The Sugarcane Advisors Information Kit

144 Pages·2017·3.34 MB·English

The Sugarcane Advisors
Information Kit
Acknowledgements
The material covered in the Sugarcane Advisors Information Kit includes information drawn from BSES’s Manual of
Canegrowing (2000). This expertise and knowledge is gratefully acknowledged.
We thank the following contributors to this publication:
• Noel Vock (Noel Vock Consulting) for authoring.
• Members of Sugar Research Australia’s Adoption and Communication teams for their input and involvement.
• The Australian Sugar Milling Council for their technical input, involvement in the reviewing process and supply of some
images.
More information Edition
We are committed to providing the Australian sugarcane Sugar Research Australia Limited 2018 edition of the
industry with resources that will help to improve its productivity, Sugarcane Advisors Information Kit published in 2013 by
profitability and sustainability. Sugar Research Australia Limited.
A variety of information products, tools and events which ISBN: 978-0-949678-29-4
complement this manual are available including:
Contact details
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• Publications including soil guides, technical manuals and Sugar Research Australia
field guides PO Box 86
• Research papers
Indooroopilly QLD 4068 Australia
• Our magazine, CaneConnection
Phone: [phone]
• Industry alerts
• CaneClips extension videos Fax: [phone]
• Online decision-making and identification tools Email: [email protected]
• Training events.
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for some items are available on request.
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© Copyright 2018 by Sugar Research Australia Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of the Sugarcane Advisors Information Kit (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 Ltd.
Disclaimer: In this disclaimer a reference to ‘SRA’, ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’ means Sugar Research Australia Ltd 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 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, and you agree that
we will not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever (including through negligence) arising out 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 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 unrepresentative samples or the influence of environmental, managerial or other factors
on production.
Table of contents
Advice for new growers 06 Drainage 39
Importance of the sugar industry 06 Everyday advice and recommendations 39
Why the industry needs more production 06 Drainage 39
The pros and cons of growing sugarcane 06 On-farm drainage 39
What growers can expect to make 07 Surface drainage 39
The farm needs 08 Sub-surface drainage 41
Management needs 09 Understanding the science 42
Operating environment 09 The drainage issue 42
Causes of drainage problems 43
Understanding the sugarcane plant 12
Indicators of poor drainage 43
Understanding the science 12 Impacts of poor drainage on crop growth 43
The sugarcane plant 12 Benefits of good drainage 44
The importance of stalk growth in sugar production 13 Filter strips 44
Yield potential 15 Drainage in flood-prone and tidal areas 44
Environmental issues 45
Climate 17
Drain design formulas 45
Understanding the science 17
Filter strips design principles 45
The four key elements of climate for sugarcane 17
Planting and crop establishment 47
Managing for climate 20
Everyday advice and recommendations 47
Soil health 22
Land preparation for planting 47
Understanding the science 22
Tillage 49
Soil health 22
Planting 50
Particular soil health problems in sugarcane 23
Row spacing and controlled traffic 51
Improving soil health 24
Ratooning 53
Irrigation 29
Variety selection 55
Everyday advice and recommendations 29
Everyday advice and recommendations 55
Irrigation tools for advisors 29
QCANESelect® 55
Overall comparison of irrigation systems 29
Annual variety recommendations 56
Key points on irrigation systems 30
Clean planting material 56
Understanding the science 32
Understanding the science 57
The importance of irrigation 32
The Plant Breeding Program 57
Soil, water and the crop 33
Release of new varieties 57
Irrigation scheduling 33
Practices for improving irrigation efficiency 35
Water quality 36
Nutrition 59 Herbicide application 110
Understanding the science 110
Everyday advice and recommendations 59
The impact of weeds on sugarcane 110
The SIX EASY STEPS program 59
Weed life cycles 110
General practice 59
Weed types 111
Understanding the science 59
Methods of weed control 112
STEP 1: Knowing and understanding your soils 59
Factors affecting herbicide performance 113
STEP 2: Understanding and managing nutrient 61
processes and losses Herbicide resistance 115
STEP 3: Regular soil testing 63 Minimising environmental impacts from herbicides 115
STEP 4: Adopting soil-specific nutrient management 64
Chemical use and application 118
guidelines
STEP 5: Checking the adequacy of nutrient inputs 68 Everyday advice and recommendations 118
