BPS AGM 26/8/2014
Chairman’s Report This is my first address as the chairman of BPS following six years on the board. Resulting from the election at last year’s AGM, we have 2 new directors in Peter McDonnell & Bryce Davies. ◦ Peter brings years of experience in precision agriculture and has worked at BPS previously and therefore has great insight into the operation of the company. ◦ Bryce has worked as an agronomist with BSES and private enterprise and has also worked abroad in New Guinea. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the boardroom.
Chairman’s Re Report ort Our new management team of Rob Milla & Mark Rickards have taken the reins from John Deambrosis and Lance Wassmuth. Both John and Lance provided excellent service to the company and we would like to thank them for their respective contributions. Rob was elevated to the Manager’s position following a trial period as acting manager. Mark came to us from private enterprise with years of experience in financial management and employment management skills. Thanks go to the field staff who have continued to address grower issues and are always willing to help and advise members whenever required to do so.
St Strategic ategic Pl Plan an Our ur missio sion 1. To facilitate an increase in productivity, profitability & sustainability within the Burdekin sugar industry by providing highly skilled agronomic services & support to growers. 2. To propagate new varieties & control distribution of approved seed sugar cane plants throughout the district. 3. To employ, train & up-skill a professional workforce to deliver positive outcomes for the sugar industry. Our ur vi vision ion To be recognised throughout the Burdekin district as the primary independent resource for agronomic advice and support in regards to sugar cane production.
BPS Strategy Summary 2015 - 2017 Our mission Our vision Our Goal (STRIVE) 1. To facilitate an increase in productivity, profitability & 1. Delivery of S ervice sustainability within the Burdekin sugar industry by To be recognised throughout the Burdekin 2. Embrace T echnology providing highly skilled agronomic services & support to Who we are district as the primary independent resource 3. Accurate R ecords growers. for agronomic advice and support in regards to 4. Correlate I nformation 2. To propagate new varieties & control distribution of sugar cane production. 5. Create V alue approved seed sugar cane plants throughout the district. 6. Committed E mployees 3. To employ, train & up-skill a professional workforce to deliver positive outcomes for the sugar industry. Why we exist Where we want to be in the future What’s important to us STRATEGIC SG 1 SG 5 SG 2 SG 3 SG 4 GOALS – (SG) Minimise pest and Deliver a wide ranging Administrative practices Develop IT systems & Participate in industry & Our desired disease pressure formulate practices to extension service to based on sound government funded achievements through supply of communicate with growers & growers utilising projects aimed at corporate governance & approved seed cane enhance the collection & agronomists & field delivering value to secure fiscal planning and crop monitoring storage of data officers growers & millers ENABLING ES 6 STRATEGIES (ES) Support for improved ES 13 ES 19 Our essential ES 1 ES 24 irrigation practices Optimise nutrient and Financial viability and Increased supply & business AgDat Mobile chemical use and minimise sustainability distribution of approved ES 7 strategies runoff seed cane from Plots Nutrition ES 20 recommendations ES 14 ES 25 ES 2 Regular board & Improved harvesting Application of new committee meetings Propagation of new practices technology ES 8 varieties from SRA Minimise harvester losses ES 21 ES 15 ES 26 ES 3 Staffing levels & Irrigation & farming Grower Information Plant Source Inspections & performance ES 9 systems management Forums RSD Surveys Advice on control of pests, ES 22 diseases and weeds ES 16 Occupational health & ES 4 Management of pests, ES 27 safety ES 10 disease & syndromes On Farm & Aerial surveys Website &Newsletters Practices to improve soil health ES 23 ES 5 ES 17 Industry BMP program Audits Animal pest eradication ES 28 ES 11 contracts & subsidies Media articles Variety strip trials ES 18 ES 24 ES 12 Assistance to R & D Bodies Staff training and support Develop & enhance agronomic expertise
St Strategic ategic Go Goal l 1 Minimise pest & disease pressures through supply of approved seed cane and crop monitoring
St Strategic ategic Go Goal l 2 2. Deliver a wide ranging extension service to growers utilising agronomists & field officers.
