Pro-Visual Publishing and their partnering industry associations have released the annual Augmented Reality (AR) Educational Safety Guide for sugarcane farmers, a free wall poster designed to display year-round to use with your phone, or other smart device, to view augmented content alongside the printed safety topic content.
The AR itool enhances engagement and learning of key safety issues that should always be top of mind when performing daily tasks. With the agriculture industry facing one of the highest rates of injury and fatality annually, remaining vigilant and on top of safety procedures is crucial to help ensure sugarcane workers arrive home safe every day.
Topics this year include:
– Smartcane BMP – a world-class best practice system for growing in QLD. – Quad bike safety and regulations under WHS laws. – Sun safety and personal protection for those working outside a majority of the time. – PCBUs and their obligations regarding electrical safety. – Record keeping requirements.
The wall guide becomes a useful go-to piece for solo reference or training talks and by downloading the free Pro-Vis AR app, users can scan AR icons on the guide for additional resources such as videos, web-links and PDF files that ‘pop-up’ in an augmented setting, providing a stimulating environment in which to learn.
For free Guides email marketing@provisual.com.au. For all enquiries and images call (02) 8272 2611 or email Deanna Hutchings ddavenport@provisual.com.au.
Global sugar prices as recorded on the Intercontinental Exchange have leapt past US 17 cents a pound, much more than predicted a year ago due to rising demand while drought affected Thai production will effectively give NSW growers a premium above the ICE 11 price. They can now expect up to $38 a tonne for their cane, 15pc up on previous years.
NSW Sugar Milling Co-Operative CEO Chris Connors said a decision to “carefully hedge” half the coming crop helped secure grower prices.
Wednesday’s spot price jumped .77c to 17.94c/lb with the Australian dollar at US77c but Mr Connors warned speculators to look beyond the favourable spot price to the forward sell, which remains hovering around 16c/lb for the next three to four months.
“The forecast for the 12 months following look murky, with prices more like 14c/lb at an 82 cent Aussie dollar,” he said.
“We have undertaken careful hedging to secure those better prices. We’ve done it in the past and we’ll do it again.”
On top of ICE 11 prices NSW growers will reap a geographical premium for being a part of the eastern hemisphere, with drought in south-east Asia reducing Thai sugar cane production by half. As supply is restricted premiums go up and Mr Connors estimates that advantage to Sunshine Sugar will be 200 to 300 points or $60 to $100/t of sugar.
“We are expecting to get $480 to $500/t for our sugar, with the growers getting $37 to $38/t for their cane.
“You need hedging skills to do this but we now have certainty over 50pc of our crop. That is a positive thing.”
Meanwhile in NSW regular inundation of cane fields since before Christmas has yielded the best crop in years. Cane on the Lower Clarence, the worst flood affected of the growing regions, was well up out of the water for the most part and took advantage of warm days when the sun returned with the result that the greater biomass will likely help to reduce frost risk this winter.
A groundbreaking study investigating the growth of selected varieties of sugarcane to convert into high-performance jet fuel is underway at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM). Utilizing advanced technologies in agronomics and bioeconomy, the researchers are ultimately looking to improve the island’s environmental sustainability, build a stronger economy and create educational opportunities for students.
“The aviation industry recognizes that bio-based or sustainable aviation fuels are essential to the future of aviation,” said CAFNRM Dean Bruce Mathews, a principal investigator on the project. “Fully one-half of the industry’s greenhouse gas reduction goals for 2050 can only be achieved via sustainable jet fuels. Electric airplanes are only feasible for small planes on short-distance flights and the only electric airplane under development that has substantial range is a hybrid that still requires liquid fuel.”
Field trials growing different varieties of sugarcane at the UH Hilo Agricultural Farm Laboratory in Panaʻewa began in February, with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center in Hilo.
The project is a collaboration between the CAFNRM and the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) in California, one of four regional U.S. Department of Energy-funded Bioenergy Research Centers.
Why sugarcane?
Peter Matlock of JBEI, is also serving as CAFNRM’s bioeconomy research and commercialization specialist. Matlock, a strategic advisor for aviation fuels, said sugarcane was selected as the crop of focus because it is a tremendously prolific biomass (plant material) producer.
Traditionally, the commercial industry has accessed only the sucrose from the plant, which continues to serve as a foundation for the world’s sugar industry. But when growing sugarcane solely for sugar, the rest of the crop, specifically major plant biomass components known as lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose, normally go to waste.
