PROGRO-BSES' NEW APPROACH TO EXTENSION AND BENCHMARKING

During 2005-2006, BSES Limited developed the Farm Productivity Assessment (FPA) program as an on-line tool to assist canegrowers throughout Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales. In the Burdekin, FPA is marketed as ProGro and strategically promoted as a way of helping improve productivity, profitability and sustainability. The benefits of this program have also assisted industry achieve many goals within its Regional Plan. Currently, 125 farms in the Burdekin region are participating in the ProGro program. Each participating grower receives a report on their farm that provides a good foundation for the development of a business plan. Most participants have been positive about the usefulness of the reports and extension staff have seen some crop/management changes across the region. It is important for the sugar industry to develop and adopt technologies that improve gross margins, productivity, sustainability and supply security. The Farm Productivity Assessment program is just one example of how BSES can deliver tailored solutions to increase the adoption of research outcomes across all cane-growing regions.