Environmental management and canegrowing: A survey of farm practices

A demonstrated commitment to environmental care has been increasingly demanded of industries in Australia and overseas. The Queensland and New South Wales sugar industries have responded to these demands by advocating a pro-active approach to environmental management. In doing so, the sugar industry has also been able to avoid the burden of strict regulation, promoting self-regulation as the most effective means to achieve sustainable natural resource management. The Code of Practice for Sustainable Cane Growing in Queensland and the NSW Sugar Industry's Best Practice Guidelines for Acid Sulfate Soils have been developed by the industry (with endorsement by State agencies) to help growers meet their environmental responsibilities. At the commencement of a new project to further the adoption of the Code and Guidelines and to develop a self-assessment process for growers, it is valuable to understand the current level of awareness and acceptance of these documents and to improve knowledge of current farm practices. A survey of Australian cane growers was undertaken in mid-2000 to establish the levels of awareness of the Guidelines and the Code and the adoption of a range of farm practices. While the survey did not test adoption of best practice or the effectiveness of self-regulation, it did indicate that high levels of awareness and support exist for both the Code and the Guidelines.