By Richard Marks & Matthew Fotheringham 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 1

Transcription

1 AUSTRALIAN SUGAR CANE FARMS By Richard Marks & Matthew Fotheringham 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 1

2 Introduction We are all here for some sought of farming interest, weather it be small or large. We all have some thing to do with a sweet thing called sugar cane. We grow this large commodity product for the profits at the end of the day. The sugar industry has been alive a lot longer than you and I and many weird and wonderful ideas have been introduced to assist us in the best possible methods of growing sugar cane. The Question is what and which one will best suit our own environment. 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 2

3 It Introduction t The photos and information are from a recent trip to Australian sugar cane farms. At the moment Australian cane farmers are receiving $ dollars AU per tonne of cane, or 6 cents per pound. Equivalent in Jamaica is $ per tonne or per pound. 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 3

4 Introduction For a farmer this presents a very competitive market place. With the low price for sugar in Australia and high labor costs. Australian farmers are evolving into competitive farming practices. And finding technology as a very use full tool in the industry. The photos viewed here are some of the most advanced farms in the world and are limited to today's technology to increase further savings with farm practices. 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 4

5 Dual row planter Methods used in the cane industry Dual row HBM billet planter. Planting 10 hectares per day 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 5

6 Dual Row planter using a 16 formation 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 6

7 Tractor & dual row planter 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 7

8 Water truck supplying Shirtan Lorsban And water 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 8

9 Front end loader used for loading fertilizer into planter from 1-tonne bags 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 9

10 Planter being loaded from a 6-tonne tipper 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 10

11 Planter reloaded and back to work. Notice the the insecticide tank on board 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 11

12 Cutting seed using a chopper harvester and 3 6-tonne haul units 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 12

13 Cutting seed 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 13

14 Six week plant cane 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 14

15 Topics of Discussion Field preparation Planting fashions 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 15

16 Field preparation Using the technology at our finger tips maximizing drainage with laser leveling equipment Achieving maximum row length by cutting and filling high and low areas of land Allowing the farmer to control irrigation water when flood dirrigating i i etc 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 16

17 Planting fashions Dual row Single row Both dual and single row configurations planters can adapt to a single 9, 12, 14 and 16 inch drill formation also double 6 drills to one row 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 17

18 Harvesting green 185 TCH 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 18

19 Notice the shredder topper 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 19

20 Green Cane Harvesting 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 20

21 Fertilizing with a coulter type fertilizer unit doing three rows in one pass 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 21

22 Typical coulter and penetration shoot for fertilizer notice the soil marks 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 22

23 High clearance fertilizer distributor dropping only on top of the stool 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 23

24 Four row stool splitting satellite navigated fertilizer box and tractor 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 24

25 4 way row cut away disc s for the out of hand stage 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 25

26 4 row molding tool bar with crumble rollers 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 26

27 Draw bar pull set of rippers 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 27

28 Coupled together are two 24 yard laser levelers used for field drainage 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 28

29 Large horse power used for field prep p and laser leveling 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 29

30 48 plate disc s s note the small 22 DIA disc 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 30

31 Harvesting burnt cane with the new cameco 3500 using Carta Cantrel transporters 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 31

32 Dual row cameco having daily maintenance carried out 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 32

33 Key points to mechanization Machines achieve more work while in the row and not turning on headlands Row spacing is critical when planting allowing for controlled traffic and eliminating compaction of the drill area Keeping field well drained to prevent heavy machinery from fastening in the field 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 33

34 Thank you for your time I hope every body enjoyed 11/1/2007 TURN THE NEXT LEAF 34