samples or the influence of environmental, managerial or other factors on production. 24,000 20 THE SIZE IN HECTARES OF minutes LAROONA STATION, WHICH THE GLENWRIGHT FAMILY RUN IN THE TIME IN WHICH AN CONJUNCTION WITH A CANE AND UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE CATTLE FATTENING PROPERTY AT CAN USE ON-BOARD SENSORS ABERGOWRIE. PAGE 10 TO ASSESS A PROGENY ASSESSMENT TRIAL. PAGE 24 BY THE
NUMBERS $50M 10,000 THE ESTIMATED LOSS TO THE INDONESIAN THE APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF POINTS WITHIN A 40 HECTARE PADDOCK SUGARCANE INDUSTRY THAT CAN BE ASSESSED USING REMOTE-SENSING DIGITAL SOIL MAPPING FROM SUGARCANE STREAK TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS A GAMMA-RAY SPECTROMETER OR DUALEM421. PAGE 8 MOSAIC VIRUS. PAGE 14
PROSERPINE YOUNG FARMERS LEARNING TOGETHER BY MOLLY O’DEA, ADOPTION OFFICER, PROSERPINE
group of young people involved one tour to the Mackay region in Autumn having an Enviroscan capacitance probe A in the agriculture industry near 2020 focusing on fallow management. and tensiometer installed by local Proserpine have come together to form We also have a range of other activities productivity services, Sugar Services Proserpine Young Farmers (PYF). The in the pipeline including pricing and Proserpine, to help learn more about group aims to provide a channel for marketing workshops with Wilmar Sugar, irrigation requirements and soil moisture. under 40s involved and interested in and business and succession planning SRA, as part of the Pathways to Water agriculture to come together to share, workshops. Quality Improvement in the Myrtle Creek learn and connect. Recently the group visited PYF member, Sub-catchment project, has just installed The group has been successful in Justin Blair’s, farm. This farm is BMP water quality samplers in one of Justin’s obtaining funding through the Queensland accredited, growing cane on 1.8m beds paddocks. Justin has applied Bobcat Government Department of Agriculture with dual rows. We looked at the sprayer i-MAXX herbicide as a band spray on part and Fisheries Enhanced Extension which Justin has been using to trial of the paddock and as a blanket spray on Coordination in the GBR Project. switching nozzles on/off, to allow him to the other part to see the difference in band spray and blanket spray. We also water quality run-off during the coming wet Through this funding, the group is viewed his bed former, wavy discs, and season. planning a variety of farm tours to learn fertiliser box which he has installed about a range of practices. We want to see The Blair family is also diversifying and cameras on to allow him to view the how others tackle issues, come up with have a native Australian fingerlime
inside of the box from the tractor, and Summer 2019 solutions and improve their businesses, business, Myrtlevale Fingerlimes. We were / Stool Zippas to help close the slot and both profitability and sustainability. This lucky enough to taste test the fingerlimes prevent fertiliser loss. includes several tours to local farms, one as we learnt about the process they have tour to the Burdekin in December 2019 Justin also has a range of other things gone through, including trialling several CONNECTION
with a focus on automated irrigation, and happening on the farm, including varieties. Cane
3 (Below) Rebekah Pace, Briannan Pace and Shannon O’Brien (HCPSL) are working together to improve their nutrient management and other farming practices. (Over page) Ground prep for planting earlier this year.
NEXT GENERATION SETS THE PACE OF SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT YOUNG OR OLD, EVERYONE PITCHES IN AT PACE FARMING IN THE HERBERT, WITH THE FAMILY OPERATION CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THEIR SUSTAINABILITY AND PROFITABILITY. BY BRAD PFEFFER Summer 2019 / CONNECTION Cane
4 t’s a family operation at Pace Farming “I enjoy the education I’m receiving “As we’ve found with the Pace family, we Inear Bambaroo at the Southern end of through the project and having Shannon can help identify those factors, looking the Herbert district. (O’Brien) from HCPSL step us through the at soil maps, EM mapping, to get the best technology and information,” Briannan outcome. Running a large-scale business, they said. “We’ve had the privilege of learning grow cane over about 900 hectares, also “An example is that growers may have from our grandfather, and father, and now grow watermelons and pumpkins across traditionally taken soil samples from their technology is changing quickly and we part of their fallow, grow legume manure poorer growing patches of the paddock. are seeing a bit of everything.” crops for the remainder of their fallows, It is human nature to want to fix the and also run a significant pineapple farm Through their involvement in this project, poorer performing areas. at Rollingstone. This all means the work they are looking forward to refining their “But we want to make sure we continue to rarely stops, and everyone is always nutrient management across the farm and do things right where the cane is going pitching in. seeing the effect upon their productivity well, so it can continue making money, and profitability. This was exactly the case when which means sampling from the high CaneConnection visited in August this Their improvement to nutrient performing areas too. year. The family was in the thick of management follows the adoption of a “The project takes a step back and looks planting, with fourth generation growers range of modern farming system and at the whole picture, rather than just one Rebekah and Briannan busy fixing a busted innovative practices in recent years, factor like nitrogen.” hydraulic hose so they could finish the job. including long-time use of controlled traffic, legume fallows, and reduced tillage. Shannon O’Brien said the Pace family had Their father Allan (third generation) was a strong history of soil testing, but the also busy in the shed, cousin Jeffrey They have begun a zonal till system project was bringing all the information (fourth generation) was in the paddock for mill mud and ash. By using a zonal together in a format that they could use, on the rotary hoe, and grandfather Roy applicator, it helps reduce transport costs both in a hard-copy book and the Google (second generation) also continues to from the mill and gives them access to a Earth data that can be looked at from help out on the tractor. method of improving soil health that had their phone, anywhere on the farm. previously been out of their reach. For Rebekah and Briannan, they always “It’s a really nice step into the world of wanted to come back to farming. HCPSL Extension Agronomist, Adam Royle, precision agriculture,” Shannon said. said the project was primarily focussed on Both women are in their early 20s. nutrient management, but it also included Briannan came straight back to the farm discussion about a range of productivity after high school, and Rebekah had a issues occurring on each farm. short stint at university looking at other “Quite often we’ve visited growers to talk options before deciding that the farm The RP161 Nutrient Management was where she wanted to be. There is no about soil test results, and we discuss project is delivered by Farmacist, job on the farm that they bat an eyelid a range of things over half a day, as the MAPS, and HCPSL and funded about having a go at. grower has several issues they’ve been through the Queensland thinking about for a long time. We talk “Like a lot of kids, we always spent our Government Reef Water about these ideas, from a technical school holidays around the farm,” Rebekah Quality Program and Australian standpoint, to see whether they stack up said. “Whether it was picking pineapples or before they make change,” he said. Government Reef Trust. working in the cane, we always enjoyed it, so it made sense to come back.” “Our focus is on nutrients, but everything from farming systems to herbicides to For more information contact: Briannan said that they had the benefit pests and diseases comes into play.” of learning from decades of experience HCPSL: 07 4776 5660 from their father and grandfather, but He said these full range of factors had a Farmacist Mackay: 07 4959 7075 she also said that they were continuing crucial relationship with nutrient use. Farmacist Burdekin: 07 4782 2300 to innovate and bring new ideas into the business.
This year, Rebekah and Briannan have jumped into a project called Complete Nutrient Management Planning for Cane Farming (also known as “Herbert RP161”), developed through the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program, and delivered by Herbert Cane Productivity Services Limited (HCPSL) and Farmacist in the Herbert region.
Through this project, they have been given comprehensive information on soil tests
and EM mapping, all linked back to Google Summer 2019 / Earth, and an easy to follow nutrient management plan, along with an array
of other useful information to help them CONNECTION improve productivity and sustainability. Cane
5 (Below) The project is working closely with local productivity here’s an old farming phrase through services organisations in each region including, for Tthe grains industry that says some of example, Greg Shannon (pictured), Tully Sugar Limited Cane the farmers with good crops are lucky Productivity and Development Manager. (Over page) The dots on this graphic represent individual farms in one region because they have square rain clouds of the Australian cane industry. The colours represents groups over their farm. of farmers that are of a similar size (hectares) and yield. The groups such as blue and yellow are target areas for extension For these ‘lucky’ farmers, on their side strategies. of the fence their crop is motoring along, but on the other side of the fence their neighbour’s paddock is still waiting for a planting opportunity.