The conventional practice of burning sugarcane prior to harvest is to eliminate extra biomass material that previously had limited value, and residual biomass left over after sucrose extraction is typically burned to make power. Converting this biomass into high-valued products such as high performance jet fuel generates more revenue from the same plant material and eliminates incentives to burn crops—reducing air pollution as a bonus.
“The interesting thing is if we can take the rest of the plant and break it apart, we’d≠ also have yummy digestible bits that can be fed into microbes to make our end products,” Matlock explained. The end product he mentioned would be the conversion of sugarcane into biofuel for aviation use. This fermentation process is much more ideal than traditional chemical synthesis, which often involves high heat and high pressure to force a reaction.
—By Kiaria Zoi Nakamura, a UH Hilo student earning a bachelor of arts in English with a minor in performing arts and a certificate in educational studies.
Ahrens achieve ‘sweet’ success for Sunshine Sugar with the completion of a new expansive warehouse, helping them accommodate for the future.
Ahrens partnered with Sunshine Sugar, the only 100% Australian grown, made and owned sugar manufacturer, to create an expansive facility that not only ticked all the boxes for functionality but was also a modern and aesthetically pleasing update to the century-old Harwood site.
Sitting on the banks of the Clarence River, the Sunshine Sugar Harwood Mill and Refinery is the oldest continuously operating sugar mill in Australia and has been crushing cane since 1874, engaging Ahrens to complete the design and construction of their new warehouse and associated dispatch and receival areas.
Covering 7,000m2, scope of works included the 4,800m2 warehouse itself as well as 2,200m2 of dispatch and receival awnings, and a dual storey dispatch office, warehouse and driver amenities.
External works included asphalt and access roads, featuring the safety design of a separate receival entry and dispatch exit with a common driveway, a feature which ensured transport vehicles could have clear access to drive through for dispatch and receival.
Ahrens’ creative and collaborative approach, fused with their experience in the food and beverage infrastructure sector, saw them work with the client and other key stakeholders to establish agreed project outcomes from the very start, and could apply unique design features for the client such as a unique tapered column design, with fabricated beams, to provide enhanced cost efficiencies.
Due to its location on Harwood Island, the facility’s design is truly unique due to the challenges of the highly reactive and unstable ground conditions as well as the site being in a flood basin.
The design therefore accounted for this unique locale, with the steel building built into the foundations and adjustable to allow for potential uneven movement of subgrade.
Ahrens are a fifth-generation national full service construction, engineering, mining services and rural infrastructure company that were able to closely manage costs and safety, quality and environmental factors to deliver the project on time and within budget.
The modern facility proved a recipe for success for Sunshine Sugar, increasing their capacity to store finished sugar products. With in-house capabilities that set them apart from the rest, Ahrens could deliver this project from concept to completion, completing the build in a 10 month period.
Sunshine Sugar is a partnership between the grower-owned NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative and the Australian family-owned business, Manildra Group and is the only 100 per cent Australian owned producer of raw and refined sugar products.
This project forged a relationship between Ahrens and Sunshine Sugar, two influential Australian companies.
Named in honour of former chairman and cane grower, Mr Ian Causley, the complex is now known as the Ian Causley Freight and Logistics Warehouse.
The warehouse facility was officially opened by Federal member for Page, Kevin Hogan, who praised the facility and emphasised the flow-on effect this would have on job creation and the industry itself.
“[This mill] will guarantee, not only 150 direct jobs, but 1200-1500 indirect jobs,” Mr Hogan said.
“This is a massive multi-million dollar investment into the future of the sugar industry in Harwood.”
Ahrens have a proven history of providing ‘sweet’ solutions for a diverse range of clients in the food and beverage industry, with experience working with larger operations and boutique businesses all across Australia.
Oreco Group’s reputation as a developing mega business for the Bundaberg Region has been further enhanced with the pending finalisation of a 6000 square metre transport hub.
Located adjacent to the Isis Central Sugar Mill near Childers, Oreco is Australia’s largest producer of a range of mulch related products catering to garden and livestock feed requirements.
Business Development Manager Amber Gilbert said the company had come a long way since the days when it sourced local cane trash for conversion to sugar cane mulch.
“With the factory now producing a catalogue of over 100 products, storage and transport are key areas where we are lifting our efficiencies,” Amber said.
“We recognised this some time ago and even though the transport hub was planned as a future addition to the factory site, we have been able to bring construction ahead by three years.
“The hub is a part of the $20.8 million expansion the factory has undergone over the past couple of years. Support funding has been made available through both the State and Federal Governments.
“Having this transport hub provides a dedicated, all-weather site where we can ship and, in return, receive backloads of items required for production or even assist other local industries with the transport and storage of their goods.”
