HCPSL invites you to the 2023 Annual Walk & Talk!

Date: Wednesday 15th March 2023

Commencing: 8am to 2pm

Location: HCPSL & SRA Office, 181 Fairford Road Ingham

Displays and Presentations will include:

• Variety development and new varieties
• The benefits of mill mud and ash
• Managing diseases in the Herbert
• The Soil Biome – What is it?
• Micronutrients – Which are required for good crop growth
• Reef and Carbon Credits – Opportunities for Farmers

RSVP Friday 10th March:

For catering purposes, please RVSP to HCPSL on (07) 4776 1808

Download or view the file below to find simple instructions on downloading your Farm Map from the Wilmar Grower Web.

If you are a Cane Farmer or work in the industry then come along to this exciting event of networking and sharing of practical information.

Learn from farmers who are innovating and making changes to their farming system as they share their experience in the paddock.

The forum will include small group visits to 4 farms in the Ingham district over 2 days along with a fantastic social night of networking and a chance to meet innovative companies supporting cane farmers who are sponsoring the event.

For further information visit The Regenerative Cane Farming Forum website here.

Earlier this week, ABC Rural reported on rat damage currently occurring in the Herbert.

To read the full article, visit the link below.

Or for more information concerning the permit, please contact: Lawrence Di Bella – HCPSL Company Manager on 0448084252.

‘Millions’ of native rats invade North Queensland sugar cane fields, decimate crops

As 2022 draws to a close, HCPSL reflects on some of the highlights from the year. With the support and backing of growers, Wilmar and the community, the HCPSL team is proud of the many triumphs made for the Herbert industry throughout 2022.

• Over 150 growers attended the HCPSL Walk & Talk 2022
• 19,250 tissue culture plants ordered and delivered to growers
• 4335 tonnes Approved Clean Seed purchased by Herbert growers
• 40.5 tonnes of cane treated at the Hot Water Treatment Tanks
• RSD Sampling – 1453 qPCR samples collected, 1188 PCM samples and 66 LSB samples.
• Visited multiple local schools to teach students about tissue culture
• Pest Management – Rat Permits & Coordinated Baiting Program, and 1200+ pigs euthanized
• Project CaNE delivered 100 CaNE Plans (Nutrient Management Plan)
• 298 Herbert farms engaged with Project CaNE
• Project Catalyst delivered 26 NMP’s
• 3 Project Catalyst Innovation Trials that were focused on precision agriculture were concluded.
• 150 ha of land EM mapped under Project Catalyst grower support program
• Cultivate Farms Project facilitated 3 Herbert farm matches
• Numerous on-farm trials and demonstrations
• Various Shed Meetings, Back to Basics and grower workshops
• Hosted Work Experience students
• Assisted the Ingham Show Cane Section
• Hosted the 2022 Combined Productivity Services Conference

HCPSL would like to take this opportunity to thank growers in the Herbert. Thank you for assisting with trials, attending workshops, coming along to meetings and providing feedback on the services HCPSL provides.

The HCPSL team looks forward to continuing to service and work with Herbert growers in 2023.

Wishing Herbert growers and our community a Merry Christmas and a Safe & Happy New Year.

Please note the HCPSL Office will be closed from the 24th December 2022 and reopen on the 3rd January 2023.

Please contact Adam Royle on 0417 610 446 for any urgent enquires during this period.

Throughout the year, many of the HCPSL staff team reached remarkable milestones in terms of years of service.

With many staff serving the local industry for the past decade and beyond, the team would like to recognize the following individuals for their valuable work in the Herbert and broader sugar industry.

• Tony McClintock – 46 years with HCPSL and in the Industry
• Sue Beccaris – 28 years with HCPSL – 39 years in the Industry
• Sandra Coco – 16 years with HCPSL – 22 years in the Industry
• Graeme Holzberger – 15 years with HCPSL – 22 years in the Industry
• Lawrence Di Bella – 11 years with HCPSL -32 years in the Industry
• Adam Royle – 10 years with HCPSL – 23 years in the Industry
• Melissa Royle – 10 years with HCPSL – 17 years in the Industry

To acknowledge the past and ongoing efforts of HCPSL staff members, the team has compiled some images from the archives! Through the work of committed staff and passionate Herbert growers HCPSL is proud of the many advances made by our local industry.