Of course, there are no square clouds and rainfall doesn’t stop at the fence-line. In most cases, the soil type and weather conditions between these farms is identical, but farm management practices are making a key difference.
For the cane industry in the Wet Tropics, a better analogy than “square clouds” might be for “square umbrellas”, but the point of the saying is the same. That is, that well-informed and effective management decisions can improve production, and help reduce the impact USING MILL DATA of the weather and ‘luck’. In recent years, an SRA research project has looked at using productivity data TO IMPROVE that is collected by milling companies to assist the industry, especially by developing innovative tools and methods PRODUCTIVITY of summarising the data. THE WEATHER PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN GROWING We know there are productivity A GOOD CROP, BUT A RESEARCH PROJECT differences across most mill areas. CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IS HELPING PROVIDE Although some of this regional variation THE INDUSTRY WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION is explained by extreme weather events TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY or disease incursions, this project is IN ALL DIFFERENT SEASONAL SITUATIONS. helping growers to identify factors that they can control to increase productivity/ BY BRAD PFEFFER profitability for industry. Summer 2019 / CONNECTION Cane
6 In essence, the project has looked at the “Through the work of Lawrence Di Bella delivering effective extension programs key drivers of productivity in different and Herbert Cane Productivity Services and that extension officers were regions and is working to broaden the Ltd, clean seed use went from about 800 providing the right advice. adoption of improved farm practices by tonne (per year) to about 2000 tonnes. “We have detailed local variety information HCPSL have recently bought another farm working with local industry. through the Tully Variety Management and harvester to continue to increase Group, but this project is adding more For example, the research project has clean seed use. looked at factors such as clean seed data around tonnes of sugar, percentage uptake, variety selection, ratooning “We also were able to talk to growers of varieties, percentage of resistant varieties to Pachymetra, ratooning length, length, Pachymetra sampling and levels about losses from Pachymetra, with and recommendations on which variety to of infection, and numerous others, while data showing a 15 percent decrease in grow on a particular soil type, he said. comparing these to yield and size of cane yield when they used a susceptible production. variety in consecutive crop cycles.” “We have developed an automated She said in the Burdekin her work process that has sped things up in terms This research is led by SRA Biometrician with Burdekin Productivity Services of developing variety management Dr Jo Stringer and follows an earlier identified the value of current research plans for example and gives us valuable demonstration of the project in the Herbert and extension activity into improving information to talk to the growers.” region. The project is now moving to soil health. It also provided the local other regions of the Australian sugarcane Dr Stringer said the project was focussed industry with valuable information about industry, including most recently at regions on collaboration within local regions to productivity losses associated with back- such as the Burdekin and Tully. work specifically on outcomes that would to-back planting of varieties. deliver the optimum local impact. A key finding was that tonnes of cane per For example, the research found that “Through this project we identify the key hectare is not related to the size of the A A Q183 followed by Q183 in the Burdekin drivers of productivity and profitability, farm, or the sub-district where the farm A maintained yield, while planting KQ228 and once we identify those drivers that is located. A A after KQ228 or planting Q208 after allows us to build targeted extension and A Specifically, it wasn’t the weather or a Q208 was associated with lower yields. adoption strategies.” change of soil type that happened to At Tully, Jo Stringer is working closely coincide with the headland. with Tully Cane Productivity Services Ltd Dr Stringer said that the research is Manager, Peter Sutherland, Tully Sugar SRA acknowledges the Cane Productivity and Development working closely with productivity funding contribution from Manager, Greg Shannon, and Tully services groups in these regions to the Queensland Department CANEGROWERS Manager, Peter Lucy. identify the best strategies for improving of Agriculture and Fisheries production, and to ensure extension The project has worked closely with Tully towards this research activity. strategies were targeted effectively. industry to develop a tool to automate farm productivity reports that will “The findings have been different in For more information provide valuable information to growers different regions,” Jo Stringer said. “One contact Dr Jo Stringer on and also help inform extension strategies. of the big factors in the Herbert was that [email protected] we identified the need to increase the Greg said that it was another tool in (07) 3331 3337. uptake of clean seed. the toolbox to ensure the region was
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TARGET 90 T/ha 5 t/ha
80 4 3 60 CANE YIELD ( YIELD CANE 2
40 1 Summer 2019 / 20
0 CONNECTION TCH CLUSTER:
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 Cane 7 AREA HARVESTED (ha) (Above) UNSW PhD student Ehsan Zare setting up the gamma-ray HOW MANY SOIL TYPES DO YOU spectrometer. (Middle right) Associate Professor John Triantafilis HAVE ON YOUR FARM? in the field as part of theSeeing is Believing project. (Far right) Students are a vital part of the project. Here, Xuyue Zhao and Mahi HOW MUCH VARIATION IS THERE Mousavifarde are using soil cores to help validate and ground truth WITHIN A SINGLE BLOCK? the digital soil maps being created as part of the project.
epending on where you are and the Dsize of your blocks, there’s a fair chance you have several different soil types and they change several times within just a few hundred metres.
So the answers to these questions could easily be a big number – and also a number that is difficult to know with 100 UNDERSTANDING percent accuracy. Most of the time, soil sampling and testing is the answer, and for about two THE SOIL decades parts of the industry have been using electromagnetic (EM) mapping to better understand soil types and more THROUGH efficiently manage their inputs. However, the use of this technology is not DIGITAL MAPPING widespread, and there are opportunities to use new and emerging technology A UNSW RESEARCH PROJECT IS WORKING IN to accelerate the potential for growers MULTIPLE CANE-GROWING REGIONS TO CREATE around digital soil mapping (DSM). LOCAL DATA BASES ON THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY Current research is underway that is SUCH AS GAMMA-RAY SPECTROMETERS AND EM examining the latest advances in DSM INSTRUMENTS, TO HELP THE INDUSTRY BETTER technology, and working with industry to UNDERSTAND OUR SOILS. make this technology more accessible for the industry and manage their farming practices according to soil types and properties.
This research is led by Associate Professor John Triantafilis from UNSW Summer 2019
/ Sydney through an SRA-funded project called “Seeing is believing: managing
Put your smartphone’s camera over soil variability, improving crop yield and CONNECTION this symbol to take you straight to minimising off-site impacts in sugarcane
Cane a video explaining this project. using digital soil mapping”.
8 The project has been working in multiple “Clearly, while these maps weren’t proceed with our own EM mapping cane-growing regions to create local designed for precision agriculture, this projects.” databases on the use of technology project aims to test these maps and John said there was significant potential such as gamma-ray spectrometers and compare them to the accuracy of the for using the maps for precision agriculture. EM instruments. As well as using these digital soil maps. While it may not seem sensing instruments, the research team like a fair comparison, the traditional soil “Through our work, we hope to show that also uses in-field verification via soil maps may be of sufficient accuracy and variable rate applications are efficient, coring to validate their work. provide farmers with some confidence more economically sound, and potentially to allow them to be used and therefore provide industry case studies which show When CaneConnection caught up with serve as a stop-gap until digital soil maps that we are continuing to demonstrate the project team, which included multiple can be created.” there’s no excess fertiliser getting into PhD students and staff from Herbert groundwater, streams and rivers,” he said. Cane Productivity Services Limited However, he said the real prize was “It is foremost a potential tool that could (HCPSL), they were mapping a field at developing local capacity, such as within help farmers more accurately apply the Lannercost Extension. productivity services organisations, to SIX EASY STEPS nutrient management extend advanced digital soil mapping The sensors attached to a ute as it drives guidelines.” technology within each region. over the field. They are being used to He said ground-truthing was important, collect data across multiple paddocks, This is already occurring in parts of the which was why they had worked and to predict cation exchange capacity, industry, including the Herbert, where extensively over the last two years in exchangeable calcium, and exchangeable HCPSL have been collaborating with Proserpine, the Burdekin, the Herbert magnesium, among other soil chemical UNSW on this project. HCPSL also offer and Mossman. properties. fee-for-service for EM mapping for growers but not yet the creation of digital “The project is called ‘seeing is believing’ John Triantafilis said that these sensors soil maps. A similar service is offered by because we know it is important for could be used to make as many as 10,000 other providers in some other regions. growers to be able to see something points within the 40ha area, creating working in their own region to ensure the maps of the soil variation that are much Michael Sefton from HCPSL said EM results are meaningful.” more detailed than could be achieved mapping was particularly important for with manual sampling. When calibrated the southern area of the Herbert district, against soil cores – say about 50 in a which did not have detailed soil maps. paddock – this allows them to create a “For some of those growers, in digital soil map of the paddock. conjunction with soil tests, they have “There have been previous soil surveys taken the next leap in the farming system For more information, contact done in the past, so part of our research and have gone to variable rate lime John Triantafilis on is comparing the new digital soil maps and gypsum application to remediate E [email protected] or with the traditional soil maps,” he said. problems, in particular on sodic soils,” T 02 9385 8087. Michael said. “There are costs savings He explained that these traditional
with the variable rate application, and we Summer 2019
soil maps were generally simple and / are still to quantify the benefits in yield. To see a video of this project at developed based on limited soil data, and work in the field, visit the media then this data was extended to larger “Moreover, the ongoing collaborative work section of sugarresearch.com.au areas using aerial photographs and with UNSW gave HCPSL the confidence CONNECTION
interpretation to create maps. to purchase our own instrument and Cane
9 hen Lyle Glenwright started Wdigging in his soil and finding (Below left) Richard Hobbs, HCPSL, discusses soil handfuls of earthworms, he thought health and biology with grower Lyle Glenwright. (Below middle) Lyle Glenwright has a healthy worm he’d done something wrong. population in his soil. (Below far right) Beneficial fungi in Lyle’s soil. The first thing he did was call HCPSL agronomist, Richard Hobbs, to tell him about the problem.