Transport hub manager Ash Murphy said the transport hub, which can house more than 8000 pallets of product, would operate on a 24 hour basis.
“Construction commenced in November last year and we expect completion by the end of next month,” he said.
“In this hub we have a facility where we can simultaneously service four B-Doubles with three of those under cover and handle 30 vehicle movements per day.
“We have our own fleet of seven b double trucks servicing our customer outlets and transport distribution centers to the north and south of the state.”
Among the new products recently developed at Oreco are chopped lucerne and cereal hay stock feeds. The product is available as a 220kg mega bale, down to a tiny 2kg bale, and producing all sizes in between.
“All forage feed products are supplied locally from Greensill farms,” Amber said.
“We recently installed a de-barking machine which strips bark off logs allowing for cleaner pine shavings for use in various products.
“The bark is recycled into our potting mix products, and the log is shaved and repurposed into animal bedding.”
As Oreco gears up for the pending crushing season, Amber said a current focus of the company is sales and marketing for its new products.
While Bunnings remains a major client Oreco is currently looking to bring on board other major retail customers.
”Watch this space is all I can say,” Amber said.
Amber said Oreco Group was aware of changes in the sugar industry with production seemingly on a northwards drift.
“We have a great arrangements with growers around this region but should we need to source increased quantities of cane trash, opportunities exist up around the Mackay area which we currently utilise.”
Amber said the company was extremely proud of the footprint it had been able to establish in the Bundaberg Region.
“We currently employ in excess of 60 mostly local workers and the new hub is going to offer further job opportunities.
“Oreco has a long-term investment here and it is here in the Bundaberg Region where the company will continue to be based. We have a commitment to this area which is as solid as the hundreds of metres of concrete that support this site.”
Dotted with shops, restaurants and high-rise apartments, it’s hard to imagine the centre of Port Macquarie’s CBD on the New South Wales Mid North Coast is where the first commercial sugarcane crops were grown in Australia.
President of the Port Macquarie Historical Society Clive Smith said before the plant found its home in Northern New South Wales and Queensland, European settlers believed Port Macquarie could be the perfect area for sugarcane production thanks to its relatively warm climate and easy access to a river system.
“It was recognised very early on that Port Macquarie might have a climate suitable for sugar cane,” he said.
During the first six months of settlement, around November in 1821, seven sugarcane stalks were brought to the region for a crop test.
“In the space of something like 15 or 16 months that increased to about 7,000 stalks,” Mr Smith said.
“That was enough to plant out [sugar cane] on acreage.”
First sugar mill begins production
In 1824, a penal settlement sugar plantation was established at Rollands Plains, about 40 kilometres west of Port Macquarie.
The first sugar mill was predicted to produce 500 tonnes of sugar and 20,000 gallons — 76,000 litres — of rum in just two years.(Supplied: Port Macquarie Museum)
The site was home to Australia’s first purpose-built sugar mill and produced sugar, molasses and rum.
“A lot of people wanted to get their hands on rum, in fact for the military and the civilian officers in charge of the convicts, rum was part of their rations,” Mr Smith said.
“The convicts were not meant to get any rum.”
The mill was predicted to produce 500 tonnes of sugar and 76,000 litres of rum in just two years.
“It didn’t quite happen, they ended up discovering the weather was a bit more capricious than they had originally thought,” Mr Smith said.
Industry moves north but private growers continue
By 1831, the government farm at Rolland Plains was abandoned, as growers discovered sugar cane preferred a warmer climate like that in Northern New South Wales and Queensland.
“We do get the odd frost [on the Mid North Coast]… Sugar cane doesn’t like that,” Mr Smith said.
A number of commercial private farms were established on the Mid North Coast and continued to operate well into the 1870s.
Port Macquarie Historical Society president Clive Smith stands next to a 150-year-old sugarcane crusher used on the Muscio brothers’ farm at Sancrox.(ABC Rural: Keely Johnson)
“Many private farms were around the place … the Muscio brothers had [a farm] at Sancrox where they were growing sugar cane and crushing it and producing sugar and molasses and possibly rum,” Mr Smith said.
“But they couldn’t do it on the scale that they discovered that they can do it on the Northern Rivers and up in Queensland where the weather is a lot warmer and kinder for the sugar.”
Today, 95 per cent of Australian sugar is produced in Queensland and about 5 per cent in northern New South Wales, along 2,100 km of coastline between Mossman in far north Queensland and Grafton in northern New South Wales.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, more than 80 per cent of all sugar produced in Australia is exported as bulk raw sugar, making the nation the second-largest raw sugar exporter in the world behind Brazil.