STEP 6: Keeping good records to modify nutrient 69 Herbicide application 118
inputs when and where necessary Spray calibration 118
Diseases and disease control 71 Understanding the science 121
Chemical safety 121
Everyday advice and recommendations 71
Chemical application equipment 123
Disease control basics 71
Herbicide spray drift 124
Important diseases 75
Broadcast spraying worksheet 125
Main management strategies for important diseases 75
Band spraying worksheet 126
Understanding the science 76
Directed spraying worksheet 127
Diseases managed primarily by use of disease-free 76
planting material Harvesting and transport 129
Diseases managed primarily by use of resistant 77
Everyday advice and recommendations 129
varieties
Introduction 129
Diseases managed primarily by use of chemicals 87
Challenges for harvesting management 129
Other diseases 89
Basic harvester performance principles 129
Diseases not present in Australia 89
Components to consider when discussing harvester 130
Pest control 91 performance
How growers can improve harvest efficiency – 10 tips 130
Everyday advice and recommendations 91
Harvesting planting material 131
Pest trouble-shooting 91
Understanding the science 131
Current pest management recommendations for 92
major pests Key components of chopper harvesters 131
Current pest management recommendations for 96 Typical performance of harvesters 133
minor pests Field factors affecting harvesting performance 134
Understanding the science 103 Cane transport 135
Integrated pest management 103 Harvest scheduling 136
Important components and principles of IPM 103
Milling issues for the grower 138
Canegrubs – the most important pests of sugarcane 105
Understanding the science 138
Weed control 108
A brief overview of the farm-to-mill process 138
Everyday advice and recommendations 108 An outline of the milling process 139
Integrated weed management 108 CCS 141
Selecting herbicides 108 Farm impacts on milling and sugar quality 141
Sugarcane Advisors Information Kit
05
Understanding Climate Soil health Irrigation
the sugarcane
plant
Drainage Planting and Variety selection Nutrition Diseases and
crop disease control
establishment
Pest control Weed control Chemical use Harvesting and Milling issues for
and application transport the grower
Advice for new growers
06
Advice for new growers
• While the ideal is new full-time growers, the crop lends itself
Importance of the sugar industry
well to part-time and lifestyle growers with appropriate
land, particularly given that farm operations including land
preparation, planting, weed control and harvesting, can be
• The Australian sugar industry produces annually around 32
provided by contractors.
million tonnes of sugarcane (4.5 million tonnes of raw sugar)
from approximately 370,000 ha of land.
The pros and cons of growing sugarcane
• This contributes between $2 billion and $2.5 billion dollars to
the Australian economy.
The pros
• With 80 percent of production exported and sold on the world
market, sugar is Australia’s seventh largest agricultural export. • The industry is well established with a proven production,
and a close-knit and reliable structure of growers, millers and
• The industry has more than 6000 cane growers involved industry agencies.
in more than 4000 cane farm businesses, 24 sugar mills
employing more than 4000 workers, and thousands of small • Provided the proven production system is followed, the crop
and medium-sized businesses directly servicing cane growers is generally profitable.
and millers.
• The crop can be successfully grown on a wide range of soil
• This makes the industry hugely important, both economically types.
and socially, to the communities built around it that spread
over more than 2000 kilometres of the Australian coastline – • High-quality information resources are readily available
Northern (Wet Tropics, Tablelands, Herbert); Burdekin; Central and each region has a good network of competent service
(Mackay, Proserpine); Southern (Bundaberg, Maryborough, providers and advisors.
Rocky Point); and Northern NSW (Tweed to Grafton).
• As contract services are available for most farm operations,
sugarcane can be a good component of a mixed crop farm
Why the industry needs more production
for full-time, part-time or lifestyle growers, providing a good
source of additional income.
• To improve economies of scale, iron out seasonal production
imbalances and more efficiently service market needs, the The cons
industry needs to continually increase production. In 2013,
the Australian Sugar Industry Alliance (ASA) set a goal of • Profitability is related to the price of raw sugar and that can
producing at least 36 million tonnes of cane per year. be volatile. As 80 percent of the crop is exported, prices are
exposed to the volatility of the world market and dependent
• This occurs against a background of losses of some on production and supply in the large competitive countries
existing productive cane land to urban, industrial and other such as Brazil. In addition, the export parity price is applied to
agricultural uses, and a significant decline in the number of the domestic market.