Richard’s response was excitement rather than concern: “They’re not a problem,” he explained. “Worms are a sign that the soil biology is going well.”
For Lyle, having grown up in the beef BUILDING industry, he is far more comfortable breeding cattle than growing cane and digging up soil, but now he is learning SOIL HEALTH to treat the worms and other beneficial organisms in his soil with as much care as his livestock. That way, he can put ONE STEP the soil biology to work to grow better crops of cane.
Lyle has been growing cane in the AT A TIME Herbert region for three years, moving to the property when his family LYLE GLENWRIGHT IS MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE purchased it to diversify their 24,000 FATTENING CATTLE, BUT AFTER RECENTLY JUMPING hectare cattle breeding property, INTO SUGARCANE FARMING, HE IS ALSO LOOKING Laroona Station, at Charters Towers. AT HIS SOIL HEALTH AND FATTENING UP A NICE HERD OF WORMS AS WELL. BY BRAD PFEFFER Lyle explained that the original purpose for the 600ha property at Abergowrie was to use it to fatten young cattle bred at Laroona for the live export market. The property already had 400ha of Put your smartphone’s camera pasture, and they initially planned over this symbol to take you straight to a video with Richard Hobbs to turn the 200ha of sugarcane into talking soil biology. pasture as well. Summer 2019 / CONNECTION Cane
10 They have stuck with their plan of sending Richard Hobbs said all these factors were “Steel destroys carbon. By reducing tillage, their cattle, which are mostly Brahman, working together to improve soil health, Lyle is helping conserve labile carbon down to the Abergowrie property for and there were already plenty of signs in the soil, which is what we need to fattening. However, once Lyle got his feet that things are going well. improve soil health and produce better on the ground he decided he wanted to crops of cane,” he said. “We can see Lyle has good populations give cane farming a go as well. of worms, and there is hyphae from Lyle said they had seen a positive response “The property is a good seasonal hedge beneficial fungi which is helping to to using the biosolid upon pasture at for conditions at Charters Towers,” he naturally improve the structure of these Charters Towers, but it would take a couple said. “We also figure that having cattle heavy clay soils,” Richard said. of years before he could make a call on and cane will help us ride the ups and how it performed in the cane. “The more we can do that with less downs in both markets.” horsepower, cultivation and fuel, the He also added that he had a few doubts Being new to cane, Lyle wanted advice on better the soil health and the cheaper about moving to 1.8 metre rows, but said how to get the most from his paddocks. the crop is to grow. that so far it was working well. This led him to Richard Hobbs (HCPSL) “There has been a lot of work busting “This isn’t the best cane growing area here, and a whole range of practices that are up old compaction to wipe the slate so I was worried if we got a bad strike improving soil health on the property. clean before starting the conversion the weeds would be a real problem. You They are converting from 1.63 metre rows to 1.8 metre rows. As they move to can ask half a dozen people and get half to 1.8 metres to support a controlled 1.8m, some of that heavy compaction a dozen different opinions, so in the end traffic farming system, moving to zonal from the old interrow is of course I talked to Richard and gave it a go. I’m tillage, and planting legume cover crops. where some of the cane rows are, so just a cowboy, so I need advice on row removing the compaction is important spacing, nutrition, and growing legumes,” The Glenwrights are also applying to get the paddocks back to square he said. biosolid from the city of Townsville. one. This also means rebuilding Having the two properties means soil health. that they can carefully manage the sustainable use of this product. “After that, their aim is to go through Richard Hobbs is part of with minimal cultivation. Normally with collaborative project on soil “In the wet season here at Ingham, the soil like this you would need 6-8 tillage health in the Herbert region. This biosolid goes up to Laroona, and vice operations to get the new cane crop in, versa,” he said. “We’re soil testing blocks project is funded and supported but now by using a bedformer the aim after they’re harvested, before the cane by SRA, HCPSL, BPS, Queensland is to get that down to three or two.” is ploughed out, then spreading the Department of Agriculture and biosolid at 110 tonnes per hectare, and Richard added that every time a grower Fisheries, Wilmar, the University then testing again afterwards to get the saved a pass with machinery, it was of Queensland and University of recommendations for our sugarcane helping improve soil health. Southern Queensland. fertiliser program.” Summer 2019 / CONNECTION Cane
11 The RP161 Nutrient Management project is delivered by Farmacist, MAPS, and HCPSL and funded through the Queensland Government Reef Water Quality Program and Australian Government Reef Trust.
For more information contact: HCPSL: 07 4776 5660 Farmacist Mackay: 07 4959 7075 Farmacist Burdekin: 07 4782 2300
FARMING SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS DELIVERING PROFITABILITY & SUSTAINABILITY
ino Poletto has a mantra when it fertiliser and chemical inputs as well as the Burdekin called Complete Nutrient Dcomes to adopting new practices: reduce cultivation. Management Planning for Cane Farming “You must maintain productivity. If you Dino said they focused their farming (also known as “RP161”), developed don’t, you’re history.” system on being efficient with their through the through the Queensland Reef Water Quality Program. Farming with his son Terry near Giru in inputs because their main goal is to the Burdekin, the Polettos grow about ensure their business is sustainable. Through RP161, the Polettos receive 30,000 tonne of cane each year and are He added that part of this approach detailed information about nutrient enthusiastic about improving practices at meant they needed to ensure they management through soil samples, their two properties. were using the best possible science to as well as about a range of other productivity issues. Two years ago, they started growing optimise their nutrient application, and Summer 2019
/ soybeans and mungbeans as cash crops that they were doing everything else “Farmacist have been very helpful. They and to improve soil health. They have right on farm to ensure their inputs were take a soil sample, give us an evaluation, adopted GPS and a controlled-traffic working effectively. and help us with exactly what we CONNECTION system around their 1.6 metre row With this in mind, they have been need, and that’s what we go by,” Dino
Cane system, and have continued to reduce involved in a project run by Farmacist in explained. 12 Christian Lago is a third-generation farmer with 520 hectares of cultivation, including lease country, near Brandon.
After gaining an understanding of nutrient management through an earlier version of the RP161 project (known as RP20), he jumped at the chance to continue to improve his nutrient management with the assistance of Farmacist, through RP161
“The biggest thing that I have learned is that the cane will only grow as far as the most limiting factor allows,” Christian said. “We need to balance nutrition with good farming practices and the result is a the project had helped Christian look at aim for another crop of beans before good crop of cane. practices including EC mapping, which planting cane in April/May 2020. has assisted with gypsum and lime “We are giving the plant what it needs, “It is new to us, so we are ironing out the application. when it needs it. We are sampling right kinks,” he explained. across our farms, as before this project “The program is tailored to Christian’s Christian said the RP161 project we would usually sample the poorer farms and his unique challenges,” Alice encouraged positive practice change areas to find out what was lacking. We explained. with growers. “It is a learning experience want to understand those good areas and Christian said Farmacist had also helped working together. With farming, every keep working on things that put more with his second crop of soybeans, which year is different, but as a general trend I money in our pocket. When prices are he hoped would bring in additional believe we are seeing better results.” down, it becomes even more important income and boost soil health. This year to be doing everything we can.” was his second crop, planted in late July, (Above) Christian Lago and Alice Warner, Farmacist, Christian has been working with Alice with plans to harvest mid December. in a crop of soybeans earlier this year, with the Warner from Farmacist, and Alice said Depending on the weather, he may Pioneer Mill in the background.
