The Bingera block recording scheme and use of the resultant productivity data

Computerised block recording was introduced to Bundaberg in 1987 following a request to Bundaberg Sugar Co. from the Bundaberg Productivity Committee. A pilot project with 36 growers (12%) operated in the first year at Bingera, with each cane inspector selecting one harvesting group to participate. In 1988, the scheme was expanded to 123 growers producing almost 50% of the total mill supply. The scheme was based initially on mainframe computers, but was switched to a PC based operation following the introduction of aerial mapping in 1989 (McCarthy, Cullen and Hard, 1989). Data collection was still via the mainframe computer. It was then possible for all growers to participate in the Block Recording Scheme. For 1990, the block recording program was modified and considerably enhanced, and nor forms an integral part of the cane inspecting operations at Bingera Mill.