7 September > Sugarcane scoops national sustainable farming award
Sugarcane is headlining its frontline environmental stewardship again this month, scooping the prestigious national award for sustainable farming at the recent National Farmers’ Federation conference.
Third generation cane growers from Dalbeg in northern Queensland, John, Bryan and Terry Granshaw were presented with the national Sustainability Award at the NFF’s national 2010 Innovation in Agriculture Awards gala ceremony in Melbourne last night.
Pitted against some of the most impressive farms around Australia, the Granshaws are deserving winners of the hotly contested award which focuses on the coexistence of boosting farm production while ensuring environmentally sustainable outcomes. Practically every advancement in farming over the past 20 years can be found on the Granshaw farm, and they have the records to show how this has made their enterprise not only more environmentally sustainable, but also more profitable, with clear savings on time, labour, fuel and wear-and-tear on equipment.
They have reduced fertiliser and chemical use by 60%, reduced soil compaction, reduced water use from 10-day to 28-day cycles. All while improving soil moisture and organic matter levels to lift production to 16,000 tonnes of sugar a year.
CANEGROWERS has congratulated the Granshaw family on their win, and the body’s new CEO has emphasised that this is a sign of things to come. “This win highlights what is out there – this is the tip of the iceberg – I think consumers can expect a lot more news like this as we start to let people know what our publicity-shy farmers are out there implementing on the ground, said Steve Greenwood, who has taken over the reins of the peak body for sugarcane growers.
He also wryly points out that the action taken by the Granshaws and many other cane growers across Australia has been undertaken without the need for regulations.
“The award puts paid to claims that cane growers are doing the wrong thing. The Australian sugarcane industry is recognised internationally for its cutting edge practices and innovation – these types of stories are a step in the right direction in showing our governments that cane is a farming sector leading the pack in frontline environmental management, Mr Greenwood said.
But for the Granshaw family, Bryan simply summed up the family's sentiments in his acceptance speech, remarking: “We're leaving a legacy for not only our kids - but yours as well".
The Granshaw farm recently featured in a short virtual bus tour movie showing their approach to trash blanketing, controlled traffic, green cane harvesting, GPS harvesters, laser-levelling, legume fallows, minimum till, biological and grub control, and recycling pits to catch run-off. The segment is available on the CANEGROWERS website www.canegrowers.com.au
Media Comment:
Steve Greenwood, CANEGROWERS CEO, 0488 721 156.
Bryan Granshaw, Dalbeg cane grower, 0421 631 897 or after Wednesday 07 4784 0141 (AH)
Alf Cristaudo, CANEGROWERS Chairman, 0418 181 204.
Click here to download high resolution version of the Granshaws accepting the award
Courtesy of the NFF
Other photos available on request – please call Suzi Moore on 0427 641 239.
