Category: Industry Information

Miscellaneous information

SRA Information for Members

Kalagro

SRA Information for Members

Grower members,

Change to SRA Constitution and Investment

It has come to KCGOL’s attention that SRA board meeting held recently indicated that SRA may, at their AGM in October 2018, seek to change the Constitution in order to provide more flexible investment decisions to be made.  In particular, Australian Sugar Industry Alliance (ASMC and CANEGROWERS founding members) has sought SRA to invest in the area of trade policy and market access.  SRA has agreed to the proposition subject to some conditions.

Issues pertaining to trade policy and market access are currently outside of the objectives of SRA – which are set out in rule 5.1(a) of the Constitution –

            “Delivering cost effective Research and Development services to the Australian sugar industry to enhance its viability, competitiveness and sustainability”.

SRA have indicated that the proposed amendments will be incorporated in a discussion paper for feedback prior to being presented at the SRA AGM in October 2018.

Issue – Should SRA spend limited resources on Trade Policy and Market Access, or focus on its core business of Research and Development including propagation of varieties of cane, pests and diseases etc? What will be the impact on growers?

Voting on proposed changes to the Constitution

For growers to vote on the proposed amendments to the SRA Constitution, you will need to be a member of SRA – not just paying the compulsory SRA levy.  Membership is not compulsory, only payment of the levy.

If you are not an existing member of SRA, KCGOL recommends that you complete the attached Membership Application Form and drop it in to the office whereby form will be submitted to SRA on your behalf.

Not sure whether you are an existing member of SRA, please let KCGOL know and we will make enquiries with SRA on your behalf.

Once the discussion paper has been released by SRA, it will be posted to our webpage.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries. read more

Fire Permits – 2018 Season

Kalagro

A reminder to all members of the need to complete their annual  “Application For Permit To Light Fire” prior to season commencement. Application form and explanatory notes are attached.

Application for a ‘Permit to Light Fire’ is made through your local fire warden. If unsure of your fire warden contact details they can be located via the “Fire Warden Finder” by using the following link https://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/Pages/fw_finder.aspx. After receipt of your application the fire warden may impose conditions on a permit to reduce unwanted risk or nuisance to other people, property or to the environment. The fire warden may refuse to issue a permit if they believe that appropriate safety measures cannot be reasonably achieved.

It is also a timely reminder of the importance of providing a safe working environment on farms not only for growers but contractors and employees alike. Some, but certainly not limited to, thought provoking questions/safety behaviours that should be given consideration when undertaking such a task as a sugar cane burn could include:

  1. Who is in charge and will monitor/have overall control during the burn.
  2. Those involved deemed to be competent, are wearing the appropriate PPE and clearly understand their role during the burn
  3. Burning start points, location of individuals, wind direction, direction of the burn, designated escape routes in an emergency.
  4. Method of communication for individuals during the burn eg. mobile phone.

Having in place set procedures, adequate training and rules around tasks undertaken as part of farming operations is critical in any legal defence should someone be maimed or worse, killed and an action taken against a farmer/contractor for a breach of WH & S legislation.

At the end of the day no one wants to experience or be involved in a workplace incident or injury but nevertheless no one can afford to ignore safe work practice

So let’s all stay safe in 2018

thumbnail of CSO-010-ApplicationPermitLightFire

thumbnail of CSO-010-ExplanatoryNotes

Lower Burdekin Water annual shutdown information

Kalagro

Dear Lower Burdekin Water open water customers,

Please find following the dates for the annual open water shutdown as well as dates for special projects effecting SOME Warrens Gully Pumpstation customers and ALL Plantation Creek Pumpstation diversion customers. More information on the scheduled shutdowns is available on Lower Burdekin Water’s website http://lowerburdekinwater.com.au/notice-board/

ALL OPEN WATER USERS:  Lower Burdekin Water will be completing capital works and maintenance during the annual open water shutdown from Saturday 2nd June 2018 to Saturday 23rd June.  This shutdown coincides with SunWater’s Burdekin Haughton Water Supply Scheme annual maintenance shutdown.  Please see LBW’s website for more information – http://lowerburdekinwater.com.au/notice-board/

OPEN WATER CUSTOMERS – WARRENS GULLY PUMPSTATION – CUSTOMERS DOWNSTREAM OF INKERMAN STATION ROAD: There may be possible interruptions to water supply from Monday 14 May 2018 to 29 July 2018. Please see LBW’s website for more information – http://lowerburdekinwater.com.au/notice-board/

OPEN WATER CUSTOMERS – PLANTATION CREEK PUMPSTATION AND RELIFTS: Water will not be available from Saturday 2 June 2018 to Saturday 7 July 2018. Please see LBW’s website for more information – http://lowerburdekinwater.com.au/notice-board/

Growers should organise their irrigation schedules accordingly.

