TO SHIFT OR NOT TO SHIFT: OPTIMUM HARVEST WINDOW FOR PLANE CREEK

EVIDENCE from cane block productivity data for the past five years indicates that a large number of farms in the Plane Creek region grow cane that matures late. Hence, shifting the harvest window towards the end of the year may result in a larger sugar yield for the region in total. This potential advantage is countered by diminishing ratoon yields in subsequent years and an increasing risk of rainfall ending the season prematurely. This paper presents a statistical and econometric approach to evaluate the benefit and risk associated with the shifting of the harvest window.