BEST PRACTICE SUGARCANE PRODUCTION IN THE WET TROPICS

A four-year SRDC-funded evaluation of production costs and best practice implementation strategies in the Wet Tropics region found that the top 20% of growers in the region had similar characteristics when it came to management practices. These practices were evaluated on the basis of cost of production through benchmark data collected over a four-year period. The study found that despite the adverse prices and seasonal conditions, the top 20% of growers could cover their operating and living costs over this period. Through close consultation with case study growers, a set of best practice recommendations was developed for cost competitiveness in the region.