| JANUARY | - Inspect and rogue fields for diseases and off-types.
- Service vehicles and equipment.
- Follow-up hand weeding of Panicum and Sorghum spp.
- Conduct under-canopy spraying of creeping grasses.
- Plan and finalise chemical ripener programme.
- Analyse individual field performance to assist in replant decisions i.e. varieties, seedcane, fallowing implications (green manure crops).
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FEBRUARY | - Conduct programme planning for coming season.
- Conduct budget planning.
- Plan seedcane requirements for next year.
- Rogue fields and nurseries for diseases and off-types from nurseries.
- Mow verges and breaks.
- Estimate crop for the coming season.
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MARCH | - Plan drying-off programme for irrigated fields.
- Sample replant fields for RSD.
- Submit crop estimates.
- Survey carry-over fields for eldana.
- Maintain and repair farm roads.
- Complete autumn planting.
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APRIL | - Train cane cutters.
- Focus on cane quality: Mature, Clean and Fresh.
- Schedule irrigation, do not over-irrigate.
- Plant green manure crops e.g. Winter Oats.
- Carry out soil samples in plough-out fields.
- Review field layout for plough-out fields.
- Order lime.
- Monitor ripener programme.
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MAY | - Maintain waterways, drains and conservation structures.
- Abide by local burning code of practice.
- Place certified seedcane orders for next season.
- For the Midlands: Inspect fields for early frost damage.
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JUNE | - Plan evaluation of irrigation systems.
- Repair irrigation system equipment.
- Clear firebreaks.
- Order fertiliser and plan application.
- Apply lime.
- Begin construction of new field layouts.
- For the Midlands: Inspect fields for frost damage.
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JULY | - Control winter weeds.
- Service and calibrate fertiliser and herbicide applicators.
- Survey potential carry-over cane to see if FASTAC is needed to control eldana.
- Sample seedcane nurseries for RSD.
- Complete new field layouts and structures.
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AUGUST | - Begin FASTAC spray programme.
- Train staff in herbicide application.
- Check fallow fields for volunteers.
- Complete grassing of waterways.
- Begin rouging of smut-susceptible varieties.
- For the midlands: Ensure that all frost- damaged fields have been harvested.
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SEPTEMBER | - Begin fertiliser application.
- Apply long-term herbicides.
- Conduct spring planting.
- Continue roguing of smut-susceptible varieties.
- Plan leaf sampling programme to audit fertiliser applications.
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OCTOBER | - Check effectiveness of herbicide application.
- Identify fields with problem weeds and begin treatments.
- Rogue smut-susceptible varieties.
- Identify seedcane nursery fields for minimum tillage and long fallow to following spring.
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NOVEMBER | - Spray minimum tillage fields.
- Mow verges and breaks.
- Rogue smut- and mosaic-susceptible varieties.
- For high mosaic risk areas: Do not plant between 1 November and 1 February.
- For the Midlands: Monitor winter weeds in last season's cane.
- For the Midlands: Plan long fallow to next spring for minimum tillage fields.
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DECEMBER | - Check effectiveness of chemical stool eradication.
- Follow-up weed control.
- Rogue smut- and mosaic-susceptible varieties.
- Follow up treatments on problem weeds.
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