Australian cane farm businesses. For example, from 2002
to 2009, the number of cane farm businesses dropped by • Profitability is also driven by quality of the sugarcane grown.
40 percent. As growers are paid on the basis of Commercial Cane Sugar
(CCS), they need to pursue management practices that
• While some of the increased production will come from optimise CCS with the tonnage of cane produced. This
existing cane farms expanding their crop area and improving requires some experience and precision.
productivity, new growers are being continually sought.
Sugarcane Advisors Information Kit
07
• Profitability is also subject to the rising costs of inputs such as of more favourable growing conditions, including plentiful
fuel, fertiliser and chemicals. This means that these need to irrigation.
be efficiently managed according to industry Best Practice.
• Ratoon crop yields are less than those achieved for the plant
crop but are generally in the range from 80 to 100 tonnes per
• Some factors that affect productivity, such as drought
hectare.
and flooding, cannot be effectively predicted or managed.
Extreme weather may be more frequent under changing
• For the whole of industry, average CCS generally ranges from
climate conditions.
13 to 15 percent. The long-term average is 13.5 percent.
• There is increasing public awareness of environmental
Prices
issues, particularly water quality and its impact on the Great
Barrier Reef. This means that the sugarcane industry is under
• Although raw sugar prices over the last 10 years have ranged
increasing public scrutiny for its environmental performance.
from $230 to $450 per tonne, the five-year average from
Growers will need to adopt production systems that comply
2005 to 2009 was $350/tonne (see Graph 1 and 2). To relate
with the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) and
this to the price of cane delivered by the grower to the mill, a
other recognised environmental performance indicators.
cane payment formula is used, which varies from mill to mill
depending on locally agreed and negotiated arrangements.
What growers can expect to make
In general, the formula is:
Cane price = Sugar price x (CCS – 4) x 0.009 + local increment
Yields
• The four-unit reduction in the CCS reflects the contribution to
• Plant crop yields in many districts can be in the range of 100 the miller to cover milling and other production costs.
to 120 tonnes per hectare. Under good management in good
• Based on the formula with a sugar price of $350 per tonne, a
seasons, yields of up to 150 tonnes per hectare are possible,
CCS of 13.5 percent (before deducting the four points) and a
but conversely, under poor management and in unfavourable
local increment of 0.5, the cane price to the grower would be
seasons, yields can be as low as 50 tonnes per hectare. Higher
about $30 per tonne of cane supplied.
yields are more predictable in the Burdekin region as a result
World average raw sugar price, 1980-81 to 2016-17
70
60
Graph 1: The world average raw price of
50
sugar has averaged 18.22 US cents/pound
b 40 (1980-81 to 2016-17).
D c/l
e US 30 Source: ABARES. Price is the average
Pric 20 International Sugar Agreement (ISA)
price for raw sugar for the marketing year
10 (October to September). Prices deflated
using US CPI. Base year = 2017-18.
0
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17
USD c/lb
Graph 2: The indicative average Australian
price per tonne of sugar between 1985-86
and 2016-17 is $505.60/tonne.
Source: ABARES. Price is the average
International Sugar Agreement (ISA)
price for raw sugar for the marketing year
(October to September) in equivalent
Australian dollars and deflated using AUS
CPI. Base year = 2017-18.
08
Costs Capital for machinery
Cash costs • As mentioned earlier, the crop can be grown with minimal
on-farm capital, by using contractors for all land preparation,
• An ABARES report on the financial performance of planting, cultivation, fertilising, weed spraying and
sugarcane farms in 2013/14 reported that the total cash harvesting.
costs (excluding finance) for the industry were $2490 per
hectare. For the Burdekin, where there are higher costs • Depending on location, some minor capital expenditure may
associated with irrigation, the cost was $3220/ha, while be required for overhead irrigation equipment, which is not
the lowest cost was in NSW at $2040/ha. normally available from contractors. This may be necessary
to supplement rainfall in dry periods in order to maximise
• Cash costs include those incurred for such things as land productivity.
