This part of the 'Virtual Bus Tour' concentrates on nutrient and pest & disease management.  This new website functionality will suit those with a high speed internet connection.


Targeting nutrient & chemical application > Phillip Deguara, Mackay cane grower
Growers are known for building clever on farm innovations, and one of their favorite innovations are ways to modify machinery to increase efficiency and reduce the impact of farming on the environment With the help of Reef Rescue funding organised by CANEGROWERS and Reef Catchments, the Deguaras bought in a fertiliser applicator rig from Western Australia, where it was already set up to 1.8m row spacings. They have now added a variable rate controller to control the fertiliser application and are now going to use it to apply confidor to the blocks infected with cane grubs.  Reef Rescue funding also helped the Deguaras invest in a ‘Rain Controller’ system including GPS, which is set up to do a number of jobs around the farm.
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Water automated irrigation trials & targeted input application > Russell Jordan, Burdekin cane grower
Russell Jordan has been trialling an automated irrigation system on his Burdekin cane property to target water applications, even when he is not around to switch the water on and off himself.  Water is not the only thing he is targeting.  He has secured Reef Rescue funding via NQ Dry Tropics for a GPS for the farm tractor and for a variable rate applicator for his fertiliser box. Now he says you can sit down, dial it up through the GPS screen, capture what fertiliser, record it, set it all in. You can also change rates through the paddock if needed or even change blocks or change farms.  He says it’s just so much simpler - no changing chains or cogs or anything like that.
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Reducing nitrogen use trials with legumes & GPS > Doug Crees, Mossman cane grower
Mossman grower Doug Crees has been working with CSIRO researcher Tony Webster, trialling nitrogen replacement to assess its potential for reducing nitrogen fertiliser inputs into cane after a legume fallow with some early successes. He is also looking at adapting GPS across his farm with assistance from Reef Rescue which should allow the Mossman farm to reduce tillages down from four passes back to one. 
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Targetting chemical use with hooded sprayers > Robert Craig, Mackay cane grower
Robert Craig has just nearly finished converting his farm entirely to 1.8 spacing and matching wheel spacing to reduce compaction and conserve fuel use.  He has used GPS to re-align his blocks to help with irrigation and harvesting.  Now with help from the Reef Rescue, he has been able to access a shielded sprayer which has the potential to lower cost in weed control. Robert says he believed that fertiliser applied sub-surface has less potential to become mobile after heavy rain and this is why he uses a three row stool splitter for fertilising.
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Introduction > Justin Anderson, Childers cane grower
Justin has five different row spacings on his farm, so he uses a hydraulically driven precision applicator. The hydraulically driven applicator is controlled through a user-friendly console, which allows the optimal amount of fertiliser to be used, without wastage. The fertiliser is applied to three rows in one pass, and then watered in. 
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Efficient Surface Application > Tony Chapman, Childers cane grower
Tony Champman has developed a three-row fertiliser applicator for use on his sugarcane farm. The applicator fits on a trailer; is able to be driven on roads due to it being fitted on a turntable; can hold three tonnes; and can weigh the fertiliser as it is loading. The applicator is built to surface-apply fertiliser the most efficient way possible. The shaft speed can be adjusted to ensure the right amount of fertiliser is being applied, and as it is weighed, the amount can be controlled perfectly. 
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Watering In > Vince Germanotta, Mackay cane grower
Centre pivots can water a large area in less time than other irrigation methods. Vince Germanotta uses a centre pivot irrigation system to water-in fertiliser straight after contractors apply fertiliser. There is virtually no nutrient loss on his farm from this method. 
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Subsurface Appliation > Peter Tabaldi, Mossman cane grower, Geoff Plath, Isis & Sam Spina, Innisfail
Subsurface application is a very efficient way to apply fertiliser to sugarcane. Peter Tabaldi bought his farm 20 years ago and the farm was not efficiently designed. He decided to construct a drain and re-forest the drain area to reduce farm run-off. He has laser levelled his fields, and implemented underground pipes. He also uses a subsurface applicator for fertiliser on his farm. Geoff uses a hydraulically driven, three-row subsurface fertiliser applicator. This machine uses scallop disks to form grooves in the soil, allowing the fertiliser to be applied under the green cane trash blanket. Sam Spina looks at a three-row, subsurface applicator with a trash incorporator used to apply fertiliser under the ground. The machine features rollers to ensure the fertiliser is pushed below the surface of the trash blanket. .