“We find it very successful and helpful because science is the most important part of anything and farming is no different. They are providing us the information on the science.”
The project has helped the Polettos reduce their nitrogen rates and maintain production, which Dino described as a win.
“Otherwise we can’t afford to stay in the industry. It is the difference between survival and going under.”
He said the program was delivering a benefit for him as a grower, while also delivering environmental outcomes.
“The Great Barrier Reef is a thing of natural beauty and it must be protected,” “Growers really appreciate the nutrient strong platform that growers can use he said. “Farmers also have to make a plans and spatial recording of their data,” going forward. she said. “Having all of their soil test and living, and this project is helping us find “The tools provided as part of the program electrical conductivity (EC) data easily that sweet spot.” such as moisture probes, EC data and accessible through a simple geographic soil tests have been well received and The project has been running since 2016 information system (GIS) platform growers are using them to get a better in the Burdekin, and it has worked across allows them to easily see all of their insight into improving other aspects of more than 210 farms over more than historical and current information in one
23,000 hectares. farm management.” Summer 2019
place allowing them to make informed / Farmacist agronomist, Heidi Hatch, said decisions. (Over page) Dino Poletto on the tractor planting earlier that the program provides a legacy “Tailoring nutritional plans to their farm this year. (Above) Evan Shannon and Heidi Hatch with CONNECTION and a pathway forward well after the makes it personal and relevant not only Farmacist checking out the planting job
completion of the project. for the project year, but identifies a at the Poletto property. Cane 13 PROTECTING AUSTRALIA FROM BIOSECURITY RISKS INVESTMENT IN BIOSECURITY RESEARCH IS A VALUABLE INSURANCE POLICY FOR THE INDUSTRY TO PROTECT AGAINST EXOTIC THREATS. IN THIS ARTICLE, WE TALK WITH SRA RESEARCHER DR ROB MAGAREY ABOUT ONE OF THESE COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS.
he Australian sugarcane industry Rob Magarey, led the project and he said Specific surveys of commercial fields and Tis now better prepared to manage that because SCSM is so widespread garden canes in Sumatra, Sulawesi and an outbreak of the exotic disease, in Indonesia, this made the research the eastern Archipelago highlighted the sugarcane streak mosaic (SCSM), should valuable for both countries. presence of SCSMV in many commercial it ever occur. fields, especially on Java, but also in “SRA continues to take a proactive such places as West Papua - a sugarcane SCSM (caused by sugarcane steak mosaic approach with biosecurity risks, knowing production expansion area relatively virus) has been identified as a potential that our industry cannot afford to wait for close to Australia. It was found in high-risk disease for the Australian diseases to strike before preparations are greater than 80 percent of the 931 crops industry because of its prevalence made,” Dr Magarey said. “Once the horse surveyed in SCSMV research. throughout Southeast Asia, including has bolted, it is too late to shut the gate. Indonesia, and the severe impacts that it The project also worked with Indonesian “The disease does not kill, nor severely can cause to production. growers on extension programs to help restrict the yield, of individual plants Indonesian growers manage the disease. SCSM is an entirely different disease to the or portions of a crop, which makes its existing mosaic virus that already exists appearance in the paddock less dramatic. “Project impacts so far have included in Australia (sugarcane mosaic), and is However, because it affects whole crops, a better understanding by Indonesian much more severe, with the exotic disease actual yield losses are very significant. farmers of how the disease is likely to causing an estimated A$40-$50 million in Through our research, losses have been affect their crops, and the recommended losses to the Indonesian industry. shown to vary between 17-26 percent, IDM options to reduce yield losses,” Dr depending on crop class.” Magarey said. “The Indonesian industry Until recently, both the Australian and now has the ability to test planting Indonesian industries only had a limited Previous to this project, there was limited material for the presence of the disease, understanding of SCSM, which added to information on how the disease spreads, enabling better selection of disease-free the risk for Australia from this disease. where it occurs in Indonesia, how to detect planting material. the virus, the resistance of our varieties, However, through a project funded by and the most effective integrated disease “The essential elements of effective the Australian Centre for International management strategy (IDM). disease management include: disease-free Agricultural Research (ACIAR), SRA planting material, varietal resistance and scientists have collaborated with the Through this work, with extensive trials termination of heavily-diseased crops. Indonesian Sugar Research Institute and field surveys within Indonesia, these (ISRI), the Indonesian Fibre Crops and questions now have answers. “The Indonesian industry is facing the Summer 2019
/ Sweetener Research Institute (IFCSRI) and challenge that most of their commercial The research team determined that the University of Bogor to improve both varieties are susceptible to the disease, SCSMV is largely spread through diseased countries’ understanding of SCSMV. with only a few rated as resistant, leaving
CONNECTION planting material, which has resulted in farmers with few options - disease-free SRA Leader for Disease Management, Dr the virus making its way into more remote
Cane nursery material a key strategy. However, parts of the Indonesian Archipelago. 14 For more information on biosecurity visit the SRA website sugarresearch.com.au
If you’ve spotted anything unusual on your farm, please call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
many nurseries are also affected by the disease.”
Dr Magarey said that a better understanding and management of the disease in Indonesia potentially could reduce the likelihood of it reaching the Australian sugarcane industry.
“In addition to that, our industry now has important tools that we can use, should we ever need them,” he said.
“Through our work, we have a better understanding of pathogen variation, and we have developed optimised molecular and serological tests for detecting the virus in planting material.”
He added that the project also examined variety resistance. “There may be some variation in varietal resistance to SCSMV in Australian varieties, although further testing is needed to confirm this variation.”
He said that a next step would be to update the Australian industry’s contingency plan for this disease, incorporating the findings from this research project. Summer 2019 / (Over page and above) The research team preparing a sugarcane streak mosaic yield loss trial in Indonesia. (Top right) Sugarcane streak mosaic. (Middle right) One of the trials assessing the transmission of CONNECTION sugarcane streak mosaic virus. (Bottom right) One of Cane the survey teams in the field, including SRA staff Ms Lisa Derby and Dr Nicole Thompson. 15 The project, Measuring soil health, setting benchmarks and driving (Below) HCPSL Agronomist Richard Hobbs talking legume rotations with Brenden Accornero. practice change in the sugar industry, is funded and supported by SRA, HCPSL, BPS, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Wilmar, the University of Queensland and University of Southern Queensland.
To see a video of Richard Hobbs talking sugarcane soil health and biology, visit the media section of sugarresearch.com.au Summer 2019 / CONNECTION Cane
16 USING LEGUMES TO BOOST SOIL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION BY RUNNING MULTIPLE FARMS SPREAD OVER THE HERBERT REGION, THE ACCORNERO FAMILY HAVE LEARNT THAT THEY NEED TO ADJUST FARMING PRACTICES IN A WAY THAT BEST SUITS THEIR OWN CONDITIONS AND BUSINESS.
