Director’s Message
Greetings to all our stakeholders as we transition through spring to the summer season with hopes of good rainfall in many of our sugarcane growing...
Topical tips
After the relative quiet of winter, spring will be upon us soon and with it, weeding and planting season. In addition, many growers will need to...
Managing smut in sugarcane
Smut is an important disease of sugarcane in South Africa which results in significant losses in cane yield and juice purity. Smut-infected stools...
Conditions looking favourable for sour rot
Severe sour rot was identified in a certified nursery in the Midlands North area in 2024 (Figure 1). The disease was also one of the reasons for...
Empowering small-scale growers: Using simple soil data for better sugarcane yields
For small-scale growers (SSGs), maximising yield potential is crucial for their livelihoods and the sustainability of the industry. Recognising...
Using NIR to predict resistance to sugarcane pests and diseases
The South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) recently completed a project titled “Prediction of Resistance to Pests and Diseases using...
Varietal differences associated with flowering
SASRI recommends the following best management practices for harvesting flowered cane: Flowering fields should be harvested before the end of...
SSG Variety Choice In The Midlands South
Growers in the Midlands South have long relied on older sugarcane varieties such as N12, often hesitant to try newer releases due to limited...
Guidelines for burning sugarcane
In South Africa, approximately 90% of the sugarcane crop is burned before harvesting, with the remainder harvested green. Both methods are used in...
Weather
ReviewThe industry has experienced extended dry conditions since the onset of the 2025 winter season, with most parts recording very little rain...
Editions
Articles in this Edition
Topical tips
Managing smut in sugarcane
Conditions looking favourable for sour rot
Empowering small-scale growers: Using simple soil data for better sugarcane yields
Using NIR to predict resistance to sugarcane pests and diseases
Varietal differences associated with flowering
SSG Variety Choice In The Midlands South
Guidelines for burning sugarcane
Weather
Director’s Message