Ergon Energy Queensland large customer metering investigation

Kalagro

Ergon Energy Queensland large customer metering investigation

  • Investigation

The Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) has launched an investigation into Ergon Energy Queensland (Ergon Retail) for breaching the National Energy Retail Law Queensland Act 2014 by overcharging large regional business customers.

Ergon Retail is legally required to charge its large customers the regional retail notified electricity prices, set by the QCA each year.

However, Ergon Retail has been charging large regional businesses for metering costs, in addition to notified prices, since 1 January 2017.

The QCA has written to Ergon Retail to cease charging these amounts immediately and the QCA has commenced a full investigation.

Based on current evidence it appears that no residential or small business customers are affected–only large business customers consuming more than 750MWh per year are affected.

Any large business customers in regional Queensland with concerns about their bills can contact the QCA here.

Project Catalyst

Kalagro

Project Catalyst supports a network of Mackay, Whitsunday, Burdekin and Wet Tropics farmers who are leading the way in the use of cutting-edge management practices for a more sustainable and productive farming future.

Connecting with growers is the key to sharing the benefits of innovation in farm management practices. Project Catalyst strives to provide a range of opportunities from shed talks to the annual Growers Forum to learn, share and engage with like minds.

Short video of growers forum held in Townsville in February this year can be viewed by the following link.

Energy Savers Plus Program Extension for Agricultural Business

Kalagro

Business Energy Savers Program

Significant cost savings can be realised through businesses pursuing energy efficiency options. Simple changes/upgrades can deliver cost reductions of 30% with paybacks as short as 1 year.

The $20 million Business Energy Savers Program, an initiative under the Affordable Energy Plan, provides free energy audits for agricultural customers and large business customers, and co-contributions to fund energy efficiency upgrades.

The program provides audits for businesses covering a broad range of industry sectors that are vital to our economy, and advice to businesses on how they can reduce their electricity costs by using electricity more efficiently.

It includes the Energy Savers Plus Program Extension (for agricultural businesses) and the Large Customer Adjustment Program (for large electricity users).

Under the Energy Savers Plus Program Extension, 200 additional audits for agricultural customers will be completed. In addition to this, co-contribution grants of up to $20,000 will be made available to assist businesses in implementing the recommendations from the audit.

Expanding on the Large Customer Adjustment Trial, the Large Customer Adjustment Program will deliver an additional 30 audits of large customers and co-contributions of up to $250,000 to help encourage the business to implement the audit recommendations.

The Business Energy Savers Program also provides broader benefits through the development of case studies to assist other businesses wanting to reduce their energy costs by using electricity more efficiently.

MEMBER NOTICE – DAF Innovative New Tools to the Cane Industy

Kalagro

DAF innovative new tools available to the Cane Industry.

New spiked wheel applicator, or ‘StoolZippa’ that closes the gap made by a double disc opener –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuhqy9uhEa0&feature=youtu.be  This is an innovative closing wheel prototype that has been developed by DAF to reduce the amount of chemicals leaving cane paddocks. The video shows how precision agriculture can reduce run off of pesticides from the cane field by changing the way the pesticide is applied.

Dual herbicide Sprayer, saving time and money for growers and reducing pesticide loss – https://youtu.be/p3X34CoAckA The Dual Herbicide Sprayer is a spray rig that has been developed by DAF to assist growers in targeted application of pesticides. The Dual herbicide sprayer can apply two different pesticides at the same time, reducing time, effort and costs. As well as improving pesticide application, the Dual herbicide sprayer has been shown to reduce pesticide run off and thereby improve the quality of water leaving the catchment.

Water quality monitoring at Barratta Creek and implications for pesticide use – https://youtu.be/YTO2SfupLsA The Barratta Creek catchment has been the focus of a number of innovative projects aiming to improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef. DAF together with other partners and sugar cane farmers has looked at the results of water quality testing in this area to guide the development of projects. The video describes some of these projects, including recommendations around the use of Metolachlor and Pendimethalin and the construction of a wetland treatment system.

Les Elphinstone

Manager / Company Secretary

Kalamia Cane Growers Organisation Ltd

Kalagro Ltd

140 Young Street Ayr Qld 4807

PO Box 597 Ayr Qld 4807

Tel:  07 4783 1312 

Mob: 0447 128 312

Email: [email protected]

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