Winter 2017 in Proserpine, Queensland it's when the sugarcane is burnt in this area.
We happened to be heading to the caravan park from Airlie Beach when we came across a farmer doing his job.
Burdekin is area we were in. The Burdekin still burns sugarcane before harvesting because an abundance of water in the region makes the cane too leafy to cut.
"If we cut green and leave a trash blanket on the ground it makes it very hard to irrigate," cane farmer Phil Marano said.
"The second reason is we are recognised as growing the biggest crops in Australia and to cut it green is very difficult. "It slows us down to a point where it's almost unviable." As the flames begin to rise metres tall, ash gets blown across towns throughout the Burdekin. "It's called Burdekin snow," Joe said. "It's black stuff that comes from the fire and it goes all over the cars." More to read at the link below. http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2013-08-07/feature-fire-farm/4870852
Apparently there was a big debate in Australia years ago re burning of sugarcane but some areas are permitted to burn for various reasons. A link to the ABC News re a farmer about the burning of sugarcane. http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2013-08-07/feature-fire-farm/4870852
Certainly makes for a grey interesting sky. Lots of smoke and a good idea to stay indoors during the process. The birds fly to catch the snakes, rats and other creatures that live in the sugarcane.
I just read a really interesting article about birds of prey actually creating wildfires in Australia. Apparently the Aborigines have known about this practice going back 40,000 years. It seems that the birds will carry off a burning stick and drop it an area of dry grassland to create a fire, thereby driving out small rodents and other prey items for the hawks, who then profit from the feast. Smart birds!
The Aboriginals are clever people when it comes to the land in Australia. Birds are also clever like most creatures, they have learnt how to survive all these years.
I don't recall any sweet smells when the burning of the cane takes place but I do know that you better be well and truly alert for the escaping "Joe Blakes". They seem to be rather agitated when disturbed from their food base (rodents etc) in the cane fields.
Permits I believe are required for the cane farmers to be permitted to burn and the burning off is monitored very strictly. Cheers Colin
Yes burning of the cane is monitored well. The smell is a nice smell not unpleasant, a little on the sweet side but that depends on your nose at the time.
i remember seeing my first sugar cane field years ago in cairns. it was an amazing sight. then we drove through them and they were everywhere. we crossed an old tiny railroad track. they didn't burn while we were there though. we passed an old unused processing plant which was huge. i love cairns but the snakes and crocs are scary. thank goodness we didn't see any while we were there :)
in our native village before ploughing for sowing new seeds it was common to burn the remaining parts of plants on the ground . thank you for explaining in replay about the sugarcane burning as i was wondering too
I have never seen that. Well, I did not even know that that was done.
ReplyDeleteIt's done in some areas of Australia.
DeleteI love the birds in picture no.2. A bit on hot side! Beautiful images M-w.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteMany birds flying about in readiness to catch a snake or rat to eat.
Why the sugarcane was burnt like this?
ReplyDeleteBurdekin is area we were in.
DeleteThe Burdekin still burns sugarcane before harvesting because an abundance of water in the region makes the cane too leafy to cut.
"If we cut green and leave a trash blanket on the ground it makes it very hard to irrigate," cane farmer Phil Marano said.
"The second reason is we are recognised as growing the biggest crops in Australia and to cut it green is very difficult.
"It slows us down to a point where it's almost unviable."
As the flames begin to rise metres tall, ash gets blown across towns throughout the Burdekin.
"It's called Burdekin snow," Joe said.
"It's black stuff that comes from the fire and it goes all over the cars."
More to read at the link below.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2013-08-07/feature-fire-farm/4870852
Wow. What a sight to see.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is and rather smoky.
Deleteah, I remember the old days when farmers used to do that here. Not so legal any longer.
ReplyDeleteApparently there was a big debate in Australia years ago re burning of sugarcane but some areas are permitted to burn for various reasons.
DeleteA link to the ABC News re a farmer about the burning of sugarcane.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2013-08-07/feature-fire-farm/4870852
El humo se dispersa en el espacio, formando unas grandes nubes de color...los pájaros huyen espantados.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Certainly makes for a grey interesting sky. Lots of smoke and a good idea to stay indoors during the process.
DeleteThe birds fly to catch the snakes, rats and other creatures that live in the sugarcane.
I just read a really interesting article about birds of prey actually creating wildfires in Australia. Apparently the Aborigines have known about this practice going back 40,000 years. It seems that the birds will carry off a burning stick and drop it an area of dry grassland to create a fire, thereby driving out small rodents and other prey items for the hawks, who then profit from the feast. Smart birds!
ReplyDeleteThe Aboriginals are clever people when it comes to the land in Australia. Birds are also clever like most creatures, they have learnt how to survive all these years.
DeleteLearning something new! I can well imagine the birds were making the most of the situation.
ReplyDeleteThe birds were having a field day.
DeleteI've heard about the sugar cane burning and been told the smoke smells sweet, did you notice the smell at all?
ReplyDeleteYes did notice the smell River, it was a little sweet smelling certainly not neutral or sour :)
DeleteGraeme Connors' album "North" should be playing in the background. :)
ReplyDeleteI recall you have mentioned that before :)
DeleteI don't recall any sweet smells when the burning of the cane takes place
ReplyDeletebut I do know that you better be well and truly alert for the escaping
"Joe Blakes". They seem to be rather agitated when disturbed from their
food base (rodents etc) in the cane fields.
Permits I believe are required for the cane farmers to be permitted to burn
and the burning off is monitored very strictly.
Cheers
Colin
Yes burning of the cane is monitored well.
DeleteThe smell is a nice smell not unpleasant, a little on the sweet side but that depends on your nose at the time.
i remember seeing my first sugar cane field years ago in cairns. it was an amazing sight. then we drove through them and they were everywhere. we crossed an old tiny railroad track. they didn't burn while we were there though. we passed an old unused processing plant which was huge. i love cairns but the snakes and crocs are scary. thank goodness we didn't see any while we were there :)
ReplyDeleteIt's an ok place Cairns.
DeleteAt Ayr in 2016 the cane was burning and we had black snow on our vehicle in the morning but it just blew off.
Great shots especially the one of the birds and the ire. I didn't think they still do that now that they have improved harvesters.
ReplyDeleteMany people didn't think they burnt the cane these days, but many areas do.
Deletein our native village before ploughing for sowing new seeds it was common to burn the remaining parts of plants on the ground .
ReplyDeletethank you for explaining in replay about the sugarcane burning as i was wondering too
You are welcome.
Delete