AN impressive selection of international and local canefarming experts will be on hand at the Case IH Step Up cane farmers’ conference at Palm Cove in March this year.
Experts will share their knowledge with Australian cane professionals regarding a variety of topics including advanced farming practice, precision farming, sugar marketing, R&D, agricultural engineering and technology, and financial products and planning.
Chairman of the Next Gen program Don Murday said one of
the event’s keynote speakers, Ken Ohnell, would be travelling
from Minnesota in the US to share his unparalleled knowledge of large tractors.
“We were absolutely thrilled to learn that Ken has kindly agreed to extend his now famous Case IH Red Power Tour in order to attend and address Case IH Step Up 2015,” Mr Murday said.
He said the two-day program was set to pique the interest of cane professionals, both young and old.
“Some of our top-notch speakers include practise change pioneer Robert Quirk, senior DAFF agronomist Derek Sparkes, DAFF extension officer Allan Blair, executive manager of the SRA PEC Unit Andrew Ward, and SRA development officer for soils and soil health Phil-Anthony Patane.
Mr Quirk serves on the board of Australian Cane Farmers, representing NSW.
He also serves on the international board of Bonsucro, which
is responsible for setting the global standard for sustainable sugarcane production.
He said he had been growing cane for more than 50 years and
had been involved in sugar and soil research for the past 15 years.
“I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to present
my research at a lot of domestic and international forums,” he
said.
“This Next Gen-led conference is a wonderful opportunity to share my knowledge with the up-and-coming youngsters who
are passionate and ready to take over the reins of our industry.
“As well as focusing on our local market, I would like to see
some of the youngsters get involved with initiatives that are
impacting the industry across the world, such as the Worker
Health and Efficiency Program in conjunction with La Isla Foundation.
“Through the WE program, I work with a global team of experts
who are investigating the causes of and helping to implement
measures to prevent the spread of a form of chronic kidney
disease that is devastating the Central American hand canecutting community.”
Mr Quirk has won numerous agricultural awards, including being named National Carbon Cocky of the Year in 2014 for his work in understanding, implementing and achieving results in the management of land-based carbon storage and carbon-emission reductions.
Case IH Step Up 2015 will also be an opportunity for cane professionals to attend two field trips and see best management
practice in action first-hand.
One of the field trips will be to the Cairns Sugar Terminal, where delegates will tour the wharf and storage sheds.
Following the terminal tour, the group will head to the Barron
Delta to view nitrogen trials run by DAFF’s Derek Sparkes.
Delegates will also get the opportunity to head north towards
Mossman to visit Sweet Farm Tours, located in the picturesque Whyanbeel Valley.
Here the group will receive a guided tour through the Puglisi
farm, where they not only farm cane, but are also only one of only a few farms in Australia that grows cocoa.
l For details of the conference, sponsorship opportunities and
registration, visit nextgenstepup.com or contact Amanda Sheppard on (07) 3839 1900.
