Date Posted
18 September, 2023
Posted by
Helen Cook
Pictured delivering SRA’s newly commissioned small mill to MSF Sugar’s Tableland mill, Gavin Rodman (centre) with Graham Cripps (MSF Sugar) and Drewe Burgess (CANEGROWERS Tableland).
Variety management for growers in the Tableland district of Far North Queensland will now be easier thanks to the recent delivery of a small mill.
“Variety adoption, and cane maturity, formed a significant part of the conversation when we were consulting with Tableland growers through the development of the Far North district productivity plan,” SRA District Manager, Far North Gavin Rodman said.
“It was also identified through those conversations that the tools required to gather some of this information were lacking and one of those was an accessible small mill.
“We’ve had a small mill at the Meringa station for several years where SRA staff are able to test samples, but by having this new mill based on the Tablelands growers now have the opportunity to quickly and cheaply get the response they want to a sample.
“From a new variety perspective, a sample processed at the mill will give the grower a better idea of how it is performing, particularly in smaller quantities earlier in the cycle before they are planted out to a larger commercial scale. But really, it’s about getting familiar with how that variety is performing in the different sub-climates on the Tablelands,” Gavin said.
MSF Sugar Tableland Agronomist and Extension Officer Graham Cripps added that the small mill will help him tailor local advice.
“The very distinct soil and climate of the Northern and Southern parts of the Tableland mill region mean that a single variety can perform and react quite differently,” Graham said.
“This makes season-to-season variety management, tricky. This small mill will let growers make their own decisions about varieties.”
“And from a maturity perspective, results from the small mill tests, will help us identify harvest scheduling on the Tablelands,” Gavin continued.
“The mill will also add to the ripener conversation. It will give growers the opportunity to collect the information that they really should have to make an informed decision about ripeners. It will also guide where they may or may not be profitable for application. We’ve carried out similar work in the coastal regions of FNQ which has proved successful.”
SRA has purchased the mill and made the relevant modifications, and while it will remain an SRA asset it will be based initially at the Tableland Mill but “it’s not just for MSF Sugar use” Gavin said “but for all growers on the Tablelands who want to use it”.
At the moment, people inducted to use the mill are Gavin Rodman and Paul Calcino (SRA), Graham Cripps (MSF Sugar) and Drewe Burgess (CANEGROWERS Tableland).
“Graham already collects commercial samples from growers on the Tablelands and sends them to Meringa for testing. This will make the process easier and quicker for him, as well as opening-up other opportunities,” Gavin said.
“Graham and Drewe will also use the mill to support demonstration work they are doing on the Tablelands, but commercial sampling will be welcome. We encourage all growers to get familiar with the mill and see how it can benefit their business.”