Proserpine projects pave way for cleaner future

An innovative, flexible project pioneered right here in Proserpine some three years ago is gaining a lot of attention lately particularly with the unseasonal weather.

Peter Sutherland, who used to work under the banner of BSES Limited, now works with Canegrowers Proserpine in a subdivision known as Sugar Services Proserpine (SSP).

While Mr Sutherland’s role won’t change a great deal from his former duties with the BSES, the time factor might.

"We’ve gone from four staff members down to one, so growers might have to be mindful of that," Mr Sutherland said.

Mr Sutherland says a big part of his role will be his continued involvement with the variety trials and clean seed plots.

The program is called the "one eye sett" and offers a much more flexible alternative to planting the traditional way.

"It’s a way to quickly propagate from a small amount of cane. It’s an eight-week head start which is vital during unseasonal weather like we are having now and it’s as disease free as we can make it," Mr Sutherland said.

First: The cane is cut from from the clean seed plots of hot water treated cane.

Second: The cane is then cut into three cm billets and put in the incubator to rapidly germinate the one eye setts.

Third: The germinating setts are dropped into 80mm pots and covered with our own specially formulated potting mix (with secret ingredients)

Fourth: The potted plants are moved to the hothouse for 2 weeks to complete the establishment phase.

The warm conditions inside allow the plants to grow rapidly even during cold winter days. And finally the plants are moved outside to harden in the sun for a few weeks prior to planting in the field with the mechanical

planter.

"In 2009 the BSES gave Proserpine 5 plants of the Q240 variety … this year we have 18,000 to plant and the growers have leapt on it. Their number one comment is; "Look it’s already coming up behind the planter", it basically minimises the risk, you don’t have to have your heart in your throat about the cane shooting, because the hard work is already done," Mr Sutherland said.

How does it work?