Category: Other News

Sugarcane nitrogen rate mate tool launched

Canegrowers now have a new online tool at their disposal to help with calculating nitrogen costs.

The ‘Sugarcane Nitrogen Rate Mate’ has been developed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) as a step-by-step guide to help growers to calculate nitrogen rates, cost savings and more.

DAF agricultural economist, Samuel Cook said growers could save money by monitoring their nitrogen use more closely and changing their method of calculating fertiliser rates.

“By using the tool, it will help growers analyse the impact of nitrogen use on farm profitability,” Mr Cook said.

“Growers undertake a simple and quick assessment of their nitrogen requirements, and the tool will estimate the cost savings a farmer can make by reducing their nitrogen rate.

“The step-by-step guide is easy to use and contains graphs showing current costs and potential savings.

“Until now, growers have had to calculate this for themselves by using a worksheet, which can be time consuming and difficult to analyse.”

Mr Cook said feedback was welcome from growers about the usability and functionality of this tool.

The Sugarcane Nitrogen Rate Mate is available from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website at http    : http://bit.ly/NitrogenMate  or call 13 25 23.

Quad Bike Safety Information

“A very sobering story and highlights the need for the proper PPE and training not only for our children but also farm employees.”

New Safety Advocates join the campaign for quad bike safety

In 2018, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland welcomes two new Safety Advocates, Jodie and Mario Cocco, who are passionate about quad bike safety, especially where children are involved.

Their son Domenic was just seven years old when he suffered life-threatening injuries after crashing a quad bike into a power pole. We published a film about the incident in 2016, with Jodie and Mario describing the horrifying experience and the impact it had on their family. The next logical step for the Coccos was to start telling their story personally in workplaces as Safety Advocates.

“You think it’s not going to happen to you, but it can. Make sure your kids have got the right protective equipment on, make sure they’re wearing a helmet, and make sure they know how to operate the quad bike properly,” Jodie says.

In their role as Safety Advocates, Jodie and Mario will focus on quad bike safety with a special emphasis on children using these machines. They highlight how important it is to always wear a helmet when riding, as well as the benefits of formal training.

The film, Too fast, too soon – Domenic’s story, has been viewed over 4000 times and is a stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong and the serious consequences that follow.

Since it began in 2013, our Safety Advocate program has gone from strength to strength. Last year our Safety Advocates between them spoke to Queensland workers and communities at more than 100 events. Feedback on their visits is incredibly positive – a clear indication that sharing their stories is having a profound impact on Queenslanders and prompting them to think about the importance of working safely.

Further information

For more information on the Coccos’story, go to worksafe.qld.gov.au/safety-advocates or request a Safety Advocate visit to your business. read more

“The Queensland Government has introduced a range of initiatives in 2018 in order to relieve the burden of electricity costs on consumers. Summary of actions and incentives has been extracted below.

Queensland Government

Affordable Energy Plan: making electricity more affordable

We are committed to delivering stable electricity prices for all Queenslanders.

The Affordable Energy Plan features $300 million of initiatives from 1 January 2018 which will make electricity more affordable for residential and business customers.

Under the plan, electricity prices for typical household and small business customers will remain below inflation on average over the next 2 years.

Our actions in more detail

Under the Affordable Energy Plan we will:

• commit to keeping electricity prices below inflation on average for typical household and small business customers over the next 2 years
• deliver a $50 per year electricity rebate to all Queensland households over the next 2 years ($200 million over 2 years)
• introduce the Easy Pay Reward: a rebate for regional households ($75) and small businesses ($120) that register for direct debit and monthly eBilling ($15 million over 3 years)
• provide an energy efficient appliance rebate to help households to buy more energy efficient appliances
• offer no interest loans and rebates for Queenslanders purchasing rooftop solar and battery systems ($21 million over 3 years)
• remove solar barriers for renters ($4 million over 3 years)
• expand the Energy Savvy Families initiative to provide more low income families with access to monthly billing, digital metering and education programs ($4 million over 3 years)
• deliver the Business Energy Savers Program for agricultural customers and large business customers ($20 million over 3 years)
• remove the non-reversion policy for small customers in regional Queensland ($15 million over three years).

Survey – Energy costs for irrigation

“The National Irrigators’ Council, on behalf of the Agriculture Industries Energy Taskforce group, is conducting a survey in order to inform up-to-date advice to empower irrigators to reduce their energy costs for irrigation. For any growers that wish to participate in this survey please find link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AEITF-irrigation “