Tully Farm Manager Sean Hodgson ( second from right) holding the new 5 year Smartcane BMP accreditation for all TSL farms presented by Tully Smartcane BMP coordinator Nick Stipis (right) with TSL CEO Andrew Yu (left) and Cane productivity and Development Manager Greg Shannon.

Tully Sugar’s involvement in the Canegrowers Smartcane Best Management Practice (BMP) programme reached a new level late in 2019 with a successful external audit resulting in a further 5 year Smartcane BMP accreditation for all TSL farms.

The company’s involvement in the Canegrowers Smartcane BMP programme goes back to the planning stages when the then newly appointed Cane Productivity and Development Manager, Greg Shannon was a member of an original technical working group which helped set up the programme. Since the programme was rolled out in 2014 TSL farms have been an active participant, gaining full accreditation for all farms including 2 news ones by early 2016.

At the end of 2019 an external audit on the original accreditation was conducted through the Smartcane BMP programme to monitor how the programme is working for all 9 TSL farm which are located in the El Arish, Syndicate, Riversdale and the Murray.

This audit process was quite stringent and thorough as it needs to be to maintain the integrity of the programme and included checks on all aspects of crop nutrition, record keeping, chemical storage, signage, and farm biosecurity.

Through the hard work and dedication of TSL Farm Manager Sean Hodgson, and with the support of local Smartcane BMP coordinator Nick Stipis Tully Sugar farms have been awarded a further 5 year accreditation through to October 2024.

Last week Nick Stipis presented the new Smartcane BMP certificate to CEO Andrew Yu and Farm Manager Sean Hodgson.

TSL encourages all growers who have not yet been involved in the Canegrowers Smart Cane BMP programme to make contact with local coordinator Nick Stipis who can guide you through the process.

Becoming an accredited Smartcane BMP grower isn’t just about getting the accreditation, the process enables you to look at your whole farming operation from a different angle and is quite useful for long term planning.