By Angelo Licciardello, QCAR Burdekin District Manager
It has been an interesting and diverse two weeks to say the least. The last fortnight has seen quite a range of activities being undertaken by the team at QCAR.
Week 19-20 Crush: The first week after the rain event on the 13 October caused some disruptions to harvesting and crushing, and then the quality of cane material caused its own issues.
Reviews are currently being undertaken into:
• Cut to Crush over 24 hours
• Delayed bin deliveries
• Even a missing bin (which our QCAR admin team found)
CCS, Purity, Suspense Cane – these words are now becoming important in my day-to-day work life.
On a personal note, I took the opportunity offered by the Burdekin Cane Audit Service (BCAS) on the 22 October. The presentation and tour demonstrated there is a high level of accuracy required. Many checks are completed by auditors along the way to validate grower results. Thanks to Barb Colls and the BCAS team.
Our touring group also were taken through the mill by Operations Manager, Robert Borg, and we saw the mill in full operation observing how local sugarcane is transformed into raw sugar. The event is a credit to all the staff at Inkerman.
Milling Update: When you consider the age of these factories it is quite remarkable that they do what they do. The concern is:
• Do we take our sugar industry for granted?
• How do we improve efficiency at milling and harvesting?
• Can we improve productivity per hectare?
• Can we grow more hectares?
Need many collaborators to get a positive change.
P & K Farm Update:
• has been fully harvested – 2,955 tonnes
• mother plot - destroyed with rotary hoe
• ratoons – trash incorporator cultivation
• irrigation can now begin on plant cane
QCAR Connections:
• Kelli Dabelstein – Northern Insurance Solutions
• Clark Grogan – Rabobank
• Troy Williams & Judy Betteridge – Lowes Petroleum
Upcoming Events:
• National Agriculture Day, 15 November
• GRDC Grains Research Update, 26 November, Ayr Showgrounds
• Embracing Agriculture Digital Workshop, 27 November, Bowen Tafe College
ANGELO’S AGRONOMIC TIP: Late application of nitrogen on our last cut ratoons? With the wet season not far away are nitrogen inhibitors being considered? Enpower and N Protect will ensure we get the most out of our N applications.
QCAR Burdekin District Manager Angelo Licciardello can be contacted on 0437 401 837 or email angelo.licciardello@qcar.org.au or QCAR Head Office 4783 2111.
Angelo Licciardello, QCAR Burdekin District Manager and David Paine, P & K Farm Manager
Growers observe the BCAS Workplace Coordinator demonstrate a Pol reading for sucrose in the Inkerman Mill laboratory. From left – Sue Wright, Angelo Licciardello, Shaun Betteridge, Dylan Betteridge, Kylie Sibson and Glenda Pola
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