rowing about 35,000 tonne of cane Richard said that legume crops were the us improve our row profile and shape but Gon several properties across the ideal rotation to break the sugarcane giving the cover to help with the weeds. Herbert Region, Stephen Accornero and monoculture. “We also need to put machinery on trucks his son Brenden are long-term growers “With crops like maize and rice, the grass- to move between farms, so us cultivating of a range of fallow crops. on-grass crop after cane is a drawback, 2 rows at 1.8m would entail 3.6m wide After more than 30 years of but the legumes break the monoculture loads and would require us to obtain experimenting in different seasons, and provide additional nitrogen for the oversize escorts to move machinery locations and crops, they now feel they next crop of cane,” Richard said. between farms or duplicating machinery have struck a workable rotation pattern for each farm. So we found the 1.7m “At the same time, we have limited chances on most of their farms, aiming to improve works best for us in several ways.” to harvest a crop from legumes here in the overall farm profitability and build soil Herbert with the risk of crops sprouting Having a diverse spread of farms means health to lift cane production. from late rain, meaning most of the they also grow a range of varieties, Brenden Accornero said one of the key crops are green manure, sprayed out and including Q208A, Q240A, Q250A, Q253A, lessons the family had learnt was that incorporated into the soil. It is through Q242A, Q138, Q183A and Q231A. every farm was different, and that it their soil health benefits that they pay off. “Each farm is different, so we are choosing was important to find the balance right “Sunflower is another crop being looked varieties that suit each particular area. between getting an income from the crop, at more around here as green manure, In the heavy soil we are aiming for good improving soil health and boosting cane including by Stephen and Brenden, to tonnes and reasonable sugar, but in other production. break the monoculture and help break up areas we know we will never get massive “The main emphasis with the soybeans is the soil with its deep taproot.” tonnes, so we are also looking at ground soil health, as we know we are going to cover to reduce weed pressure, while Growing legumes is one of the key run into challenges with the weather and at the southern end we are looking at recommendations provided by the harvest,” Brenden said. “If we harvest salinity and sodicity and a few other soil Sugar Yield Decline Joint Venture, along them, that’s a bonus. With rice, we spread health problems as well,” Brenden said. with minimum tillage, green cane trash our risk, and we also use a different blanketing, and controlled traffic. Richard said the Accornero family were line of chemicals to avoid herbicide an example of adopting principles of the resistance, but being a grass it’s also not Richard said that the Accorneros had made Sugar Yield Decline Joint Venture, but providing the same rotational benefit (as other changes to their farming system, but also doing it in a way that best worked legume crops such as soybeans).” had approached these in a way that best for them. suited their farms being spread across the HCPSL Soil Health Officer Richard Hobbs district. “There’s no hard and fast rule that works has been working with the Accornero for everybody,” Richard said. “We look family in assessing and improving their Brenden explained that they were at where people are at, where we can soil health as part of a major project generally time-poor, as the farms are make an improvement, and approach on this topic, which is working with located in different parts of the district things steadily. growers in multiple regions to assess and this requires intensive management. Summer 2019
the improved farming system practices “Through this project, we are getting the / “We’re in the ute or truck a lot of the time,” that were initially developed through the data about improving soil health, but also Brenden explained. “We tried 1.8 metre Sugar Yield Decline Joint Venture. about specific issues and seasons. We rows and the weeds beat us, so we ended know that what works one season might CONNECTION up going to 1.72 metres which is helping
not work six months later.” Cane
17 urdekin growers had an opportunity Bto hear a range of perspectives on growing legumes in the sugarcane farming system at recent Legume Agronomy Workshops. At each of the four events the host growers shared their personal experience in growing legumes and the significant benefits to LEGUMES sugarcane productivity, soil health and longer-term business profitability.
One of our workshop host growers, Paul IMPROVING Villis, has been farming in the Burdekin since 2005, managing 400 ha for Jurgens Farming near the Kalamia Mill, including SOIL HEALTH and 40 ha of his own land. With a background in grain cropping, AND FARM Paul had the advantage of looking at the sugarcane farming system with fresh eyes. And in doing so, he quickly identified the PROFITABILITY potential to improve the farming system and overall farm profitability.
BY SAM RYALLS One of the early steps was growing soy and mung beans between sugarcane crop cycles with the help of equipment borrowed from a neighbour. This allowed Paul to test legume break crops within the sugarcane farming system without substantial up-front capital investment.
The initial plan was to improve soil health – as Paul says, “cane is king” –
Summer 2019 but these legume break crops now make
/ A series of short videos have been produced to share the host growers’ experiences of growing legume crops in the Burdekin. To watch these videos and for soil health an important contribution to the farm’s information visit our Soil Health Toolbox via sugarresearch.com.au or put your bottom line, especially as varieties smartphone’s camera over the QR code. This site provides practical resources and grower
CONNECTION have improved and the Burdekin has experiences to help you make informed soil health decisions, with consideration for developed mature marketing systems
Cane location, your current and potential farming system and economic outcomes.
18 and agronomic support. with herbicide applications, but with Danielle Skocaj, Soil Health Project mungbeans especially, you can miss the leader, from SRA gave an update on the “The positive impact to the following application window in a blink. Timing is soil health project in the Burdekin and cane crops, I feel there is no comparison, key to a successful legume crop.” Herbert regions. Dr Skocaj’s project especially in the plant and first ratoon ‘Measuring soil health, setting benchmarks crops,” Paul said. Legumes are one of the key principles and supporting practice change in for productive and sustainable cane “At the same time, I am a firm believer the sugar industry’ is verifying and production as recommended by the Sugar if you are going to go to the trouble of demonstrating the impact of different Yield Decline Joint Venture, alongside growing a break crop then you want to farming systems upon soil health, controlled traffic, minimum tillage and get some value from that crop. We can productivity and profitability in the green cane trash blanketing. do that here in the Burdekin, but we also Herbert and Burdekin regions. need to do it well, given the costs of Paul and Jurgens Farming continue to Based on event feedback, growers growing a crop requiring irrigation.” improve their farming system with a particularly enjoyed the presentations view to improving soil health. They are They have since purchased their own on legume agronomy, soil health benefits harvesting crops green where they can, equipment, as soybeans and mungbeans and other grower experiences. and have looked at different irrigation are now a staple part of their farming methods such as sub-surface drip and Growers commented that we can all system. These crops are grown either solid set sprinklers to get the water learn a lot more from each other and after an early plough-out of the final through the trash blanket. that legume fallow crops have excellent sugarcane crop, to enable the growth of potential for improving the sugarcane two successive legume crops, or after a Through most of the Burdekin, furrow farming system and overall profitability. late plough-out to get one legume crop irrigation is most commonly practiced, in before establishing the next sugarcane but getting water to flow along the length (Top left) Soil Health Officer Terry Granshaw crop cycle. of the furrow can be difficult with a thick discussing legume agronomy with Burdekin grower trash blanket in green blocks. “We try and take out half our fallow blocks Paul Villis. (Above) Workshop presenters Danielle early in the season, and half late so that it They have also moved to a strip tillage Skocaj (SRA), Neil Halpin (DAF), Paul McIntosh (Pulse Australia), Brent Wilson (Landmark), Brock splits the workload at the end of the year.” system and are looking at other ways of Dembowski (DAF), Caleb Connolly (DAF), Terry improving soil health. His main advice for growers getting into Granshaw (BPS). legumes, especially as a cash crop, was to In that vein, they have built their own The SRA Soil Health Project of the seek good agronomic support. sub-surface dunder applicator, use GPS Herbert and Burdekin regions is guidance for most farming operations, “We have an agronomist with great kindly supported by Herbert Cane have trialled compost, and changed to experience in legumes in other regions, Productivity Services Ltd, banded application of mill by-products. and they are really helpful with making Burdekin Productivity Services, Summer 2019 / sure we correctly time our pesticide “Because we are close to Kalamia Mill we Department of Agriculture and applications to ensure we comply with utilise the mill by-products as they have Fisheries, Wilmar Sugar Australia,
maximum residue levels. great benefits to our soil as well.” The University of Queensland and CONNECTION University of Southern Queensland. “With cane you have a bit of leeway At the conclusion of each event Dr Cane 19 ACCOUNTING FOR LEGUME NITROGEN WITH CANE TO CREEK DEMONSTRATION SITES IN FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND HAVE COLLECTED INFORMATION TO HELP GROWERS ACCOUNT FOR NITROGEN ACCUMULATED FROM LEGUME CROPS. BY BELINDA BILLING
n 2019 SRA’s Cane to Creek team for the legumes grown. To calculate the Due to the dry conditions and no major Ihas harvested four demonstration nitrogen in the legume crop, we used nitrogen loss event occurring in the sites looking at accounting for legume this dry weight (including roots) and time between legume incorporation nitrogen in plant cane. The good news multiplied it by the appropriate N% and top dressing the plant cane, the is that the team found the beans were for each species. This N% can be found plant mix only treatment was the best contributing enough nitrogen that on the Nutrient Management (SIX EASY option when comparing the economics. growers were able to use only the STEPS) Guidelines for each district. In wet conditions, or seasons where nitrogen applied at planting. nitrogen losses may be higher during the The demonstration sites were all in the incorporation to top dress period, the Demonstrations compared three fertiliser Mulgrave area and were distributed medium or full rate may be more suitable. strategies after the legume fallow using a across a range of soil and climate types replicated strip trial design: and a range of legume crops at varying A new version of this project, called sizes were grown. Cane to Creek 2.0, will continue working • Legume nitrogen + planting mixture with growers to look at accounting for The tables show the results with detail on • Legume nitrogen + planting mixture + inoculated legume nitrogen inputs in the the legume species and nitrogen inputs, some nitrogen at top dress coming years with demonstrations across soil type and rainfall, and importantly the Burdekin and Wet Tropics. • Legume nitrogen + planting mixture yield, CCS and economic outcome. + remaining nitrogen at top dress (full Cane to Creek 2.0 is funded by a Summer 2019 2018/19 provided excellent conditions / SIX EASY STEPS) partnership between the Australian for maximising legume nitrogen Government’s Reef Trust, the Great Barrier The nutrient rates were calculated based inputs with dry conditions between Reef Foundation with support from SRA.