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Calibration > Geoff Plath, Childers cane grower & Sam Spina, Innisfail
Geoff says that to achieve the desired amount of fertiliser, calibration using mathematical equations and scales to weigh the fertiliser are used on sugarcane farms. This video also shows how to calibrate a fertiliser box. Sam tells how his fertiliser box was calibrated to ensure the optimal amount of fertiliser was applied..
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Precision Agriculture in Fertilising > Philip Deguara, Mackay cane grower
Block by block application is utilised by sugarcane growers to match the amount of fertiliser used to the soil type, and the soil’s need in a specific area. The Deguaras use soil testing and mapping in conjunction with a fertiliser box with a variable applicator. All fertilising and spraying is mapped using a GPS and all jobs are logged. .
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Liquid One Shot > Brian Machan, Tully cane grower
Liquid is another way to apply fertiliser which is efficient and can be faster than applying it granularly. With the assistance of the federal government’s Reef Rescue funding, Brian Machan was able to convert his boom sprayer to coulters which cut the trash and a subsurface applicator which applies the Liquid One Shot about 2cm under the green cane trash. The machine is electronically controlled to allow for 1.83m, 1.9m and 2m rows.
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Mill Ash > Ramon Marbelli, Ingham cane grower
Ramon Marbelli uses zonal application of mill ash underneath the root zone on his sugarcane farm. Mill ash is applied under the root zone in the furrow to allow for better nutrient take-up and less nutrient loss. Mill ash application is a way to improve heavy clay soils and poor weather conditions. .
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Zonal Mud > Gerry Deguara, Mackay cane grower & Elton Petersen, Maryborough
A custom-made mill mud applicator has been designed for use on Gerry Deguara’s farm. Elton has converted a manure applicator for use for mill mud application on his sugarcane. He also talks about the use of a bed renovator..
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Sediment Management > Phil Tarditi, Tully cane grower & Sam Spina, Innisfail
The use of sediment and silt traps on sugarcane farms is an efficient way of reducing nutrient run-off and improving water quality. Phil has constructed sediment traps on his sugarcane farm in Tully. One is optimally located on a corner with stabilised banks. It collects sediment from adjacent farms and reserves. Rocks are used to slow down the water and as a natural filter. Another collects water from the fields. Sam Spina has used laser levelling on farm, building in a 1% gradient. The water used on paddocks is carried away through a number of spoon drains. Laser levelling reduces depressions on farming land, solving the problem of major grass issues in sugarcane paddocks..
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Nitrogen from Legumes > Gavin Kedar, Burdekin cane grower & Sam Spina, Innisfail
Soybeans can be used as a source of nitrogen for sugarcane. Gavin Kedar plants soybeans alongside the sugarcane (companion planting) to reduce the amount of nitrogen applied manually. Sam grows a summer crop of soybeans very successfully, which fixes nitrogen in the soil. He is currently part of a winter soybean crop trial. 
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Compost Application > Adrian Ross, Maryborough cane grower & John and Dennis Werner, Mackay
With the assistance of Reef Rescue funding, Adrian Ross has constructed a compost applicator for use on his sugarcane farm. The applicator is automated, and drops the compost beside the disk-opener. Being a two-row applicator, it can be transported via road. John Werner uses a compost/mill mud applicator on his sugarcane. The machine employs disks to cut the trash, which allows for the compost or mill mud to be applied directly to the soil. Disks then follow the application of compost/mill mud and cover the groove back up with trash.
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Compost > John Walker, Mackay cane grower & John Ross, Mackay
John Walker uses a turner, which is designed to bring the outside of a mound of compost into the middle. John Ross says that to ensure a quality compost product, it is important to monitor the compost daily. The turning of compost means the outside product is heated up to 55°C inside the mound of compost, and therefore decomposes quicker. As the product matures, it cools to a 35-40°C level and is therefore ready to be applied on field.
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