Cane to Coast

Cane to Coast

CANEGROWERS believes that Queensland’s sugarcane farmers are doing remarkable things when it comes to protecting and caring for their industry, the environment and the reef. There has been a significant acceleration in the voluntary adoption of practices that simultaneously improve industry productivity and environmental outcomes with potential for further innovation.

Cane to Coast celebrates and showcases the commitment and dedication of sugarcane growers and features the innovative solutions and exciting projects that are changing the way the industry interacts with the environment. Farmers are undertaking work on their land to boost productivity and profitability while protecting the environment and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef.

The sugarcane industry has undergone a revolution over the past two decades with farming practices being closely scrutinised as governments look to manage run-off and environmental impacts from farms as part of the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan to care for and protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Farmers have embraced the Australian Government Reef Programme and its many funding opportunities, reporting a win-win situation as they benefit from improved farming practices, as well as environmental and economic gains.

Broadscale changes have been implemented to improve water quality in the catchments flowing to the Great Barrier Reef while maintaining or improving farm productivity. Changes include controlled traffic farming; fallow cropping; green cane harvesting and trash blanketing; soil testing and precision application of chemicals and nutrients; the use of biofertilisers; paddock redesigning to manage water use and flow; and advancements in irrigation and drainage management, just to name a few.

There are many growers who have been employing best practice methods throughout their farming career, and just as many who have been determined to prove industry critics wrong. Herbert River district grower Frank Russo was once told "dinosaur" cane farmers needed to change their practices or "get out of the industry".

Gaining best practice accreditation in the three core modules of Smartcane BMP, an industry-developed and owned continuous improvement program, Frank believes he has proven that he and others of his generation can demonstrate a thing or two about being good environmental stewards.

Herbert River district grower Frank Russo is determined to prove the critics wrong and says farmers of his generation are embracing best management practices.

Former CANEGROWERS Chairman Paul Schembri says there is no doubt that cane growers want a healthy and sustainable industry and a healthy and sustainable reef.

“This is our environment as much as it is any Australian’s. We are committed to playing our part to ensuring its future. We have a good story to tell and we need to be proactive in ensuring that the community understands we are making headway towards environmental sustainability,” Paul said.

“CANEGROWERS believes regulation is a blunt instrument that supports minimum standards of compliance at the expense of fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.

“Compliance measures bring everyone down to a lowest common denominator. Money would be better spent on encouraging and assisting growers to move to and beyond industry best management practice farming methods. The sugarcane industry’s Smartcane BMP program does this. It focuses growers on productivity and profitability, alongside environmental sustainability."

As of January 2021, 608 growers are now accredited, encompassing 132,987 hectares. Paul believes growers now see Smartcane BMP as a normal part of their farming practice.

An independent evaluation of the Smartcane BMP program revealed that more than half of all program participants reported a change in practice relating to nutrient, chemical and/or irrigation management and linked this to improved efficiency, and reduced losses of nutrients and chemicals.

Paul leads by example, having achieved accreditation in 2016, take a CANEGROWERS Virtual Bus Tour around the Mackay farms that Paul works with his brother Joe, as they share their passion for sustainable farming and the many benefits for farmers and the environment alike. Watch more.

CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan says the high levels of engagement in government reef programs and the fact that over 35% of Queensland's cane area is managed by Smartcane BMP accredited growers, clearly shows that growers are working hard to care for their environment, while also making gains for their bottom line.

“When growers, government and the science community work together, there is no doubt we can achieve our common goal of ensuring that farming beside the reef can be sustainable and provide a future for generations to come,” Dan said.

In 2017, then Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles signed a Cane Changer commitment acknowledging the ongoing efforts of cane growers to improve farming practices, especially as they relate to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.

Mr Miles did however make it clear that there would be no backing down in the Queensland Government’s plan to expand reef regulations to include more catchment areas and additional agricultural industries.

Now more than ever Queensland's sugarcane farming industry should be seeking to prove its critics wrong and demonstrate that farmers are proud environmental custodians. As Burdekin grower Russell Jordan said on achieving Smartcane BMP accreditation, "When we cop criticism, we can...put this up as proof we are doing the right thing as an industry."

From left: CANEGROWERS Senior Manager - Membership Engagement & Innovation Matt Kealley, Burdekin grower Russell Jordan, CANEGROWERS Environment and Sustainability Manager Mick Quirk and CANEGROWERS Burdekin Chair Phil Marano.

Find out more about some of the innovative solutions and exciting projects farmers are undertaking in the areas of Soil Health, Nutrient Management, and Water Sense.

CANE FARM BUSINESSESArtboard 1TONES OF SUGAR 2