CONNECTION on a soil test using the SIX EASY STEPS incorporations of the legume crop and The first iteration of this project was method, then dry weights were measured top dressing the plant cane. Cane funded by the Queensland Government.
20 MOUNT SOPHIA
SITE 1: SOYBEAN – 7.5T/HA DRY BIOMASS CALCULATED N CONTRIBUTION FROM LEGUME: 370 KG/HA
Soil type: Thorpe (Kandosol) Rainfall between planting and top dress: 211 mm
Variety: Q253A Planting date: 09/05/2018
Plant mixture across all treatments: 50 kg N/ha Top dress date: 24/8/2018
TREATMENT YIELD/HA CCS $/HA
T1: 50kg total N/ha applied 88.86A 13.11A (+) $109.37/ha
T2: 90kg total N/ha applied 85.16A 13.23A (+) $60.63/ha
T3: 130kg total N/ha applied 88.44A 13.06A $ -
GORDONVALE
CALCULATED N CONTRIBUTION FROM LEGUME: 372 KG/ SITE 2: SOYBEAN – 8T/HA DRY BIOMASS HA
Soil type: Virgil (Kandosol) Rainfall between planting and top dress: 41mm
Variety: Q240A Planting date: 15/06/2018
Plant mixture across all treatments: 16 kg N/ha Top dress date: 27/9/2018
TREATMENT YIELD/HA CCS $/HA
T1: 56kg total N/ha applied 122.12A 14.00A (+) $95.41/ha
T2: 80kg total N/ha applied 125.14A 13.95A (+) $43.57/ha
T3: 110kg total N/ha applied 122.37A 14.07A $ -
SANDY CREEK
CALCULATED N CONTRIBUTION FROM LEGUME: 170 KG/ SITE 3: COWPEA & LABLAB – 5T/HA DRY BIOMASS HA
Soil type: Thorpe (Kandosol) Rainfall between planting and top dress: 54 mm
Variety: Q253A Planting date: 25/05/2018
Plant mixture across all treatments: 16 kg N/ha Top dress date: 21/9/2018
TREATMENT YIELD/HA CCS $/HA
T1: 58kg N/ha total N/ha applied 98.60A 14.64A (+) $96.20/ha
T2: 89kg N/ha total N/ha applied 103.54A 14.34A (+) $34.40/ha
T3: 117kg N/ha total N/ha applied 102.51A 14.20A $ -
BEHANA CREEK
SITE 4: PEANUT – 4T/HA DRY BIOMASS (HARVESTED) CALCULATED N CONTRIBUTION FROM LEGUME: 65 KG/HA
Soil type: Liverpool (Tenosol) Rainfall between planting and top dress: 119 mm
Variety: Q253A Planting date: 26/06/2018
Plant mixture across all treatments: 5 kg N/ha Top dress date: 19/10/2018 Summer 2019
TREATMENT YIELD/HA CCS $/HA /
T1: 50kg N/ha total N/ha applied 121.78A 11.40A (+) $29.06/ha CONNECTION T2: 70kg N/ha total N/ha applied 129.39A 11.59A $ - Cane
21 INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS STRENGTHEN AUSTRALIAN CANE INDUSTRY SRA PRINCIPAL RESEARCHER, DISEASE MANAGEMENT, DR NICOLE THOMPSON, RECENTLY ATTENDED THE 30TH INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF SUGAR CANE TECHNOLOGISTS (ISSCT) CONGRESS IN TUCUMAN, ARGENTINA. THE ISSCT IS AN ASSOCIATION OF SCIENTISTS, TECHNOLOGISTS, MANAGERS, INSTITUTIONS AND COMPANIES CONCERNED WITH THE TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE SUGARCANE INDUSTRY AND ITS CO-PRODUCTS.
he ISSCT congress is held every and visited the Ledesma company farm, The highlight papers of the congress for Tthree years and is an opportunity research and milling areas, and the me were: the sequencing of the sugarcane for members from all sectors of the CHACRA experimental station. genome (presented by Angelique d’Hont, ISSCT to present research, updates, and CIRAD); enhancing the use of endophytes The highlight of the pre-congress tour for cross-sectoral collaborations. The for control of moth borers in South was the visit to the EEAOC to meet with 30th ISSCT congress was from 2 to 5 Africa (presented by Stuart Rutherford, sugarcane pathologists, familiarise September 2019 and was attended by SASRI); Ramu stunt virus variation in PNG myself with the common diseases and 700 delegates from 45 countries. (presented by Dimitre Mollov, USDA- pests of Argentina, and to talk about ARS); the effect of climate on production I attended the congress as well as the pre- their clean-seed and tissue culture of sugar and ethanol in South Africa and post-congress agricultural tours. This distribution systems. I had met Romina (presented by Abraham Singels, SASRI); allowed me to connect with international Bertani and Claudia Funes from EEAOC at and the release of the first commercial GM colleagues who I usually only meet over previous workshops, and it was great to variety (Brazil). A plenary session highlight email, including colleagues from plant visit them at their own research stations was one that compared sugar beet to breeding and entomology, as well as and see the work they are doing. sugarcane from multiple perspectives reconnect with pathologists to get up-to- The highlight of the post-congress tour including plant breeding (presented date information about their respective was the Ledesma farm tour and the visit to by Phil Jackson), farming (presented by situations overseas. These international CHACRA experimental facility. In CHACRA Keith Jaggard), and milling (presented partnerships are vital for assisting the I was able to meet with Dr German Sarino by Boris Morgenroth). This was a very Australian industry with key initiatives and see the quarantine facilities: including interesting comparison and provoked at SRA such as variety exchange and some SRA/Q varieties we have exchanged much discussion from all sectors of the also biosecurity work to ensure that in previous years. industry. Further information about the the Australian industry is vigilant with congress and the ISSCT can be obtained potential exotic disease risks. During the congress I presented a from issct.org. paper on the development of diagnostic The two-day pre-congress tour visited tests for sugarcane streak mosaic virus Nicole was awarded an SRA Travel and research facilities and fields around (SCSMV) which was a result of previous Learning Award (STLA) to attend this Tucuman, including the Universidad ACIAR-funded research. In my role congress. San Pablo Tucuman campus, the Los as a member of the ISSCT pathology Balcanes cane fields, the EEAOC (Obispo committee I helped chair sessions, judge Colombres Agroindustrial Experimental
Summer 2019 the posters, and facilitated discussion
/ Station), INTA (National Institute of (Top left) Damage done by Diatraea saccharalis. as required. I have also been nominated Agricultural Technology) and the San (Top right) Clean seed demonstration plot at EEAOC. for, and accepted, the role of chair of the Genaro farm. The three-day post- (Bottom left) Dr Nicole Thompson and CSIRO scientists Karen Aitken and Maria de la Paz Vilas at the pre-
CONNECTION ISSCT Pathology Committee and my term congress tour travelled to the Jujuy runs from 2019-2022. congress tour. (Far right) Soil structure and marginal
Cane area in more remote northern Argentina soils in Argentina.
22 Summer 2019 / CONNECTION Cane
23 (Below) One of SRA’s drone pilots, Johan Deutschenbauer collecting data with the unmanned aerial vehicle.
