Sugarcane industry representatives will gather in Bundaberg in February 2021 for a major conference focused on the latest innovations, technology and research to help cane farmers maximise their opportunities for ongoing success into the future.
The Case IH Step UP! Conference will be held in Bundaberg from February 9 to 10, 2021, with a line-up of guest speakers and field trips for participants. The conference will culminate in a gala dinner at the Kalki Moon Distillery.
The conference is usually held every two years and was scheduled for March 2020, but had to be postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. It will be the fourth time the conference has been staged, and Case IH has been the major naming sponsor since the inaugural event in 2013. Andrew Kissel, Case IH ANZ’s Product Manager for Planting and Soil Management Equipment and Product Specialist for Patriot Sprayers, will be one of the conference guest speakers, outlining developments and ongoing advances in ag machinery technology.
“Sugar is the second largest export crop in Australia after wheat, and Australian producers have always been at the forefront of innovation and adoption of technologies that continue to drive the industry’s productivity,” Andrew said.
The Case IH Step UP! Conference will be held at Bundaberg’s Multiplex Sport and Convention Complex and will showcase speakers including Anders Claassens from Southern Cross University; Andrew Chamberlin, Queensland Farmers Federation and Andrew Phipps from Queensland Sugar Limited.
The conference, organised by Next Gen – the industry body for young sugarcane professionals – aims to encourage and support young people into a career in the sugarcane industry. The conference is a chance for both young and established farmers, millers, researchers and harvesting contractors, to discuss and learn about innovation, sustainability and profitability, and encourages the transfer of knowledge between generations.
“We’re proud to be so closely associated with such an important event for the sugarcane industry. It’s a great initiative from Next Gen, bringing together farmers from across the nation’s sugar-growing regions to discuss a range of topics related to the ongoing success, development and evolution of Australia’s cane farming operations,” said Pete McCann, General Manager of Case IH Australia/New Zealand.
Gerard Puglisi, Australian Cane Farmers Association (ACFA) Director and Next Gen Officer, welcomed the support of Case IH.
“We are so pleased to again have the support of Case IH this year. It’s really encouraging that a global brand is so supportive of young people in agriculture, and without that level of commitment, the Next Gen program would not be where it is today,” he said.
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For more information on the 2021 Case IH Step UP! Conference, contact conference organiser Ainsley Gatley on 0488 197 400, or for more information on Case IH’s involvement, contact Kylie Galbraith, Seftons, on 0411 480 208.