Sharing costs to improve farming practices

Farmers are not just talking about change but are acting and co-investing in agricultural technologies for sustainable management of their farms.  

Practice change with machinery in the sugar industry is pivotal for modernisation. The integration of advanced machinery not only enhances efficiency, productivity and quality but also aligns with sustainability goals while ensuring a safer industry. Continuous adoption of advanced technologies is crucial to maintaining the sugarcane industry's sustainability in the global market. 

Funding through the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation provided grants across the Lower Herbert, Mackay Whitsunday and Lower Burdekin regions for machinery and technology to achieve management practice changes that better match nutrient application to crop requirements and reduce losses through runoff entering the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. 

Growing up, second generation sugarcane Herbert farmer Frank Succio spent hours on the side of a tractor learning from his dad. He found it second nature to continue what his dad had started. In his 36 years of farming, Frank feels his responsibility as a farmer is to ensure his practices are sustainable and environmentally friendly.  

“We all like the Reef, we look after our Reef and waterways. Clean waterways are a benefit for everybody,” said Frank. 

Through the Major Grants Project in the Lower Herbert, CANEGROWERS Herbert River provided financial incentives to 94 growers to improve management practices on their farm. Over $1.6 million in incentive grants were awarded and farmers invested over $2 million of their own money.  

The Grower Incentive Grants supported practices that improve on-farm nitrogen management, such as matching nitrogen supply to crop nitrogen requirements, timing of fertiliser application and/or fertiliser application method. As a result, over 12 tonnes of nutrients per year have been stopped from entering local Herbert waterways. 

Keeping fertliser on the farm 

Frank Succio was successful in obtaining a grant to fund 50% of the cost of a GPS unit and stool splitter fertiliser box; he invested the other 50% of the cost into the project. 

“My project of a GPS and stool splitter fertiliser box gives me the ability to follow my fertiliser budget keeping me within legislation, ensures that my fertiliser placement is accurate, and gives me the confidence that my fertiliser will stay on my farm. It also gives me the ability to be timely with my fertiliser application, which is important.” 

The introduction of precision automated machinery can enhance the overall operational efficiency, which leads to increased productivity, higher yields, and less fertiliser applied and lost to runoff. The new equipment includes all modern safety features, reducing risks associated with manual labour, and provides the ability to collect data which simplifies record keeping and supports decision making into the future.  

Frank has also become Smartcane BMP accredited. On completion of core modules, Smartcane BMP provides Queensland canegrowers with independent recognition and accreditation for their management of soil health and nutrients, irrigation and drainage, and weeds, pests, and diseases.

“I think farmers try do the right thing. Change is daunting but with the assistance of the program, after you go through the process of taking the right steps, I understood the requirements for Smartcane BMP. I realised it only took half hour of an evening to keep the records and was easy to continue.” 

Using his historical and current soil test information, Frank created his own Nitrogen and Phosphorous Budget. He was then able to keep records and now has the ability to continue creating N&P budgets for future years.  

Frank believes there are always opportunities to learn and is open to listening to other ideas and opinions. This mindset enables him to adopt practice change into the future. 

Through the Major Grants Project in the Mackay-Whitsunday region, Reef Catchments provided financial incentives to 72 growers to improve management practices on their farm. Over $1.8 million in incentive grants were awarded and farmers invested over $3.4 million of their own money. 

The Grech family have been growing cane on their Sandiford farm since 1963. Jeff vividly recalls his father manually cutting the sugarcane – a stark contrast to the modern evolution of farm practices since then.  

Jeff Grech considers himself a steward of the land he lives on and has a deep ambition to pass it on to his son. He believes that “it is a privilege to be able to live and work here.” 

Jeff said he not only loves his farm, but he also loves going out to the Great Barrier Reef and wants to protect it for future generations.  

“If nutrients or chemicals applied on my farm end up at the Reef, it is a problem.” Jeff wants those inputs to stay on his farm to improve the sugarcane crop. “If there is something I am doing on my farm that is hurting the Reef, then it is also hurting my farm,” said Jeff.  

Improving soil health with more efficient planting 

Jeff is enthusiastic about his new minimal till adjustable three row billet planter purchased with assistance from the Mackay Whitsunday Major Grants Project. He uses the planter to minimise field traffic by simultaneously planting three rows directly into his knocked down legume fallow on permanent beds, reducing excessive land cultivation and compaction.  

This gentle approach to soil management enhances soil health by promoting better infiltration and minimising disruption to soil microbes. Additionally, it lowers the risk of erosion, contributing to improved water quality around the farm. 

Reflecting on his father’s teachings, Jeff said there are a lot of things you cannot control such as the weather, mill performance, and market conditions. He follows his father’s advice to always focus on the things you can control, which for him is growing the best sugarcane crop possible using the best practices he can.  

Using the new planter Jeff can now plant 10 ha/day when soil moisture and temperature are optimal during the short window in April. Herbicide is applied immediately after planting to keep the grass from coming up.  

Jeff says he will not touch that soil for another two months, believing that less is better, and the right timing is key. “Being able to plant early gives me an extra 30 tonnes/ha of cane,” he says.  

While they get it right most of the time, there are always hiccups along the way. Jeff is confident profits will be up as the new planter has helped with a strong strike rate. 

Although he was a bit nervous about the management practice changes, he is confident these new practices will benefit the farm and improve production. If the season goes well, he expects 110 tonnes/ha on average across the farm. 

When it comes to farming, “the more you do it right, the easier it gets and the more you get it right,” said Jeff. 

Jeff is passionate about growing sugarcane and improving the soil and water quality so the next generation can farm this land successfully and sustainably. He credits the growers living in his area as inspiration for trying new things.  

“The growers around here are great at what they do, and we feed off each other’s ideas and are constantly asking questions to learn from each other every day,” said Jeff.  

Jeff’s advice to those just starting the journey of adopting newer practices is to speak to your local productivity services officers. Jeff also encourages other growers to engage in these types of grant programs to “get that one thing to make your farming practice just a little bit better.”  

Improving irrigation and nutrient management

In the Lower Burdekin, the Major Grants project provided growers with financial incentives to implement additional improvements irrigation technology, nutrient management practices and precision agriculture. NQ Dry Tropics, supported by Sugar Research Australia, agronomy service provider Farmacist and smart farming company Aglantis, engaged with 33 growers to improve management practices on their farm, delivering over $1 million in incentive grants with farmers investing over $1.2 million of their own money.

A range of on-ground actions were funded to achieve reductions in nutrients and pesticides and improve irrigation efficiency. These included the use of Stool Zippas to reduce fertiliser and chemical run off, GPS guidance and rate control for more precise application and recording of nutrients and pesticide, modems for accurate and trouble-free data collection and management, and improved water use efficiency through increased adoption of automated irrigation technology and infield scheduling tools.

Overall, the Reef Trust Partnership-funded Major Grants projects have delivered over $4 million in incentive grants across the three sugarcane regions and farmers have invested over $6.6 million of their own money. That equates to $1.65 invested by farmers for every grant dollar received. 

The farming practice changes funded through the program are resulting in improved land management, which is positively affecting growers’ bottom lines, boosting the local economy and having a significant impact on end of catchment pollution load reduction. This is a positive outcome for the future of farming in Reef catchments and the quality of water in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.