Integrate Electronic Recording Systems

Helping Sugarcane Farmers Integrate Electronic Recording Systems into their Farming Business

Objectives:
• Review various electronic farm management recording systems;
• Implement electronic farm management recording system using real farm data;
• Discuss and interpret farm management data to improve profitability and environmental outcomes;
• Enhance the suitability of an electronic recording system for the sugarcane industry in order to meet grower and regulatory requirements;
• Promote the use of farm management records in the sugar industry through media publications, training and demonstration of practical relevance;
• Establish linkages with growers in other regions to share information on farm management recording systems and;
• Develop grower knowledge capacity on sound business management principles

Project Activities:
1) Review of current electronic farm management systems (pro's & con's)
2) Group field study to investigate the use of electronic business management records in other sugarcane regions and businesses outside of the sugar industry.
3) Selection, acquire and installation of a farm management recoding system.
4) Support, updates and training provided to group by software provider. A total of five "recording forum" meetings with software provider present.
5) Collection of farm management data (eg. chemicals, fertiliser and tractor operations) relevant to each farming business over the project period. Four focus group meetings held to discuss progress of record keeping, review findings and identify uses of the information (agronomic, financial and comparative analysis).
6) Four steering group meetings to facilitate project, assist in report writing and undertake project evaluation.
7) Produce farm management reports of the data collected to improve farm decision making and improve profitability.
8) Provide feedback to manufacture on positives and negatives associated with the program and facilitate enhancements of the software to meet the cane industry requirements.
9) Communicate focus group findings to the wider industry through a case study report and documentation of findings.
10) Interactive demonstration of electronic recording system to industry stakeholders through a participatory workshop.

Contact Person: Michael Reinaudo 0408 010 588