preparation, planting, fertilising, weed control, pest and
disease control, and harvesting. These figures do not
include finance. Important tip
• For ratoon crops, variable costs are about two-thirds of FEAT (Farm Economic Analysis Tool) is a computer
those for the plant crop. program for evaluating cane farm enterprises. The tool
can provide a whole-of-farm economic analysis and/
Returns or compare economics of various components of the
farming system, including assessing the impact of
• According to the ABARES report, in 2013/14 27 percent changed practices on profitability.
of sugarcane farm businesses had negative farm income
that year, and was estimated to increase to 39 percent
in 2014-15, although the two subsequent seasons saw
The farm needs
improved yields and prices.
> For 2013/14 the bottom 25 percent of sugarcane farms Soils
had a rate of return (excluding capital appreciation) of
-9.2 percent. Some of these farms were significantly • Sugarcane can be grown in most soils provided they are not
affected by flooding in previous years. saline, sodic or significantly waterlogged.
> The top 25 percent of business had an average rate of • Nutritional status is generally not a limitation as most
return (excluding capital appreciation) of 4.5 percent. nutrient levels can generally be adjusted appropriately
with liming materials and fertilisers. Similarly, inadequate
> Top performing farms typically operate larger sugarcane drainage can be improved with surface drainage systems,
enterprises and achieve higher yields. They account for although at some cost.
25 percent of the population, but account for about
47 percent of the total area planted to sugarcane. • However, the better the nutritional status and the better the
drainage, the easier it is to manage productivity.
> In contrast, the bottom performing 25 percent account
for 6 percent of total sugarcane production. Climate
> The gross margins in sugarcane (income less variable • Because growth declines significantly at temperatures above
costs) ranges from about $500 to $1500 per hectare per 34°C, areas where long-term monthly mean temperatures
year, to a range of about $1500 to $2500 per hectare per exceed 34°C should be avoided. This will rarely be a problem
year in the Burdekin. in coastal areas of Queensland or NSW but may be a problem
in inland areas.
• A good gross margin rule of thumb is about $10 per tonne of
cane produced. • Because cool nights and early mornings (below 14°C in
winter) reduce growth, avoid colder inland areas.
• Note that gross margins may be significantly reduced under
unfavourable conditions. • Frost damage can occur in low-landscape positions of inland
areas, particularly in southern Queensland and NSW. While
• Previous studies indicated a return on investment ranging minor frosts can be tolerated, areas with continuous periods
from 5 percent to 8.7 percent, the higher figure relating to of frost risk should be avoided.
the Burdekin.
• Within the main existing production areas, climate issues can
generally be managed adequately through a combination of
timely operations and good management practices.
Sugarcane Advisors Information Kit
09
Water availability SRA performs a variety of functions including:
• While crops in the Wet Tropics coastal areas of the Northern > Managing and commissioning a portfolio of research,
region can have their water needs met totally from rainfall, development and extension projects through the Research
supplementary irrigation is beneficial in all other regions, and Funding Unit
essential in the drier regions such as the Burdekin and the
> Providing a conduit for research findings to growers,
Tableland (Mareeba–Dimbulah) area of the Northern region.
millers and the sugar advisory community

• In regions where crops rely totally on rain for growth, > Running a large sugarcane plant breeding and biosecurity
productivity will be dependent on the quantity and program through the SRA Technology group
distribution of the rainfall.
> Providing a range of online tools, publications and
analytical services.
Important tip
Millers
While sugarcane is adaptable to many soils and climates,
it is best to avoid growing it in marginal areas, as savings • In 2017, there were eight millers operating within the
in land cost are outweighed by higher production costs industry:
and likely productivity losses.
