Growers reaping crucial gains
LOWER Burdekin cane growers are becoming more profitable, according to new data.
Figures published in NQ Dry Tropics ‘Year in Review 2021-22’ shows growers who participated in Reef Trust Tenders - Burdekin project were able to significantly reduce their fertiliser use.
This comes at a time where fertiliser costs have almost doubled, eating into farm profit margins across Australia.
In the Burdekin, fertiliser use was reduced over a total of 6,500 hectares without affecting yield, diverting about 22,000 kgs of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) from farms and waterways.
Burdekin Delta cane grower Damien Michielin has been dropping his nitrogen application rate for over four years, reducing application by an average of 40 kgs per hectare without losing productivity.
Sugar content actually increased for Mr Michielin, resulting in a higher payment from the mill.
“When I started this, I thought it might work OK at first, then begin to lose production after two or three years,” Mr Michielin said. “I haven’t seen that yet.” He said there was ‘ no way’ he would put his fertiliser rates back up when the NQ Dry Tropics contract finished.
“It’s not just about the money saved, it’s the right thing to do (by the environment),” Mr Michielin said.
“If you don’t have to put that much on, why would you.”
NQ Dry Tropics sustainable agriculture program manager Rob Hunt said the results were a win-win for farmers and water quality.
“These achievements demonstrate that well planned and executed changes deliver economic and environmental benefits,” Mr Hunt said.
Under the five-year project, which has just wrapped up, growers reduced the amount of fertiliser applied by 19.29 per cent.
Read the entire 2021-22 Year in Review at nqdrytrop