CalendarphoneLogin
slide2

Welcome to HCPSL

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide3

Welcome to HCPSL

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide3

Welcome to HCPSL

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide4

Welcome to HCPSL

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide1

Welcome to HCPSL

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide3

Welcome to HCPSL

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide5

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

Welcome to HCPSL

previous arrow
next arrow
slide1

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide2

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide3

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide3

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide3

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide5

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

slide4

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd.

previous arrow
next arrow

2025 RSD Testing – Book your Seed Inspection now with HCPSL!

Posted by Sandra Coco

BOOK YOUR SEED INSPECTION WITH HCPSL NOW !

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;

For further information contact the HCPSL Office on 47761808

Shed Meetings

Posted by Rod Neilson

29th January

30th January

Topics include:

2025 Approved seed [lots

Approved Seed forecast survey (for 2026 plots)

Tissue Culture Orders

Seed Inspections (RSD testing)

Important industry updates

Please RSVP to Sandra at the HCPSL Office on 4776 1808 by the 28th of January to assist with catering.

Project CaNE Leaves Lasting Legacy for Sugarcane Industry

Posted by Rod Neilson

Supporting growers to drive productivity and improve water quality (WQ) outcomes may have been the focus of the Lower Herbert Water Quality Program (LHWQP), but the legacy it leaves through one of its projects, Project CaNE (Crop and Nutrient Efficiency), is much more than that.

As Project CaNE heads towards its finale in early 2025 it leaves behind a number of agronomic advisors armed with the skills and knowledge they need to support the sugarcane industry into the future.

Project CaNE, led by Herbert Cane Productivity Services Limited (HCPSL) and supported by project partners James Cook University’s TropWATER and the Department of Primary Industries Queensland, was funded through the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The $7 million project supported a total of eight Extension agronomists, a GIS (Precision Ag) officer, and support staff over three and a half years.

Some of Project CaNE’s Staff.

Exceeding its official goals and targets, Project CaNE also brought together experienced agronomic staff with those new to the industry. Through on ground support and mentoring, these staff have been equipped with the skills they will need to continue providing sound agronomic advice to growers who continue to balance productive farm practises with positive WQ outcomes.  

From an agronomic perspective, project staff were exposed to a number of upskilling opportunities including training on how to develop whole-of-farm nutrient management plans, conduct Electro-magnetic (EM) soil mapping, address soil constraints, and use of fallow crops to improve soil health, all aimed at better utilisation of farm inputs to drive productivity and profitability for growers.

A training session with growers and HCPSL staff.

Complimenting the agronomic work, increased skills and knowledge were developed through activities related to environmental outcomes. Staff assisted JCU TropWater with WQ monitoring and learnt from the information collected from the 11 project WQ monitoring sites across the Herbert sugarcane growing region installed and maintained by TropWATER.

One of JCU TropWater’s water quality monitering sites.

Staff worked with agricultural economists from DPI Queensland to put an economic value on the project’s nitrogen stabiliser and mill by-product (Clear as Mud) program. Project growers dedicated their time and resources through on-ground works and the provision of land access and equipment to establish on-farm demonstration sites.     

A Project CaNE on-farm workshop.

When asked, HCPSL manager and Project CaNE coordinator Adam Royle was keen to highlight some of the benefits the project has brought to the Herbert sugarcane industry.

“It’s been a great opportunity to not just support growers, but to upskill new and existing HCPSL staff at the same time. Bringing positive productivity, profitability and environmental outcomes together under the one project has been very successful. (And) although the project is coming to an end, the industry will have ongoing benefits through the capacity to continue to deliver agronomic advice by project staff who will hopefully go on to do similar work,” he said.

Adam went on to say, “I’ve had the privilege of mentoring several project staff and been the beneficiary of learning new things while working on the project, that’s a win-win for me and I believe for the industry as well”.   

To learn more about Project CaNE and its achievements visit www.hcpsl.com/previous-projects/project-cane-tm

Lower Herbert Water Quality Program Factsheet

Posted by Rod Neilson

Lower Herbert water quality program factsheet.

The uniqueness of the region sitting across the wet and dry
tropics makes it highly suitable for growing sugarcane.
Yet, as one of the most intensively cropped regions, this area
presents a challenging balance for growers in managing
fertiliser and pesticide losses from paddocks.

Junior Field Technician Position

Posted by Rod Neilson

Full-time Position

HCPSL is looking for a keen, self-motivated person to join our field services team. The Junior Field Technician position is an opportunity for an entry level person who is enthusiastic about working in the sugarcane industry and who has a desire to learn and add value to HCPSL.

Training and practical application of sugarcane systems including operation of farming equipment and crop management will be provided primarily through on the job training. The successful applicant will also have the opportunity to attain relevant certificate based qualifications.

HCPSL envisages that after a period of time, dependant on suitability and company requirements, there may be an opportunity for the successful applicant to progress to Field Technican level.  

For a copy of the full position description and selection criteria please email admin@hcpsl.com.au, visit the job vacancies section of our website (www.hcpsl.com), or collect the information from the HCPSL office at 181 Fairford Road, Ingham Queensland.

Close of applications: 3pm on Friday the 20th December 2024.

HCPSL EOI – Approved Seed Distribution Plots

Posted by Rod Neilson

HCPSL is reviewing the way we deliver our approved seed distribution program to our members. As part of this process, we are seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from interested parties to provide a package of services in the Stone River, Abergowrie, Lower Herbert, and Ingham Line areas. Further details, including the EOI application form, are available via the link, the HCPSL office, or by emailing admin@hcpsl.com.au. Completed EOIs can be submitted by dropping off at the HCPSL office reception or emailed to admin@hcpsl.com.au by 3pm on the 2nd of December 2024. For more information regarding the EOI process please contact the HCPSL Manager on 47761808 or 0417610446.

Download the EOI Form Here.

Project CaNE wraps up Nitrogen Stabiliser Demonstrations

Posted by Ellie McVeigh

Over the past few years, multiple on-farm demonstrations have been carried out as part of Project CaNE. Nitrogen Stabiliser demonstrations aimed to assist growers to assess the logistics and potential benefits of the products on their farm. Project CaNE staff worked with growers to measure both productivity and profitability relating to the use of these products.

Additionally, the Department of Agriculture (DAF) Economics team worked closely with Project CaNE to analyse demonstration data and calculate net revenues for each treatment.

As the demos have now come to an end, HCPSL agronomists and DAF economists have worked to evaluate site data, providing growers with a summary of production and economic findings. To read these findings, view the information sheet below.

Closure of Hot Water Treatment Tanks and Plots 2024 (28/10/2024)

Posted by Sandra Coco

Herbert River Growers, HCPSL would like to announce the closure of the Plots and the Hot Water Treatment Tanks for 2024.

The staff at HCPSL would like to thank growers for their patience and co-operation in what has been a difficult year due to weather conditions.

Time for Soil Sampling

Posted by Rod Neilson

As we push towards the end of what has been a challenging year it’s easy to focus on finishing the crush and not on how we can start preparing for next year.

Soil Sampling Tips and How to take a GPS point on your smartphone.

Soil sampling should be a vital part of every farms strategy to ensure our fallows are ready for next year’s planting and the subsequent crops.

Here are a few simple tips to help you get the most from your soil sampling to ensure you get the best possible results of your soils nutrient status.

If you’d like to discuss any soil sampling related topics with one of our Extension Agronomist, or loan one of our soil sampling augers, call the HCPSL office on 47761808.

For Sale by Tender – Legume Planter

Posted by Sandra Coco

HCPSL