Burdekin Productivity Services2016 AGM

23/8/2016

Approved seed cane and variety update

Pest and disease

Project and extension activities

Manager’s Report

Approved Cane Sales

19%

9%

14%

4%

32%

8%

14%

Approved seed

cane sales 2015

KQ228

Q183

Q208

Q232

Q240

Q252

Q253

Variety Tonnes Sold

KQ228 751

Q183 347

Q208 553

Q232 148

Q240 1290

Q252 331

Q253 594

Total 4014

• Reasonably even spread of varieties

• Good for disease risk management for the region

• Lower seed cane sales than previous year

Variety Performance

0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

3000000

0

5

10

15

20

25

KQ228 Q183 Q208 Q232 Q240 Q247 Q252 Q253

Tonnes h

arv

este

d

Tonnes s

ugar/

ha

Sugar Yield by Variety and Crop Class - 2015

TSH Plant TSH Ratoon Tonnes Plant Tonnes Ratoon

Q253 – be careful with N rates, and better suited to poorer soils. Appears to be mid to late CCS variety. Reasonable T, low CCS. Four factors to improve Q253 CCS:◦ N rates

◦ Moddus

◦ Time of harvest (later)

◦ Dry down (shorter)

Q232 – similar to above, better on poorer soils

Q252 – Mixed results, as per SRA trials, although have been some very good CCS values, generally slower growing, probably suited to better soils

Q240 – performed well in variety strip trials, need to hold back your plant source as it is a vigourous grower

*susceptible to cold chlorosis

Variety Management

SRA8 Fast germinator and good early vigour

Appears to have phytotoxic reaction to Ametryn

Good sugar, average tonnes

Intermediate smut rating

Stick planted in all distribution plots this year for maximum availability

Pest Damage (T) Loss at $40/TWallabies 25256 $1,010,240

Pigs 20121 $804,840

Nematodes 15116 $604,640

Rats 12047 $481,880

Coots 11860 $474,400

Geese 4780 $191,200

White Ants 3385 $135,400

Grubs 3325 $133,000

Deer 3300 $132,000

Weevil Borer 1251 $50,040

Moth Borer 1186 $47,440

Kangaroo 450 $18,000

Wire Worm 270 $10,800

Cockatoos 200 $8,000

Army Worm 160 $6,400

Symphyla 150$6,000

Soldier Fly 100 $4,000

Emus 100 $4,000

Cows 100 $4,000

Pests

Not widespread damage as in past years, however there are still areas with some pressure. This is a result of growers treating appropriately – only 3000T affected, compare this to 1994/1995 300 000 – 400 000T

Have seen some failures of imidacloprid due to placement issues of liquid formulation (too far away from stool).

Suscon Maxi Intel label confusion: 10-15 kg/Ha

Increasing pressure from environmental groups

Canegrubs

85 days were spent rogueing by casual staff

Regular checking of hotspots and herbicide control by field staff

Training/communication with Lower Burdekin Water and Wilmar transport

Extra monitoring area taken on this year by field staff along Sheepstation and Plantation Creeks

Clean down of equipment

Remain observant – new area of Itch grass detected by farm worker

These are two priority pest plants for BPS

Itch Grass/Wild Sorghum

RSD

Every year BPS conducts RSD testing on all seed cane plots

This year some samples returned uncertain results from Inkerman and Brock Road

Results from all other seed plots were negative

BPS/SRA Response

Temporary closure of plots and intensive sampling of all rows at Inkerman and Brock Road

BPS/SRA Response Approximately 450 samples were taken and

delivered to the SRA RSD lab

SRA immediately tested all samples

All samples were negative

Fantastic effort by BPS staff to re-sample both plots and by SRA pathology to re-test those samples

YCS has been observed in all varieties

YCS management trial conducted in partnership with SRA

Control (Normal Practice)

6ES + 50% ( N,P,K,S)

Mill mud

Confidor Guard

Seasol (seaweed)

Gypsum

Silica

Rainox (sunscreen)

Bactivate

Compost

Salicylic acid

Tissue Culture

Yellow Canopy Syndrome

Monitoring of the trial showed no statistical difference in the severity or prevalence of YCS when averaged over the whole canopy, suggesting that the treatments are not an agronomic solution to managing YCS.

Yellow Canopy Syndrome

No biomass (yield) increase obvious in any treatment over the control – while there is variation, none of it was statistically significant, and therefore could not be attributed to the treatment.

Yellow Canopy Syndrome

Smut Varying levels of smut found in Q252

Spore loading increased due to Tellus and dry weather, and this has meant numerous blocks, including plot have been affected

Q252 Intermediate

Q208 and Q183 Int/Resistant

SRA8 rating is intermediate

SRA recommends that Tellus should be removed due to its high

contribution to spore load

BPS is continuing to fill the gap in extension to meet industry demand after the restructure of BSES/SRA

The bulk of activities are funded outside of grower/miller levies

Extension and funded projects

Funded by Qld CANEGROWERS

Terry Granshaw is available to work with growers one on one to gain accreditation in Smartcane BMP

To date, 20 growers have full accreditation, around 7000 Ha

182 growers have completed self assessment

Demonstrating to government and community that the industry can self regulate is critical, as well as maintaining market access beyond 2020

Smartcane BMP

Funded by DNRM

Over $590 000 allocated to projects to improve irrigation efficiency and minimise deep drainage

10 dewatering bores installed in areas of highest risk of rising groundwater tables

Extension support for all growers through IrrigWeb, one on one and farm irrigation system assessments.◦ Note: Full IrrigWeb access available to all BPS members at no cost

