Tayla takes on the new position of Junior Field Technician and has hit the ground running assisting with farm and approved seed plot work, machinery maintenance, and RSD sampling. Having grown up on a sugarcane farm in the Herbert Tayla will be a valued addition to HCPSL and the local sugar industry. Having graduated from high school in 2024, Tayla’s appointment is part of HCPSL’s commitment to developing and supporting youth in the sugarcane industry.
If you run into Tayla at the seed plots or while RSD sampling please be sure to say G’day.
Grower seed inspections, including RSD sampling, will commence on 18th of February and continue until 2nd of May.
After the 2nd of May seed inspections and RSD sampling will be limited by staff availability.
We strongly urge growers to secure a booking early!
To make a booking growers will be required to contact or drop into the office and provide details of the blocks they wish to sample. This information is important as it allows staff to prepare the equipment required and conduct their sampling efficiently. Once a booking is made, a staff member will follow up with a phone call to arrange a suitable time and day.
Important Information;
HCPSL will be using the QCPR LSB (Leath Sheath Biopsy) method.
Seed cane must be at least seven (7) months old
Once samples are collected, results may take up to 3 weeks (typically 2 weeks)
1 test per 20 hectares = no charge for HCPSL members (otherwise $10 per samples).
Growers must supply a farm map to the HCPSL office with the location of blocks requiring inspection (this is important for effective and efficient sampling).
For further information contact the HCPSL Office on 47761808
HCPSL and QCAR recently announced they will be working together as a part of HCPSL’s ongoing commitment to deliver clean seed cane material to our members. Since that announcement there have been concerns that HCPSL may be handing over the management of our approved seed plots to QCAR, or another third party.
As HCPSL manager, I would like to categorically say to all of our members that this is not and will not be the case. HCPSL remains committed to coordinating, managing and delivering the best possible clean seed distribution service we can.
Why is HCPSL partnering with a third party?
HCPSL has always partnered with third parties. The majority of our clean seed distribution plots are delivered through partnerships between HCPSL and host grower. HCPSL sees our partnership with QCAR as being no different.
What has changed for HCPSL? Not that long ago HCPSL managed a handful of small approved seed plots where growers arrive on set days to cut their own seed cane by hand. In a relatively short period of time the demand for large quantities of whole stalk and billet material has grown rapidly. To meet this demand clean seed distribution plots have grown to four times the size they were less than a decade ago. Finding large suitable blocks with access to dedicated billet planters and harvesters has been a big challenge for HCPSL, which is where our arrangement with QCAR has numerous advantages.
Why is HCPSL working with QCAR? QCAR has offered to source and manage the land and machinery for our clean seed distribution plot in the Ingham Line area. In return, HCPSL will do what we have always done by supplying approved seed material from our mother plot as well as coordinating and managing the distribution of clean seed material to growers.
Does this mean some growers will be treated differently? NO! There will be no changes to the way growers can access seed cane material from the Ingham Line clean seed distribution plot, nor will there be different fees charged to different growers. There will be no change to the way HCPSL distributes clean seed material to our growers.
HCPSL’s commitment to our growers HCPSL is always looking at new and novel ways to deliver premium services to our members. In recent times this has included access to tissue culture, as well as providing new and improved methods for on-farm RSD testing. Due to increased demand HCPSL is also searching for new and improved ways to deliver clean seed material to growers. Working with QCAR is just one of a few new concepts HCPSL is exploring.
In summary, HCPSL would like to reassure growers we are committed to continuing to take the lead role in coordinating and managing the distribution of clean seed material while providing the same high level of service to all our members.
If you’d like further information please contact the HCPSL office on 47761808.
HCPSL and SRA are urgently seeking support from all Herbert growers to collect information on the extent of damage, and cost to growers, of the current rat issue.
We urge all growers to complete the attached survey and return to HCPSL office by Friday 10th November 2023.
Hard copies of the surveys are also available from the HCPSL office.
The data collected will assist us in seeking support from government agencies and to develop a strategy to manage rats moving forward.
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