Practical support for cane growers under current fuel and fertiliser pressures

Australia’s entire agricultural sector is currently experiencing increasing operational pressures across fuel supply, fertiliser and broader supply chains. SRA is working closely with CANEGROWERS, Australian Sugar Manufacturers and other industry bodies including the Council of RDCs and the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), to help communicate the impacts and to support farmers.

Diesel availability, rising input costs and supply chain challenges are affecting day‑to‑day operations. These pressures are complex and evolving, with impacts already being felt across production systems and logistics networks. While challenging, there are practical, evidence‑based steps cane growers and contract harvesters can take to manage risk and improve the efficiency of their farm businesses.

SRA programs provide practical guidance to help optimise fertiliser and fuel use. The Six Easy Steps™ nutrient management program, particularly Steps 5 and 6 and the toolbox, supports informed decisions by accounting for soil reserves, legumes, mill by‑products and current nutrient availability. Using the full framework helps reduce risk, even where input rates are refined.

One key opportunity for cane growers is irrigation. Optimising irrigation use can maximise returns on this fixed investment, helping maintain productivity where other inputs are under pressure. Harvest scheduling to optimise CCS, informed by SRA resources, also remains an important lever for profitability.

In terms of harvesting efficiencies, additional tools, such as HarvestMate, allow growers and contractors to accurately understand harvesting costs and identify fuel‑saving opportunities. Recent burnt‑cane trials have shown potential fuel savings of around four litres per hour, alongside yield improvements, without impacting CCS. Weed management manuals, fallow cropping and standover management resources can also support smarter system-wide decisions.

Useful links and planning tools:

• Refining Nutrients for Specific Situations:
  Guidance for refining nutrient inputs in specific situations
• SIX EASY STEPS – to refine nutrient inputs:
  Six Easy Steps Nutrient Management Program
• Soil Health Toolbox
  Soil Health Program | Boost Sugarcane Productivity
• Weed Management manual (with cost comparisons)
  Weed Management Manual – Sugar Research Australia
• Fallow cropping information sheets
  Tully Fallow Crops Guide
• Standover Management information sheet to best select and manage standover blocks
  elibrary
• Harvesting scheduling to maximise CCs info sheets:
  Assessing the sugar content of a crop for managing the harvesting sequenceUsing and looking after your refractometer
• FeatOnline (QDAF) for comparing farm strategies:
  https://featonline.com.au/

SRA encourages growers and contractors to use these resources, engage with local district managers and staff and plan ahead to navigate the current operating environment with confidence.

Please refer to this page for ongoing updates to information on the emerging fuel and fertiliser impacts.