Cuban technology backs sugar harvest breakthrough - SPAA

working at the cutting edge ofAustralian harvesting innovation?Although Cuba was once a globalforce in sugar production, its outputplummeted from 7Mt to 1.2Mtafter the former USSR scrappedits sugar-for-oil preferential tradearrangements. Faced with adomestic industry in decline, Cubanresearchers began developingintegrated control systems for millsand plantations in booming Braziland other South American countries.CSIRO scientist Robert Bramleylearned about the breakthroughwork Cubans were doing inBrazil when he attended aninternational conference.This led to a visit here by specialistsfrom Techagro, commercial arm of aconsortium of Cuban and Brazilianuniversities and research bodies.They visited the Herbert, Burdekinand Mackay to assess opportunitiesand they trialled equipmenton several harvesters includingthe Ingham machine owned byCaneharvesters Chairman RobertLyon. This aroused interest amonggrowers who were keen to reducetheir harvesting costs and improveproductivity, but were frustrated bylack of suitable equipment. Interestwas particularly strong at Ingham,where Techagro has now based itsPacific regional operation.In 2006 SRDC helped fund a visitto Cuba and Brazil, to see Techagrosystems in action,by a group includingLawrence Di Bella andRon Kerkwyk, Burdekingrower Ian Haigh, JohnPowell of CaneharvestersMackay and GarySandell, a Mackay-basedharvesting consultant.In Brazil, large numbersof harvesters have beenfitted with on-boardcomputers, electroniclogbooks, base-cutterheight sensor kits, yieldmonitors and automaticconstant flow systems.Seven Cubantechnologists (some withtheir families) have madeIngham their temporaryhome while they workclosely with HCPSL toadapt their equipmentto suit the local systemof small farms and fasterharvesting rates.Ingham was chosenbecause of the district’sinnovative, progressiveculture and its standoutenthusiasm forinnovation and achievingbest practice.The community is delighted to haveoverseas experts living locally, closePA in sugarHCPSL Agricultural Systems Information Officer Lawrence Di Bella (L)and Techagro Pacific engineer Angel Luis inspect one of the monitorsthat will be fitted in the cab of the cane harvesters to track movementand record yield.to where things are happening onthe ground. This is a wonderfulbonus, said Ron Kerkwyk. “Thepartnership is a good marriageof Cuban harvest managementtechnology with our industryexperience and skills”.“The stakeholders share a visionfor a more efficient and profitableindustry and, importantly, Techagrodoes not have to work directly withevery stakeholder because HCPSLcoordinates the entire operation.”This article was supplied byCANEGROWERS. It wasoriginally published in the26 May 2008 edition of theAustralian Canegrower magazine.Bill Kerr, is the CANEGROWERSconsultant journalist.HCPSL Harvest Management Officer Mike Seaton (seated), Techagro Pacific engineer Enrique Caballero andHCPSL Manager Ron Kerkwyk (R), prepare to fire-up the Techagro server that will be used by HCPSL to track caneharvesters in the Herbert River district.For more informationwww.canegrowers.com.auPrecision Ag News www.spaa.com.au 23