Peter & Dell Linnewebber at Proserpine

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1 in this edition Edition 10 September 2014 Peter & Dell Linnewebber at Proserpine 1 Peter & Dell Linnewebber 2 Timely Rainfall John Mcgillivray Paul McDougal applying Bio Dunder to the canefields, Paul is a contractor in the Proserpine region. Stay Farm Safe 3 Research: Canegrub Control 4 Bio Dunder Liquid Fertiliser Trial Program Sarina Show Cane 6 Inkerman Celebrates 100 Years Incentives & offers 7 Reward program 8 Contacts Peter and Dell acquired their sugar cane farm in 1992 and leased the property out until 1996 when they began farming it themselves. The property is located approximately 25km from the Proserpine mill. They produce over 5000 tonnes of cane and principally use varieties 208, 229 and 226 with some 183. This year they are planting 240. Peter and Dell have used Bio Dunder products since 1997 to provide their crop nutrition and will continue to do so, Our yields are reliable and consistent and sugar is at or above the mill. This year at week 7 into the cut our tonnage is above the 2013 mill average. The average mill ccs is at units and we are at 15.5 units of ccs which is really good for our tonnes of sugar per hectare and income. We will continue to use a range of Bio Dunder products. Being so far away from the Proserpine mill we cannot get mill mud and the crop needs phosphorous which comes from the Bio Dunder blends we use. The Bio Dunder is so easy to use, just get the contractor and it is done with no fuss and no risk. Another benefit is that we don t have money tied up in machinery. Peter has plenty to do on the farm and sitting on a stool splitter is a waste of time. We see Bio Dunder as a greener product, and as far we are concerned the organic carbon is good for our soil. The products perform reliably and we will be using Bio Dunder over the whole farm again this season. Using the contractor means we have more time to do other things.

2 Timely Rainfall As I write this, it is raining. Already in Sarina we have had about 70 mm of rain. I am sure this will be welcomed by some less so by others. Earlier this week our contractors were very busy many growers were anxious to get their fertiliser on before the advancing rain. For the first time this season several of our contractors were running late into the evening. Rain of this order in mid-august may not be particularly unusual although the past couple of seasons have been rather drier during August. Later in the season, as we approach the end of the crush, expectations of rain increase which brings me to the issue of timing of fertiliser. Let s keep it simple. We can t predict time and quantity of rain with any great certainty more than about a week out. We would all like to apply fertiliser and have a soaking rain fall within a week. There is a tendency with many growers to hold off fertiliser application until later in the season in the hope that rain will fall shortly thereafter. Consequently the order books of our contractors fill up and by the time we get into October the lead time for application gets stretched out to 10 or 14 days not a problem, as long as some heavy early rain doesn t disrupt application. For many years we have advocated Follow the harvester don t leave fertilising your crop to chance get it on as soon as you can bank your nutrients. If you have irrigation, water it in and get growth moving. At our pre-season grower meetings we were asked more than once, how long before rain can you apply the Bio Dunder fertiliser? Many growers do not have access to irrigation across the whole farm and the experience shows that crops which frequently receive their fertiliser several weeks in advance of rain produce high quality yields and sugar. The reality is that whether you are using a granule fertiliser or a Dunder product with granules dissolved in it, nutrient losses from leaching far exceed losses from volatilisation or run-off irrespective of the type of fertiliser applied. Getting your Dunder on and letting it soak into the root zone under the trash blanket is the wisest and safest choice. The results speak for themselves. More Productivity awards in Mackay and Plane Creek go to Bio Dunder users than to users of any other fertiliser. That s a fact. Leave your fertilising to us and our contractors while you get on with the jobs that aren t so easily contracted out and where you can add real value to your operations. John McGillivray // Business Unit Manager STAY FARM SAFE REMEMBER ALL ACCIDENTS ARE PREVENTABLE! Electricity: Keep machinery and irrigation pipes away from overhead powerlines Install safety switches Regularly maintain electrical equipment Wear rubber soled shoes Workshop Chock machinery during repair and maintenance Install safety switches for electrical equipment Keep children out of workshops Wear eye and ear protection when necessary Keep the workshop tidy Contributed by Shelley Dent // Canegrowers Mackay 2 EDITION 10 SEPTEMBER