Water calculator available on BPS website

Rural Water Use Efficiency

Funded by SRA

Response to requests from growers at shed meetings to quantify the effect of various harvester speeds on ratoon performance

Commenced trials in 2014 season, and those results showed no effect on yield in relation to harvester speed, or 1st or 2nd

ratoon emergence. The trials will be followed for another season to measure later ratoon effects

Harvesting Grower Group Project

Funded by Qld DNRM

Series of soil amelioration trials

Series of nitrogen rate x timing x ENTEC trials

2 real time water quality monitoring sites

Any grower who would like their nitrate level tested, please contact Tiffany

Nitrogen Efficiency (NEMO)

Partially funded by NQ Dry Tropics Reef Programme

Over 30 shed meetings conducted in partnership with Farmacist, attendance around 35%, up to 53%

Field walks and demonstrations of equipment or farming practices

Shed Meetings/Field Walks

Trialling varieties from SRA that have potential to be released in commercially managed blocks

Nitrogen rate trials in Q253

Potassium rate trials

Legume trash management

Young growers group

Grower one on one support

Other Activities

10 x variety strip trials

2 x Q253 N rate trials

6 x harvesting speed trials

4 x N rate x timing x product

2 x sub catchment water quality monitoring sites

1 x legume trash management

1 x compost trial

2 x potassium response trials

3 sites for irrigation scheduling and calibration of moisture probes

7 x soil amelioration

32 shed meetings

7 field walks and grower training events

Trials and activities in 2015

Sincerely like to thank the staff and directors for their:◦ Enthusiasm

◦ Commitment

◦ Passion for the region and industry

◦ Hard work

Plot Managers and harvester contractors

BPS is your organisation, please utilise all the services available to members to maximise the productivity, profitability and sustainability of our industry

Staff and Directors

◦ Mark Rickards

◦ Company Secretary/Commercial Manager

BPS LimitedFinancial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2016

(000’s)

Year 2016 2015

Revenue 2,275 2,218

Expense 1,693 1,710

Profit 582 508

BPS Profit & LossFor the year ended 31 March 2016

The following is a summary of the Financial report contained in the Annual Report.

BPS Financial Summary

The final result for this F/YR reflects an increase in operating profit over the previous 12 months of $74K.

INCOME increased by $57K & EXPENSES decreased by $17K highlighted by:

◦ Membership Fees - $26K more

◦ Net Fee for Service Income - $22K more

◦ Net Project & Extension Income - $19K more

◦ Net Seedcane sales - $36K less

◦ Other income - $8K less

◦ General Expenses - $1K more

◦ Depreciation - $27K more

(000’s)

Year 2016 2015

Growers 563 552

Wilmar Sugar 579 564

Seed cane Sales 321 513

Project Income 658 499

Interest 50 46

Other 104 44

TOTAL 2,275 2218

BPS IncomeFor the year ended 31 March 2016

(000’s)

Year 2016 2015

Employment Exp. 564 665

Seed cane Expense 331 487

Projects Expense 413 243

Admn,Insur&Genral 108 108

Depreciation 106 79

Vehicles 34 35

Other 137 93

TOTAL 1,693 1,710

BPS ExpensesFor the year ended 31 March 2016

2016 2015

Assets 3,003 2,512

Liabilities 168 259

NET ASSETS 2,835 2,253

(Profit $582K)

BPS Balance SheetFor the year ended 31 March 2016

(000’s)

2016 2015

Cash at Bank 1939 1681

Debtors - owed to BPS 180 36

Prepayments (Insurance) 22 13

Shares - STL 16 15

Property & Equipment 846 767

TOTAL ASSETS 3,003 2,512

BPS Asset BreakdownFor the year ended 31 March 2016

(000’s)

BPS Liabilities Breakdown For the year ended 31 March 2016

2016 2015

Accrued Expenses 29 22

Creditors 25 133

Provisions - (A/L & LSL) 114 104

TOTAL LIABILITIES 168 259

(000’s)

BPS Balance Sheet SummaryFor the year ended 31 March, 2016.

Cash increased by $258K & other assets by $233K

◦ Maintaining a cash reserve to cushion the effect of any catastrophic event that might devastate the district’s ability to produce a crop.

◦ Ease the burden of capital outlay & eliminate borrowings.

◦ Assist in funding the expansion of extension services to growers.

Capital expenditure program

◦ Completed extension to Office at 210 Old Clare Road

◦ 1 X Irrigation monitoring system (RWUE-IF Project)

◦ Giru Plot scales

◦ Replaced computer server & 5 network computers

◦ 1 replacement vehicle (F/O)

Concluding Statement

The finances of Burdekin Productivity Services Ltd. continue to improve as income opportunities are taken up & expenses are reigned in.

The board, management & staff of BPS realise that members require assistance at times and therefore remain very committed to delivering core pest & disease services as well as enhanced agronomic advice.

We urge all members to take advantage of the services BPS has on offer.

Motions

Acceptance of AGM report including financials

Implement financial auditor rotational policy

Sponsored by SmartCane BMP & QSL

Highest CCS Average - Farm over 25Ha

Highest CCS

Booth Farming – 17.17ccs

Sponsored by Incitec Pivot Fertilizer

Highest tonnes per Ha – plant crop over 7.5 Ha

Highest Tonnes Cane

L Previtera – 209.6 tc/ha

Sugar Producer of the year

Sponsored by Wilmar Bio-Ethanol Ag Services

Highest farm average TS/Ha for farm over 25Ha and less than 28% plant cane

G Laidlow – 27.3 ts/ha

GUEST SPEAKER

Dr Anne Rae

‘Sugarcane Root Systems – What’s going on Underground?’.