A NEW EYE IN THE SKY FOR SUGARCANE BREEDING DRONES ARE STARTING TO BUZZ IN THE SKY ABOVE SOME SRA VARIETY TRIALS, PROVIDING VALUABLE DATA FOR RESEARCHERS TO HELP THEM DELIVER BETTER OUTCOMES FOR INDUSTRY. Summer 2019 / CONNECTION Cane
24 hese photos are from the same variety This work has been centred on the the drone compare to the traditional Ttrial in the Burdekin, six months apart. Burdekin in recent years under the assessments. leadership of Dr Jaya Basnayake. On the left, the crop is six months old and “Currently there is only a 40 percent Following Dr Basnayake’s recent on the right the crop is 12 months old, overlap between potential selections retirement, Sijesh Natarajan has taken heavily lodged and approaching harvest. from the traditional methods and from on the reins of this SRA-funded research the drones. Our statistical predictions For sugarcane breeders, the objective of investment, via a new project that indicate that drone-based selection a clonal assessment trial (CAT) like this is commenced earlier this year called is better, but we need to validate this to narrow down the 2500 or so potential Validating high-throughput phenomics through experiments,” he explained. varieties to about 250 strong performers technologies for sugarcane clonal selection. that can progress to the final assessment “The research has moved from the “There have always been challenges with trial (FAT) stage. discovery phase to the validation collecting data from clonal assessment phase, and we hope that by the end of But collecting data from the tangled crop trials and the conditions we face in the the current project we will be into the on the right to assess yield, CCS and fibre cane industry dealing with a very large implementation phase.” can be a significant challenge that has biomass crop,” Sijesh said. always been part and parcel of sugarcane “Through this work, we are working Overall, he said the project was targeting breeding, especially in the Burdekin. toward a point where we are collecting an increase in yield and improving the rate of genetic gain in the breeding program. On top of trying to collect accurate data much more information about variety from large and lodged cane, there is also characteristics and ensuring that the best “This work is enabling us to have a the potential for errors in measurements possible clones make it through to the greater understanding of the interaction due to factors such as paddock variation next phase of the breeding program.” between genotype and the environment, or other environmental factors that can The drones collect data that is not while shifting selection to a method that impact the selection of potential new possible with traditional methods. They is more comprehensive and precise. varieties. are equipped with cameras that can “It also offers the potential of using However, SRA researchers have recently measure different wavelengths of light, the sensors on the drones to look at begun to explore ways to collect accurate temperature, and also make a visual new variety traits that haven’t been information on variety performance, well assessment. considered before. before the harvest stage, with the hope Using a pre-programmed flight path, they “Cane as a crop lends itself to taking of making the process simpler and more can cover a 5-6 hectare trial in under 20 advantage of this technology and we accurate, which will lead to improvements minutes, with the thousands of images are working hard at using these tools in the breeding program. then stitched back into a detailed picture to deliver a practical outcome for the This is now becoming a reality through using sophisticated computer software. industry.” specialist equipment such as unmanned It is hoped that the use of the drones aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known and their cameras will make the process as drones, equipped with an array of easier and more precise, ultimately
advanced cameras and sensors. leading to better sugarcane varieties for Summer 2019
For more information, / growers and millers. These tools are being used as one of a contact Sijesh Natarajan suite of measures that is modernising Sijesh said that one of the critical E [email protected] and improving the Australian sugarcane components of the new project was to T 07 4783 8618. CONNECTION breeding program led by SRA. determine how the assessments from Cane
25 NEW PEST & DISEASE SURVEILLANCE TECH TO LAUNCH THE NATIONAL MULTI-AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY SURVEILLANCE INITIATIVE IMAPPESTS IS LAUNCHING A TRIAL OF ITS AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE AND DIAGNOSTICS TECHNOLOGIES IN NORTH QUEENSLAND IN FEBRUARY 2020.
he iMapPESTS: Sentinel Surveillance in a tropical environment characterised iMapPESTS will work with growers to Tfor Agriculture program aims to by more adverse environmental understand the best way to present and rapidly monitor and report the presence conditions, before moving down through share the dynamic information about the of airborne pests and diseases for the industry. By mid-2020 it is expected pests or diseases the sentinel is detecting multiple agricultural sectors, including that several more sentinels will be in an area at a particular time. sugar. launched across the country, reporting dynamic pest and disease information to SRA is involved in the program as the all plant industries. representative of the sugar industry and is also contributing important research to Key sugar pests and diseases, such as For more information, improve diagnostics for a range of diseases sugarcane planthopper and sugarcane contact Dr Nicole Thompson on and exotic pests that threaten sugarcane. smut, will be targeted during the Meringa [email protected] or trial phase via the on-board pest and visit the website A key feature of the five-year program spore traps. imappests.com.au is the sentinel (pictured), a mobile surveillance unit, that captures a After the sentinel captures airborne snapshot of airborne pests and diseases spores and insects, the samples will iMapPESTS is supported by Hort in a particular location at a given time. be dispatched to the South Australian Innovation, through funding from The sentinel features several airborne Research and Development Institute the Australian Government samplers, onboard power supply, a (SARDI) laboratories for identification of Department of Agriculture as part weather sensor, telemetry and control target pests and diseases. of its Rural R&D for Profit Program panel (with remote access) to monitor and 16 partner organisations The team at SRA, led by Dr Nicole the unit, as well as automated robotics to including AgriFutures Australia, Thompson, is developing extraction change pots on the samplers according to methods for plant pests for Cotton Research and Development the day or capture criteria. metagenomics and improving molecular Corporation, Forest & Wood Products A prototype of the sentinel has been diagnostic tools for the industry. This Australia, Grains Research Summer 2019 & Development Corporation, / trialled in South Australia in the grain and research will explore and design a toolkit wine industries and a second sentinel for new pest and disease threats and Nursery & Garden Industry Australia, will be trialled in sugar growing regions modernise molecular and morphological Sugar Research Australia,
CONNECTION in February 2020. The trial for sugar will diagnostics for priority pests. and Wine Australia.
Cane focus on the optimisation of the sentinel
26 TRIALS TO INFORM FERTILISER OPTIONS
hen Kevin Mann first began they had reduced ability to grow legume from project sites across the industry, Wsugarcane farming in 1980 with crops for grain on their fallow, although collecting information from different his brother, David, one of the first things they have in the past grown cover crops regions, local conditions, and seasons. that they did was get soil tests, leaf such as dolichos lablab. These trials will provide information on tests and water tests. “We’ve made the decision to utilise our the effect of EEFs in terms of TCH, CCS, They wanted to understand the limiting water for the cane,” he said. “The surface and NUE effect on grower profitability. factors on the farm at Osborne in the water is mostly being used for blending Environmental losses (run-off and deep Burdekin, and Kevin knew that it wasn’t with the underground water to make it drainage) are being assessed at six of the going to be a pretty picture. more usable. At the same time, there 60 sites. have been years when we have had “The water tests showed we had high rock As well as being a keen trial collaborator, limited water for the cane. salt in our underground water supply and it Kevin is also a strong advocate of the wasn’t suitable for growing cane. The soils “This year, we had floodwater across the Smartcane BMP program and was among showed salt as well, while the leaf tests farm at the beginning of the year and the first growers in the Burdekin to showed that we were doing the best we it only lifted the underground table achieve accreditation. He now has a could with the conditions,” he explained. by about eight feet (240cm), and now system where he records all his farm “So we set about improving things by in October after a dry year it is back to practices in a notebook during the week, lasering everything to the right levels, and where we were last year. and works with his wife, Amanda, who improving the layout where we could.” enters his notes into the computer. “There is enough for the cane for two Their water is sourced from mostly or three years, but we don’t want to be “It’s a simple system but it works well,” underground, along with two pumps that pushing things too hard.” he said. “I was doing it anyway, so the can access some surface water, which he accreditation makes sense. We as farmers The Manns grow the popular local blends with the groundwater to bring the know what we are doing on our farms, but varieties KQ228A, Q183A, Q208A and salinity down as best he can. the BMP process shows we are doing the Q240A and aim for an even split between right thing and now it’s all recorded.” Kevin said he had made changes to these four. Crops are typically grown irrigate with high inflow volumes of water as plant and three ratoons, with a short (Above) Kevin Mann is looking forward to learning to keep the water flowing, as well as fallow before planting in April or May. more about enhanced efficiency fertilisers through the shortening runs where he could, except EEF60 project. For the last two years, the Manns have in situations where he is restricted by been involved in a project called EEF60, deep gullies or a council easement on the which is assessing enhanced efficiency The EEF60 project is a property. fertilisers at different application rates collaboration between Kevin now farms with his son, Max, and compared to standard urea treatments. CANEGROWERS, SRA, Burdekin they grow about 15,000 tonne each year Productivity Services, Herbert Kevin said he had used slow-release on their 140-hectare farm. Max recently Cane Productivity Services fertilisers in the past, particularly on his returned to the farm after working seven Limited and Mackay Area sandy soils early in the season, as well as years overseas, as a fitter and turner and Productivity Services. It is funded trialling different blends, all with the aim hydraulic specialist. This now comes in by the Australian Government Summer 2019 of improving production. / handy and allows the Mann family to do Reef Trust and Queensland all their own on-farm maintenance. Results from the EEF60 project will Government Great Barrier Reef
be communicated throughout 2020 CONNECTION Kevin said they faced a limited water Innovation Fund. and 2021, as more data is collated
situation in some years, which meant Cane
27 WORKSHOPS HELP TRIGGER PRACTICE CHANGE THROUGH AN INVOLVEMENT IN INDUSTRY WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS SOME HELPFUL NEIGHBOURLY ADVICE, MICHAEL SANTAROSSA IS IMPLEMENTING IMPROVED FARMING SYSTEM PRACTICES TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY. BY BRAD PFEFFER Summer 2019 / CONNECTION Cane
28 (Over page) Michael in a crop of mungbeans on November 7th this year. (Right) Michael Santarossa says the 2020 season is off to a decent start.
