Developing and implementing optimised sugarcane harvest schedules through participatory research

The Australian sugar industry saw opportunities for increasing productivity and hence whole-of-industry profitability through optimising the harvest date of sugarcane, accounting for geographical and crop differences in cane yield and the sugar content of cane for different harvest dates throughout the harvesting season. Research scientists engaged in participatory research with 3 case-study mill regions to construct the models needed to produce these optimised harvest schedules. Average potential gains of up to AU$119/ha at a sugar price of AU$250/t were shown and the case study regions were keen to pilot the schedules. This paper focuses on the development of a pathway to pilot implementation and evaluation through collaboration with growers, harvester contractors, and millers collectively. We developed: strategies to overcome implementation barriers; the design of the pilot scheme; software tools; and an evaluation strategy of pilot study results to provide proof-of-concept and encourage further uptake. With the development of this pathway, pilot implementation took place during the 2000 and 2001 harvest seasons for about 200 farms. Action learning methodologies were applied to improve the scheme for the 2001 season. Most growers and millers who followed the optimised schedules closely, achieved gains of up to AU$200/ha, with the Maryborough Sugar Factory estimating a gain of AU$34 000 for their crop. Although optimised harvest schedules were implemented by only a small percentage of growers in each of the case study regions, there is growing adoption throughout the sugar industry.