> Wilmar Sugar Australia
o Herbert – Macknade and Victoria
Management needs o Burdekin – Invicta, Kalamia, Pioneer and Inkerman
o Central – Proserpine and Plane Creek
• If contractors are used, labour needs are minimal. Harvesting
> MSF Sugar Ltd (Mitr Pohl)
on most farms is done by harvesting contractors, who
o Northern – Mulgrave, South Johnstone and Tableland
operate independently of growers and millers, and get paid
per tonne of cane delivered to the mill. o Southern – Maryborough

> Tully Sugar Limited (Cofco)
In 2013, harvesting costs ranged from $7 to $8 per tonne
(without GPS guidance systems) and up to $9 per tonne with o Northern – Tully
GPS. Rates are generally less (from $6.50 to $7.50) in the
> Mackay Sugar Limited
Burdekin because of higher-yielding crops.
o Central – Farleigh, Racecourse and Marian

Contract planting generally costs $360 to $400 per hectare o Northern – Mossman
depending on GPS use, and slightly higher in the Burdekin.
> Bundaberg Sugar Limited (Finasucre)
Contract spraying for weeds generally costs about $30 per
hectare. o Southern – Millaquin and Bingera
> Isis Central Sugar Mill Company Limited
• Skills are needed in sourcing and using technical information
and advisory services to more effectively grow the crop and o Southern – Isis
maintain productivity.
> Sunshine Sugar
• As the industry operates under strict quarantine measures to o NSW – Harwood, Condong and Broadwater
minimise the spread of pests and diseases, growers need to
> WH Heck and Sons Pty Ltd
be aware of and observe all quarantine restrictions.
o Southern – Rocky Point
Operating environment • The Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC) is the peak body
for sugar millers. It provides information to members and
facilitates forums for collaboration between growers, millers,
R&D government and other agencies.
• Sugar Research Australia (SRA) is a new agency formed Grower organisations
in 2013 from the former BSES, Sugar Research and
Development Corporation (SRDC) and activities of Sugar • CANEGROWERS Australia is the peak body for Australian
Research Limited. It is an industry-owned company funded growers. Membership is voluntary. It provides industry
by a statutory levy paid by growers and millers. leadership, representation to government, and a range of
grower services including insurance, financial planning, cane
testing, grower conferences and information services. It
publishes the Australian Canegrower magazine.
10
• Australian Cane Farmers Association (ACFA) is a voluntary References
membership organisation providing services to members,
including farm and crop insurance, financial planning, 1. Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (2015),
conferences and information. Commonwealth of Australia.
Cane productivity services
Publications for further information
• Local industry-owned productivity services organisations
provide a range of services at the local level, including Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan
planting material, inspections, research and grower advice.
Reef Plan 2018 and 2020
Agencies exist in all regions.
Smartcane booklets
Environmental matters
A Review of Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Sugarcane
• The Australian sugar industry stretches along the eastern
coast of Queensland and northern New South Wales,
adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Parts of the GBR
are under pressure from climate change, land-based run-off,
coastal land use change and some aspects of the direct use
of the reef.
• Movement of nutrients and pesticides, from agricultural
lands have been linked to a reduction in the resilience of the
Great Barrier Reef. While a reduction of coral cover on the
GBR has been largely attributed to storms and cyclones,
crown-of-thorns starfish and coral bleaching, improvements
to water quality will increase the Great Barrier Reef’s
resilience to these threats. Elevated nutrient and sediment
loads have also been linked to outbreaks of unusually high
numbers of crown-of-thorns starfish, due to an abundance of
food available at the larval stage1.
• In 2009 the Queensland Government introduced the Great
Barrier Reef Amendment Act, which mandated nutrient
applications based on the SIX EASY STEPS nutrient
management program, record keeping and also targeted a
number of agricultural chemicals (PSII herbicides – diuron,
atrazine, ametryn and hexazinone).
• In 2013 the Queensland Government and sugarcane industry
agreed to introduce self-regulation through a voluntary best
management practice program known as Smartcane BMP. As
of 2015, the reef regulations were reinvigorated, to include a
combination of regulation and Smartcane BMP with revisions
being undertaken and due for completion in 2017/2018.
• There is a need to stress that practices recommended are
not only about environmental protection. Good nutrient
and pesticide management will maximise productivity and
profitability, minimise off-site nutrient and pesticide losses,
and minimise impacts on water quality.
• Input use efficiency, whether it be nutrient or chemical, and
environmental stewardship are entirely compatible.
• See Nutrition section for an overview of the SIX EASY STEPS
nutrient management program and reducing off-site impacts.
• See Chemical sections for reducing off-site impacts.
Sugarcane Advisors Information Kit