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Grower group case study on new farming practices in the Herbert region, Australia

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Poggio, M. J., Morris, E., Reid, N. and DiBella, L. (2007) Grower group case study on new farming practices in the Herbert region, Australia. In: Proceedings of the 2007 Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists held at Cairns, Queensland, Australia, 8-11 May 2007. Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.

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Abstract

Growers working together have proven to be a successful method for improving the utilization of farm resources and accelerating the adoption of the Sugar Yield Decline Joint Venture principles (SYDJV). The Pinnacle Precision Farming Group was formed in 2004 with the aim to bring together the ideas, knowledge and resources of growers in the Herbert region. Along with their common interest in controlled traffic, minimal tillage and crop rotations, the grower group utilize a farm machinery contractor to provide some of their major farming operations. This paper provides an insight into the changes made by the Pinnacle Precision Farming Group and their journey to adopt the new farming system practices. This paper also details the changes made by the group machinery contractor and a comparison of the old and new farming systems used by a group member. A focus point of the document is the impact of the new farming system on the economic, social and environmental components of the farming business. Analysis of the new farming system with a legume crop rotation revealed an increase in the farm gross margin by AU$22 024 and, in addition, a reduction in tractor operation time by 38% across the whole farm. This represents a return on marginal capital of 14.68 times the original capital outlay required by the group member. Using the new farming system without a legume crop will still improve the group members whole of farm gross margin by AU$6 839 and reduce tractor operation time by 43% across the whole farm. The Pinnacle Precision Farming group recognize the need to continually improve their farming businesses and believe that the new farming system principles are critical for the long term viability of the industry. [U$1 = AU$1.19].

Item Type:Book Section
Additional Information:© Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.
Keywords:Economic analysis; farmers' attitudes; farming systems; rotations; sugarcane.
Subjects:Plant culture > Field crops > Sugar plants
Agriculture > Agriculture (General) > Farm economics. Farm management. Agricultural mathematics
Live Archive:13 Jan 2009 05:12
Last Modified:20 Feb 2024 23:15

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