WELCOME TO Cane Matters

Welcome to our first edition of

Cane Matters. Our new magazine brings

the former Milling Matters and CaneConnection publications into a single quarterly edition.

The new name represents a strong statement on the importance of the sugarcane industry to regional communities and economies – Cane Matters.

We’re working hard to improve our communications and engagement and are listening to feedback from industry. Through our engagement, we have heard there’s a ‘disconnect’ across the industry about the challenges each part of the supply chain is working to address, why those problems matter, and how SRA is contributing to the solutions through research. We want to be more effective and provide broader visibility of research across the whole industry.

Cane Matters will be released in both hard copy and electronically for members. It is also available electronically for other subscribers.

In this edition of Cane Matters, we catch up with Manager Bray’s Farming Chris Vella on the Tablelands to discuss a commercial trial of SRA32. The story behind the variety is interesting. It was borne from a milling challenge for a cane better suited to electricity production, without compromising grower returns from sugar production. Its rapid development has been an exceptional response time in plant breeding terms.

On the research front, we take a look at robotic weed control trials showing promise in the Burdekin, maturity management trials in the far north and research into a biopesticide for sugarcane root feeding pests.

The SRA team has been actively engaging with industry from field days to forums on topical issues such as ratoon stunting disease, soil health and harvesting optimisation. The regional milling research seminars were held during March in conjunction with QUT and we examine several of the research projects discussed at those sessions.

Enjoy the read.

As always, we value your feedback. You can reach me at cweis@sugarresearch.com.au.

Cathy Weis Head of Industry Communications and Marketing

THOUGHTS FOR OUR INDUSTRY COLLEAGUES IN NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES

It has been a challenging start to 2022 for farmers and mills in northern New South Wales. Flooding caused significant damage and disruption, and our thoughts are with all members of the industry who are dealing with the aftermath of flooding.

(Top) At the height of flooding at Tweed River (Bottom) one month on from the floods. Images courtesy of Robert Quirk.

Following the extreme weather event, SRA released an information sheet on managing flood damaged cane. The info sheet is available on our website, or via the QR code below. If you’ve been impacted by flooding and need advice, please reach out to the team at: sra@sugarresearch.com.au.