Six organisations have won funding to support sugarcane growers in implementing improved management practices on their farms.
The organisations were selected following an open market process that invited agronomic industry experts to develop projects that will help sugarcane growers improve fertiliser use efficiency on their farms.
The six organisations are:
- Sugar Research Australia Limited (Wet Tropics and Burnett Mary regions)
- Tropical Agricultural Services Pty Ltd (Herbert)
- Farmacist Pty Ltd (Wet Tropics, Burdekin and Mackay Whitsunday regions)
- Innisfail District Cane Growers Organisation Limited
- Resource Consulting Services Pty Ltd (Mackay Whitsunday), and
- Tully Cane Productivity Services Ltd
They will provide expert advice and support to help cane growers improve crop nutrient use through practices like refined fertiliser application rates, addressing soil constraints and farm management planning to save money and reduce the amount of fertiliser being lost to waterways.
Queensland Environment Minister Leanne Linard said the Queensland Government is committed to protecting the Great Barrier Reef and the thousands of species who call it home.
“We know that poor quality water running off the land and out to the reef is a critical threat, and for many years sugarcane growers have been a key partner in our work to improve water quality, and I thank them for their ongoing support,” Linard said.
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“Growers have told us how much they value opportunities to work one-on-one with industry experts to gain valuable insights on how they can improve their productivity and profitability through improved farm management, which in turn benefits the environment through improved water quality flowing to the reef.
“That is why the government is pleased to provide funding for these organisations to work with growers to help them improve crop nutrient use, address soil constraints and enhance farm management planning to improve the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.”
The funding is part of a $125.1 million investment by the State Government to support agricultural industries including the cane, grazing, banana, horticulture and grain sectors to improve land condition, reduce losses to waterways and increase their business resilience.
“Our government’s $125.1 million Sugarcane Practice Change Program builds on previous investments to focus on a whole-of-industry approach that works directly with farmers to improve land management practices across Reef catchments,” Linard said.