Commencing in 2003 the NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative conducted research and development activities to identify an improved farming system that would increase the profitability and sustainability of the industry with the planned move toward utilising the whole-of-cane crop for electricity generation and sugar.
Specific project objectives of the work were:
1. Assess and demonstrate the viability of alternative cropping systems for the NSW sugar industry that incorporate the principles of controlled traffic/permanent bed systems bringing about a reduction in crop damage during wet weather harvesting and under the more trafficked field conditions that will occur with whole-of-crop harvesting.
2. Implement a sustainable farming system compatible with the New South Wales Sugar Milling Co-operative (NSWSMC) cogeneration project to maximise sugar and energy production and
3. Identify and extend best management practice for cropping, harvesting and transport systems in the NSW industry compatible with sugar and energy production.
A project that was funded by the Sugar Research and Development Corporation ran from 2003 to 2007 and developed a controlled farming system that has been adopted by around 20% of NSW farmers.
A Fact Sheet and research paper presented at the 2007 Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ASSCT) Association conference are available from the links below:
Farming Systems research paper
For more information contact
Malcolm Warren -
Mobile - 0408 764 742