Farm Manager: Cane at RCL Foods

Job Description    

• The primary objective of this position is the day to day cane production within the area of responsibility with key focus on ensuring good quality of sugar cane and high production volumes, Average sugarcane hectares 800 – 1200, depending on the geographic set up of the farms

Minimum Requirements    

• Degree/Diploma in Agriculture (Plant Production)
• SASRI Senior Certificate in Sugarcane Production
• Computer literacy in MS Office (Excel & Word)
• Sugar Cane Knowlegde and Experience
• Computer literacy in MS Office (Excel & Word) Knowledge of Agronomy
• Irrigation Management Knowledge
• Knowledge of Fertiliser
• Knowledge of Farm Management Best Practices
• Performance Management
• Knowledge of Irrigation Systems – Drip, Dragline, Floppy and pivots
• Knowledge of Soil Types and Utilisation

Duties & Responsibilities    
Strategic Management

• Soil utilization – Update and implement 5 year plan
• Irrigation replacement – Annual evaluation of irrigation system, capture info with Technical & Canepro

Cane Production

• Tons RV/HA, RV% - Ripening, drying off and harvesting Management
• Fertilizer program – Field application as per fertilizer program & budget
• Canepro – MIS in terms of Irrigation, fertilizer, weed control, ripening & replant and dry off dates and harvest lost
• P&D – Auditable P & D system

Water Management

• Management of tensiometers/probes, Canepro irrigation maps including irrigation scheduling based on probe information
• Irrigation scheduling – Generate water allocation and usage reports

Contract Management

• Cane cutting – DRD & Burn to crush Management
• Weed Control – Canepro & SLA
• Other service provider contracts – In-house & External
• Monthly evaluation of Contractor’s performance (SL)

Financial Management

• Compile budget for own area of responsibility
• Determine, compile and analyse production cost per HA (Cost reports)
• Capex – 5 year replacement plan program
• Forecasts – Cost reports including cash flow reports (Analyse and Interpret)

Mechanical Harvest and Planting

• Responsible for standards of harvesting based on best practices
• Comply with harvesting protocol, managing of blades, replacement and costs.
• Fan speeds settings – harvest losses.
• Base cutting - stool damages.
• Visiting harvesters daily to make sure on standards.
• Comply with planting protocol

Risk Management

• SUS Farms and MARSH Audit standards
• Alien plant control – 3 year program