3 Research leads to longer-lasting canegrub control Above: The damage wrought by canegrubs in unprotected vs protected cane blocks is clearly visible in this 2009 aerial shot of the Homebush property near Mackay one of many cane growers throughout Queensland co-operating with SRA and Crop Care in trials to develop long-term protection from canegrub damage. August 2014 Australian sugarcane research has identified a canegrub control that protects the crop from several grub species for up to four years from a single application to plant cane. A submission is before the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority to register the new product suscon Maxi Intel for up to 3-year protection from Greyback, Negatoria, Bundaberg and Consobrina canegrub (2-year); and up to 4-year protection from Childers and Southern 1-year canegrub. With the same 50g/kg concentration of imidacloprid as suscon Maxi, the new granules release the active ingredient more steadily for longer-lasting grub protection from the lower application rate of 10kg/ha. Crop Care and Sugar Research Australia (SRA, formerly BSES) have been collaborating for more than 30 years to develop environmentally safe, long-term solutions for Australian canegrowers against their major pest. The development of patented controlled-release suscon technology in 1981 was a major breakthrough, with the active ingredient bound securely in a granule, and gradually being released over time into the soil surrounding cane roots. Between 2005 and 2012, Crop Care and SRA developed, screened and tested many new controlled-release formulations in north, central and southern Queensland with the aims of increasing the length of canegrub control, particularly Greyback canegrub in central and north Queensland; broadening the species of canegrubs controlled; and manufacturing improvements. The outcome from these trials is suscon Maxi Intel, for which Crop Care is currently seeking registration to replace suscon Maxi. Trial results Crop Care technical consultant Glen Tucker said suscon Maxi Intel had significantly reduced Greyback canegrub for three years in plant, first and second ratoons similar to, or better than suscon Maxi increasing yield in plant, first and second ratoons; increasing primary ratoon shoots; and reducing gaps between shoots. SRA Mackay has begun the 2014 harvest to measure cane yields on canegrub insecticide trial plots pictured here on the farm at Homebush near Mackay. The long-term trial work assessing the effectiveness of different controlled-release formulations continues. The release rate of suscon Maxi Intel granules was steadier than from suscon Maxi, resulting in significantly higher levels of imidacloprid in soil around granules 27 months after application. Glen Tucker // Technical consultant, Crop Care // // Glenville.Tucker@cropcare.com.au EDITION 10 SEPTEMBER

4 Bio Dunder Liquid Fertiliser Trial Program 2014 Project Title: Sustainable Mill Mud Management for improving sugarcane on sodic soil in the Burdekin: (Compost Project) Trial Location: Ayr, Burdekin, QLD 4807 Principle Investigator: L. J. Lillford Title: Research & Development Agronomist Starting Date: September 2014 Summary: Soil nutrition health, soil physical health and soil biological health are the three pillars of good soil health for your crop. There is significant evidence of a trend in soil degradation and therefore the potential for reduced productivity across all sugarcane regions. With organic carbon levels reducing to critical levels it is necessary to consider a proactive soil health program implemented into the sugarcane cropping regime. Mill mud is a traditional amendment but with high application rates (70% water), logistical constraints and limited nutrient and carbon quality for maintaining beneficial soil health effects, an alternative waste management for mill mud and bagasse is being investigated which involves composting both products in a cost effective manner to produce a humified carbon source for growers. There is significant evidence through studies that organic carbon sequestration, particularly humified organic carbon, contributes to soil health, water use efficiency, nutrient efficiency, pathogen suppression and agronomic productivity. Composting of milling material is a solution for reducing volume as well as increasing stability and consistency of the beneficial parameters for soil amendment. To fully appreciate the agronomic value of composted mill waste in the sugarcane industry, a trial study of long term crop productivity, water quality and soil health on vulnerable soils, in this case sodic soils is being investigated. Comparisons between raw materials, composted material and other conventional soil amendments will be comprehensively assessed. This trial will provide a preliminary assessment of the potential of compost in the Burdekin region that can be built upon in future trials and case studies, seeking to explore the full potential of compost in sugarcane. Project Title: Evaluating the potential of Cyanobacteriamediated nitrogen inputs into sugarcane systems delivered with Bio Dunder Trial Location: University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD Principle Investigator: Dr. Wendy Williams Title: Honorary Fellow- Rangeland Ecologist Starting Date: September 2014 Summary: The practice of replacing synthetic fertiliser with biologically fixed nitrogen has, for example, advanced soybeans to a top 10 global crop. Cyanobacteria occur widely throughout Australia s grazing lands, wetlands and waterways. They live in soil and form prominent layers on soil surfaces. Inocula based on Cyanobacteria are increasingly used internationally to augment crop productivity and deliver biofertiliser. Multi-strain Cyanobacteria-based bio-fertilisers (i.e. composed of more than one species or ecotype) can increase soil organic matter content, stimulate the activity of other soil microbes and release nutrients for the benefit of crops. Wilmar Agservices and Honorary Fellow, Dr. Wendy Williams as well as the Professor of plant ecophysiology, Prof. Sussane Schmidt at the University of Queensland, have collaborated to investigate the potential of benefiting the sugar industry with Cyanobacteria biotechnology. The project aims to develop Cyanobacteria, another group of nitrogen fixing microbes, for next-generation sugarcane production. We shall screen a range of both terrestrial and aquatic cyanobacteria cultures to identify specific species with the capacity to fix and survive in Bio Dunder formulation for added nutrition for crops. The outcomes of this research will provide baseline data 4 EDITION 10 SEPTEMBER