St Strategic ategic Go Goal l 3 3. Participate in industry & government funded projects aimed at delivering value to growers & millers.
Strategic St ategic Go Goal l 4 4. Administrative practices based on sound corporate governance and secure fiscal planning St Strategic ategic Go Goal l 5 5. Develop IT systems & formulate practices to communicate with growers & enhance the collection and storage of data.
Value lue for or Mon oney Levy – 7c/tonne Grower - 7c/tonne Miller Unchanged since 2011 Industry expectation of increased extension activities Funding adequate at this point in time Additional funds being sourced
Manager’s Report Seed distribution Pest and disease District Performance Extension Projects
Seed Se d Dist stribu ribution tion Mill Area Number ber of g growe wers rs Tonne nes sold Inkerman 145 1585 P & K 151 1682 Invicta 94 1375 Total 390 390 4642 42 Increase from 2012 of almost 20% in growers purchasing approved • seed cane, although tonnes sold did not increase significantly BPS has recognised the growing need for increasing availability for • growers Shane McNee has offered to manage another distribution plot in Invicta Establishment of mother plot at Wilmar Use of some of SRA land to propagate varieties for potential release
Plan anted ted Cane ne Amount of Q183 • planted last year is of some concern Consider variety mix in • terms of overall farm risk management strategy With introduction of • Q240, Q252 and Q253 there are some more options for growers than in previous years
Varie riety ty Perfor rformance mance Yield Sugar/Ha 2013 25 20 15 10 5 0 Plant All Ratoons Plant All Ratoons Plant All Ratoons Plant All Ratoons Plant All Ratoons KQ228 KQ228 Q183 Q183 Q208 Q208 Q232 Q232 Q247 Q247
Pest st and nd Disease sease Approximately 36.5% of the area was affected by one or more pests. Of this area, the graph shows the distribution of that damage – based on crop survey data provided by growers.
Gr Grub ubs Seeing some signs of increase Ensure growers treat in high pressure areas Apply within label directions ◦ Particularly width (500mm) Be aware of environmental pressure
Ra Ratoon oon St Stun unting ing Di Dise seas ase Around 1700 RSD samples taken by field staff This included intensive sampling of mother and distribution plots All returned negative A great result but this does not mean the risk of RSD has gone Sterilise equipment between farms
Ex Extension ension BPS is committed to supporting Burdekin growers through extension activities This includes Nutrient recommendations Irrigation support Farming systems advice Pest and disease advice Shed meetings Targeted extension activities through projects or trials
Ex Extension ension 36 grower shed meetings delivered in partnership with Farmacist Early 2014 round had • 43% attendance Strive to continue to • deliver relevant productivity information for growers
Ex Extension ension Field Walks looking at planting systems, legume fallow management, soil pits, dual sprayer
Ex Extension ension Nitrogen rate demonstrations with Q253 ◦ Results to date from harvested trials have limited applicability due to moddus and mill mud applications ◦ Growing traits of this variety, suggest that nitrogen management will be important in managing CCS ◦ Further trials after a bare fallow will be conducted this year
Ha Harvesting rvesting Sp Speed d Tr Trials ials Successful receiving funding from SRA ◦ Quantify harvester losses at a range of speeds Measurement of gaps and stool loss Measurement of yield/CCS of subsequent ratoons Repeated for 3 seasons 4 sites
Rural Ru al Water ter Us Use e Ef Efficiency iciency Funded through QDNRM and delivered through CANEGROWERS to BPS. Builds on previous work from CANEGROWERS and BRIA Irrigators Marian Davis key contact for irrigation system evaluations or incentives Dewatering component for high risk areas
Project ject Activi tivity ty Smartcane BMP ◦ Technical support role ◦ Need for all industry to be involved Barratta Creek Project through Wetland Care Australia ◦ Extra pig and pest control activities for BPS to provide for growers NQ Dry Tropics ◦ Supporting BPS through extension activities and on farm demonstrations ◦ Technical support for incentives programs
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