RAPID ADOPTION OF DOUBLE-DISC-OPENER PLANTING IN THE BURDEKIN SUGAR INDUSTRY

摘要

During the past 10 years, the Australian sugar industry has experienced extensive changes due to economic and environmental drivers. These factors, combined with positive research, development and extension, have acted as a catalyst for the industry to embrace change. One of the most rapidly embraced changes has been the adoption of double-disc-opener planters (DDOP). The principle behind the DDOP system is significantly different from the standard 100-year-old planter, because it enables no-tillage and minimum-tillage plantings. This contributes to a sustainable cropping system through immediate savings in costs and long-term improvements in soil health. DDOPs were first trialled in the Burdekin region in 2001 with small areas being planted for trial purposes. In 2002, 370 ha were planted to DDOPs. This area remained constant for 2 years and then increased six fold to 2200 ha in 2005. A range of extension techniques were used to encourage adoption, including travel to other regions/industries, funded trial sites, paper-based media, one-on-one consultations with key players, and grower-groups meetings. Researchers and engineers were invited to participate in grower lead meetings and lead bus trips to demonstration sites. The biggest influence in the rapid adoption of this new form of planting was comprehensive prior research and demonstration of the benefits of this system to the wider community. This was only possible due to the open cooperation between funding bodies, RD&E providers and growers. The positive attitude of growers involved with the new system of farming continues to provide the extension officer with excellent spokespeople and catalysts for adoption. There were three key elements: 1. Use of large-scale grower demonstration sites. This gave the growers an opportunity to witness several operations occurring throughout the season and gave growers more confidence in the results. 2. Timeliness of adoption. The introduction of DDOP coincided with a downturn in the Australian sugar industry. This method of planting has been shown as a cheap means of planting cane, while still delivering acceptable yields. 3. Grower participation/driving force for change. The growers that were involved with the DDOP system were innovative and positive about the method and wanted to make the system work.