5 to identify the potential of Cyanobacterial isolates and their application for benefiting sugarcane systems. The study will provide the foundation for future research into the development of effective Cyanobacterial inoculum to partially replace the need for the addition of synthetic nitrogen products in Bio Dunder. Sarina Show Cane Project Title: A comparison study between Bio Dunder Liquid Fertiliser Nitrogen Formulations with the addition of Nitrapyrin and other products for nitrification inhibition to benefit sugarcane growth. Trial Location: University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD Principle Investigator: Dr. R. Brackin Title: Post Doctorate Research Fellow Starting Date: October 2014 Summary: Nitrogen use efficiency has been a hot topic for many years, particularly in the Queensland sugarcane industry with various products on the market claiming to offer enhanced nitrogen availability to the crop. The addition of Nitrapyrin, a Nitrification inhibitor, has potential to reduce bacterial conversion of ammonium nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen. Wilmar Agservices and Post Doctorate Research Fellow, Dr. Richard Brackin as well as the Professor of plant ecophysiology, Prof. Sussane Schmidt at the University of Queensland have collaborated to investigate the potential to increase nitrogen use efficiency in Bio Dunder Liquid Fertiliser formulations. The trial examines a single soil type predominate in the region through the addition of Nitrapyrin. A high organic matter soil with poor to low drainage will be used for this trial. The study seeks to determine the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor to LOS & LOS + P. Confidence of effect in this laboratory trial would inevitably lead to a scaled up, inpaddock trial. Project Title: Investigation of the formulation and application of zinc in Bio Dunder Liquid Fertiliser to benefit sugarcane crop growth. Trial Location: Sarina, QLD Principle Investigator L. J. Lillford Title: Research & Development Agronomist Starting Date: September 2014 Summary: The importance for complete crop nutrition in sugarcane growth is essential for reaching superior productivity levels and maintaining sustainable productivity into the future. Whilst Bio Dunder Liquid Fertiliser has many naturally occurring micronutrients such as Calcium, Copper and Magnesium, there is potential to develop formulations with sufficient concentrations of Zinc to supplement Zinc deficient crops. Approximately 20% of sugarcane soils are currently zinc deficient and sufficient applications are required to meet crop growth. This study seeks to investigate the potential for Bio Dunder Liquid Fertiliser to carry plant available zinc and boost crop productivity in zinc deficient soils. The outcomes of the research will lead to commercial development of key formulations being fortified with zinc to support growers with such requirements for crop productivity. It was good to see a larger than usual display of cane at the Sarina Show this year, as over the past few years has seen a decline in farmers participating. This year being the Shows 50th year and I feel a better crop than previous years may have spurned some growers to put entries in and have a go. All classes were contested with a good display in each, some were very close and had judges deliberating for some time. The ccs results were as high as I have ever seen for many years as well the longest stick would have had to have had an extended boom on a harvester to top it. The overall winner of class 1-6 was Doug Pedersen who also took out the overall Ray Venton trophy but must say it was a very closely contested result. As a steward it would be impressive if more growers participated and showed the community their efforts, and feel proud of what they do and achieve. The schedule is on the Mill and Show website at least six weeks prior to next years show. Contributed by Ron Gurnett // Canegrower and Steward. EDITION 10 SEPTEMBER