ichael Santarossa has had cane with MSF Sugar on Project Uplift, which of the farm. around him for his whole life, but it works with growers on adopting improved M “There are a couple of farmers who have is only in the last three years that he has farming system practices including been growing peanuts here for a long time, come back to farming full time. controlled traffic, minimum tillage, fallow but it is also a new industry here in a lot of break crops, and green cane harvesting Farming at Mulgrave just south of ways. For someone like me, wanting to put and maintaining the trash blanket. Cairns, Michael spent about 20 years in 5-10 hectares, I can’t justify buying the in the mining industry before making It is supported by the Australian gear so it is difficult to make the next step.” a staggered return to the family farm Government Reef Trust Program which He is still keen to give them a try and in in recent years through working with offers grant funding for drainage the long term sees that GPS guidance his father Alan on weekends, and then improvements as well as agronomic is another next step to allow him to leasing country. advice through MSF Sugar. Michael continue to improve soil health. These had been interested in adopting the Upon making a go of things full time plans are parked for the time being due to SRA Farming System for some time in 2016, his first step was to regularly the low sugar price. attend industry workshops and to gather and noticed that it was gaining greater as much information as possible from his acceptance in the Mulgrave farming He grows a mix of varieties including A A A A father and their neighbours. community. When attending Australia’s Q208 , Q200 , Q250 and Q253 , with an first Regenerative Cane Farming Forum increasing amount of Q240A over the last Three years in, he continues to get advice in Ingham in March 2019, Michael saw two years. where he can, and is now putting it to use the benefits of the system firsthand and He said this year’s crop was probably by improving soil health through modified joined Project Uplift shortly afterwards. farming practices for the 145 hectares down about 15 percent compared to that he farms together with Alan. Michael has received information and 2018, mostly due to a very dry finish to guidance from the likes of Cane Supply 2018, followed by extremely wet weather This has seen Michael starting the Field Officer (Mulgrave Mill), Matt Hession, in the first half of 2019. transition to a 1.8 metre row spacing (from and Project Uplift team members Noel “This year has been dry as well through 1.6m) and a fallow cropping plan this year. Wright and Nigel Young, to add to the harvest, but as at early November information that he continues to receive “Some of this country hasn’t had a break we’ve had about 75mm more than this from his neighbours. The project has crop in my lifetime,” Michael explained. time last year, so the cane is off to a good also helped him invest in laser levelling, “There is no changing the sugar price, so start for 2020.” something critical for maintaining we need to change something with the production in the Wet Tropics. farming system to get our costs down. He also soil tests extensively to make sure he is running the farm efficiently. “If the When CaneConnection visited in early “Most of us have heard the soil health crop needs it, we put it on. If it doesn’t November, Michael’s mungbeans were story around compaction and the benefits need it, then we don’t. We make sure progressing well and were headed toward of fallow crops,” he said. “But it was at we have all the information to make the a harvest around mid-December, so long the workshops where I saw the science right decision, and that’s the advantage as wet weather doesn’t put a dampener behind these practices and decided that I of attending industry workshops, to make on his plans. needed to change something. sure we are being efficient and making the “We will just see how it goes,” he said. “Improving soil health is something that right decisions.” will take at least five years to implement Michael said that mungbeans had the
and see benefits across the whole farm, advantage of being a quick crop and Summer 2019 / but the early indications from the row would hopefully allow him to beat the spacing is that the cane is performing well.” wet season. However, he said he was also
keen to give peanuts a go, especially for CONNECTION A significant amount of this change has his loamy red soils, which represent part
also been helped through collaboration Cane
29 PREPARING AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE FOR A DIGITAL FUTURE
The Growing a digital future for Australian agriculture project is a collaboration between the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Meat and Livestock Australia, Dairy Australia, Sugar Research Australia, AgriFutures Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Horticulture Innovation Australia, Australian Pork Limited, Summer 2019
/ Wine Australia, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and Australian Egg Corporation Limited CONNECTION with research providers Griffith
Cane University, University of the
30 Sunshine Coast, CSIRO and KPMG. (Left) To achieve the $100 billion ustralia stands at the precipice transformation is purposeful and industry goal by 2030 set by National of improved agricultural output effective, it is important to first undertake Farmers Federation in 2018, the A through the adoption of digital agricultural industry needs to embark an assessment of the industry to identify on a digital transformation journey. agriculture, but what is required to areas of digital strength and areas for kick-start and navigate the process to development. capitalise on this future prosperity? The development of the on-line digital The recent Growing a Digital Future maturity index and assessment tool is in Agriculture National Forum held at considered a useful first step for digital Parliament House, Canberra in September transformation. CSIRO has developed brought stakeholders from government, a world-first digital maturity index education, agriculture, research and policy and assessment tool specifically for together to address the opportunities, agriculture, which encompasses five challenges and actions needed to allow key pillars. Australian farmers, foresters and fishers The tool can serve a diagnostic and to transform their businesses, livelihoods, monitoring and evaluation function supply chains and industries. for digital transformation. It helps While agricultural digital technologies agribusinesses and individual agriculture are already well advanced and available sectors to evaluate their current levels of in the marketplace, research has revealed digital maturity, identify areas of strength that adoption and utilisation remains and weakness, as well as assist them low across the industry. This is due to in setting goals, and in developing and many factors, not least a lack of human evaluating targeted digital-improvement capability, knowledge and understanding initiatives. of what digital agriculture is. Ultimately, this assessment could help To achieve the $100 billion industry the agriculture industry develop a goal by 2030 set by National Farmers systematic digital strategy that, by design, Federation in 2018, the agricultural should transform the industry from one industry needs to embark on a digital that is ad hoc, to one that is purposeful transformation journey. This journey and impactful. began in earnest at the national forum. The national forum was led by CRDC’s The forum marked the release of two Innovation Manager Jane Trindall. practical tools to help Australian agri- “This is a simple to use self-assessment businesses adopt digital technologies tool which can be used by anyone really in a way that adds value to their farming in agriculture to get a very quick snapshot business. of how well their business is prepared for digital technologies and where you can 1. THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL spend time and investment in improving”, WORKFORCE DIGITAL she said. CAPABILITY FRAMEWORK AND SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL WHAT IS A DIGITAL This tool provides the analysis and TRANSFORMATION? framework for education providers Peter Alexander (Chief Digital Officer, to develop a curriculum to meet Australian Government) addressed the future demand for digital skills in the forum with an interesting take on the agriculture industry. term ‘digital transformation’, describing it This framework better enables the by saying “it’s really just ‘transformation’, Australian tertiary and VET sectors to technology is important but it is an develop and deliver courses valuable for enabler. industry and helps individuals decide on “What is required for the transformation the myriad of courses available online is rethinking how you are going to deliver globally from learning platforms. your products and services in the future,” Achieving a practical national framework he said. will also guide ongoing investments and “This requires looking at your business in priorities as they relate to up-skilling the a greenfield way – what would you do (on agricultural workforce to better adopt farm) if you didn’t have a legacy, if you technology and lift the digital maturity of could start from scratch, what would you the sector. want and what would that look like?” Summer 2019 / 2. THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE DIGITAL MATURITY INDEX AND
SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL CONNECTION
To ensure that the journey of digital Cane 31 Sugar Research Australia Limited ABN 16 163 670 068
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