Research undertaken by HCPSL, and SRA clearly shows that growers who use Approved Clean Seed from HCPSL grow on average 11 tonnes of cane per hectare more cane than those who don’t use clean cane. Using Approved Clean Seed is an easy way to increase farm productivity.  

This year HCPSL has billet harvesters in all plots and wholestalk harvesters in the Stone River, Abergowrie and Central plots.

Growers are urged to collect cane ordered from HCPSL Approved Seed plots as soon as possible.

Cane stocks in the Abergowrie, Central and Ingham Line plots are near exhaustion and the Four Mile plot is now closed because all the cane has been sold. SRA36 is still available at the Central plot for growers to hand cut their allocation.

There are still good stocks in the Macknade and Stone River plots of most varieties, excluding SRA26, SRA28 and SRA36. At the Macknade and Stone River plots there are some varieties that have not been committed to growers to date, so growers who forgot to order cane or would like more cane can contact the following HCPSL Field staff:

• Ingham Line plot – Tony McClintock on 0447 304 963
• Macknade plot – Tony McClintock on 0447 304 963
• Central plots – Jason Caruso on 0417 622 129
• Stone River plot – Jason Caruso on 0417 622 129
• Abergowrie plot – Richard Hobbs on 0400 544 301

HCPSL will complete the planting of the 2023 HCPSL Approved Seed plots in the next week.

To download a copy of the full Press Release, view the document below.

Almost 16,000 tissue culture sugarcane plants were received by Herbert growers from HCPSL last week. HCPSL will have ordered over 30,000 tissue cultured plants this year. The next shipment of plants will arrive from the nursery around September this year.

This year growers have ordered new varieties like SRA 26, SRA28, SRA31 and SRA36 and older varieties like Q200, Q208, Q231, Q232 and Q253.

The uptake of tissue cultured cane has been growing steadily over that past 4 years in the region. Many growers have opted to purchase the new SRA varieties, so that they can get more cane on farm next year.

Growers who wish to order tissue cultured cane for next year, please contact Rhiannan Harragon on 4776 1808.

Pictured below: (1) HCPSL Staff Rhiannon Harragon & Jason Caruso with tissue culture plants at Macknade. (2) Herbert Grower, Quentin Bosworth receiving his tissue culture last week. (3) Tissue culture plants ready to be dispatched to Herbert growers.

Dear Growers,

HCPSL is offering growers the opportunity to undertake early CCS sampling of commercial cane fields for 2022.

Growers will need to undertake the following:

• Collect 8 stalks representative of the cane field.
• Stalks must be topped and stripped free of trash.
• Stalks must be tied off at the butt end of the cane bundle and labelled.
• The label must have the following information:
  • Grower name
  • Grower contact phone number
  • Variety
  • Crop class
  • Farm number
  • Block number

Growers will need to drop the CCS sample in the trailer located in the HCPSL/SRA Herbert car park by 8am on the following dates:

• Friday the 3rd of June
• Tuesday the 7th  of June
• Tuesday the 14th of June

Late samples will not be processed.

HCPSL will contact the grower once the samples have been processed and CCS figures determined. (Please keep in mind these are to be used for guidance only as they are calculated  on assumed fibre figures).

The RSD workshop is developed for Herbert region growers and planting contractors.
The purpose is to provide growers and local industry with information on RSD including:

• What it is
• How it is spread
• What this means for an individual farm and the industry.

Think about getting your seed inspections done now and which blocks you may use this year.

Inspection of grower seed blocks for planting by HCPSL has commenced again this year.

Once again, HCPSL will be using the new qPCR method to check cane for RSD. The qPCR method uses DNA diagnostic technology to diagnose the presence or not of the RSD bacteria. This method is much more accurate than older methods, but more expensive to operate.

It is currently costing HCPSL over $40/sample to undertake the test, so we are requesting that growers only test blocks they intend to use as planting material this year. HCPSL will be capping growers to 1 sample per 20 hectares under cane, so only target the varieties you intend to use for planting this year. Growers who wish to test more than their allocated cap will be required to meet the cost of the extra qPCR test and it will only be undertaken once all growers seed inspections are completed.
The cap on the number of samples has also been imposed because of the very high demand for the service and to allow HCPSL to get across more farms throughout the district.

The turnaround time from taking the sample to receiving your results can be up to 2 weeks, so we urge growers to contact the HCPSL office ASAP on 47761808 to book in your tests.

If you have any questions concerning the test or RSD management, please contact your HCPSL Extension Agronomist.

Date issued 18/3/2022

On the 9th of March, HCPSL held the annual Walk & Talk Day for 2022. Over 120 growers from across the Herbert district attended the event. Growers had the opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding on a range of topics including – fallow crops, new varieties, tissue culture, chemicals, and harvester management.

The HCPSL Team would like to say thank you to all growers who attended, asked questions, shared experiences, and participated in open discussions throughout the day.

HCPSL would also like to extend our thanks to the sponsors and supporting organisations of the 2022 Walk & Talk Day – Sugar Research Australia, Stoller, Nufarm, Project CaNE, Project Catalyst, The Australian Government Reef Trust, GBRF, John Deere and Norris.

Following the Walk & Talk, HCPSL held the annual Industry Awards. The awards recognise grower’s commitment to productivity, innovation, research, and the boarder industry. HCPSL is proud to announce the award recipients below.

• Grower of the Year (Sponsored by Wilmar) – Ian Kemp
• Young Grower of the Year (Sponsored by Wilmar) – Jeffery, Briannan and Rebekah Pace
• Mangrove Jack Award (Sponsored by Herbert River Catchment Group) – John Pavetto
• Harvesting Efficiency Award (Sponsored by SRA) – Celotto Harvesting
• Innovation Award (Sponsored by Rabobank) – Mizzi Farming
• Farm Presentation for Harvesting Award (Sponsored by Honeycombs) – Walter Giordani
• Improved Farm Layout Award (Sponsored by Canegrowers Herbert River) – Remo & Gino Zatta
• Consistent High Productivity (Sponsored by QSL) – Glen Irlam, Beeva Nominees Pty Ltd, Pace Farming, Russo Farming and Glen Cristaudo.
• R&D On-farm Co-operation (Sponsored by HCPSL) – Abergowrie Sugar, Beeva Nominees Pty Ltd, P Dametto, G & T Erkkila and Wilmar Sugar.
• Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by HCPSL) – Jo Stringer, Joe & Gerry Girgenti, Ian Kemp and Lex Mackee.

Walk and Talk 2022

Herbert Industry Awards

HCPSL invite you to the 2022 Herbert Walk & Talk Day.

Date: Wednesday 9th March 2022.

Time: 8:30am to 2pm.

Location: HCPSL Macknade Farm, River Road Macknade.

For further information, view the flyer below.

Watch our latest video to find out all you need to know about the HCPSL Hot Water Treatment Tanks.