A successful campaign to minimise harvesting losses within the Queensland sugar industry

Following increasing evidence of costly losses during harvesting operations, BSES commenced an extension program in 1992 aimed at reducing harvesting losses by one-third (2% cane) by 1995. The program adopted an industry-wide educative approach to raise awareness of the problem, and then to foster best harvesting practices through demonstration of factors contributing to losses and their remedies, and by targeting of major loss areas. Data are provided on assessment of cane losses in 1992-1995, and on case studies where harvesters were successfully modified to reduce loss. The influence of the program on harvester design is also demonstrated.