6 Inkerman kicks off Centenary celebrations xxxxxxx Inkerman Mill celebrates its 100th birthday with a Centenary Dinner, to be held on 26th September. A BBQ breakfast, cooked by the site s management team, was held on 21 August to mark the milestone and officially kick off the next few months of festivities. Inkerman s first crushing season started in August 1914, although the actual date is proving to be a mystery. Inkerman Site Manager Ken Mackney said newspaper records from the time suggested the mill s trial crush was expected to start on 21 August. The next mention of Inkerman after that date is on 29 August, Mr Mackney said. That article indicates the mill had been crushing for a few days, so we re not sure exactly when the first season started. A public call in the Burdekin s newspaper for assistance failed to uncover a more definite date. The mill s Centenary Committee had planned to use an old steam whistle, which was polished up for the occasion, to signal all breaks on dayshift on 21 and 22 August. Unfortunately, last week s rain, ensured the factory was not crushing, which meant there was no steam available for the whistle. We hope to be crushing again early next week, so we will look to use the whistle later in the week, Mr Mackney said, It s much louder than the current electric system, so the workforce will have no trouble hearing it. Further Centenary celebrations are planned for next month and will be open to the public. An official Centenary Ceremony will be held at the mill on 26 September and a Centenary Dinner will be held that night. Tickets to the dinner are $50 and can be purchased from the Inkerman Mill Administration Office or at The ticket price includes a buffet dinner, dessert, entertainment and drinks (no spirits). We re expecting a number of past site managers and other management team members to return to the Burdekin for the events, Mr Mackney said. Wilmar Sugar has increased its sponsorship of this year s Home Hill Harvest Festival to coincide with Inkerman s Centenary year. See below left for more details on the Centenary Dinner. 6 EDITION 10 SEPTEMBER

7 Introducing Bio Dunder Rewards To reward the loyalty of customers who continue to use Biodunder Liquid Fertilisers on their cane farming enterprises, Wilmar BioEthanol will introduce the Biodunder Rewards program. Customers are rewarded for their 2014 purchases with a credit on their 2015 account to the amount of $1 for every cubic meter of Biodunder Liquid Fertiliser products purchased. Customers making full payment within Wilmar s 30 day terms are eligible for the reward. To allow for easy recording of your reward the reward amount will be displayed on your monthly invoice. The Following Conditions Apply: This reward applies to purchases from July 1, 2014 and is effective on all purchases up to December 31, Customers must pay for products purchased within the 30 Day terms. A payment of an invoice outside of the terms will not be eligible for the Biodunder Rewards credit. Where a customer s trading name changes. The distribution of the reward is at Wilmar s discretion. Credit will be processed in March Biodunder Reward amount is not redeemable for cash. Wilmar BioEthanol AgServices would like to acknowledge your purchase of Biodunder Liquid Fertilisers and thanks you for your custom. EDITION 10 SEPTEMBER

8 Agservices Team Noel Wright Agribusiness Agronomist North m George Russell Agribusiness Agronomist South m Vincent Fulton Customer Service and Logistics Manager p (07) m Tina O Hare Customer Service Team Leader p (07) Liana Lillford Research and Development Agronomist p (07) Julie Raward Customer Service and Order Management Officer p (07) Editorial George Russell, John McGillivray, Renae Quattromani, Tina O Hare and Liana Lillford. Should you have any story suggestions, or topics to be covered in coming editions please contact George Russell or george.russell@wilmar.com.au Liquid Haulage Contractors A1 Farming Tractor m Andrew Chetcuti m Damian Gunning Tractors m Darren Little Tractor m George Vella & Tractor m Joe & Jo Quattromani p (07) m Johnny Farming Co & Tractor p (07) Keating Haulage & Tractor m Mark Daley m find us in sarina Located on the southern side of Sarina, Wilmar BioEthanol (Australia) Pty Ltd is just off the Bruce Highway. For customers wishing to come in to pay, or enquire about accounts, or visit one of our Agribusiness Agronomists or R&D team, there is parking directly out front and it s wheelchair friendly. Mel & Barbara Janke p (07) Nathan Ross Tractor p (07) m Neville Matsen m p (07) Peter & Lyn Hackett s m Phillip Ross Tractor m Shane Webb Tractors m Trent Janke m Proserpine Region Paul McDougal m Burdekin Region Griggs Haulage Aaron Griggs m DISCLAIMER The information provided has been prepared in good faith on the basis of the information available at the time of printing. Wilmar BioEthanol (Australia) Pty Ltd has made every effort possible to provide accurate information, based on the information received from trial results, independent reports and samples taken. Readers are responsible for assessing the relevance and accuracy of the content of this publication. Neither a warranty nor guarantee is given as to the effectiveness of the product and application recommendation or other suggestion. Wilmar BioEthanol (Australia) Pty Ltd shall not be liable (including liability in negligence) directly or indirectly for any loss, damages, costs, expenses or reliance by you arising out of or in connection with the accuracy, currency, completeness or balance of (or otherwise), or any errors or omissions from, any test results, statements or any other information provided. EDITION 10 SEPTEMBER