Dr Barry Slater from the Central BSES Research Station did the number crunching and discovered there were no statistically significant difference in yield between single row 1.5m beds and either dual-row or single-row 1.8m beds in commercially grown grower trials or experimental plots.

Sometimes the plant cane in 1.5m beds produced a few tonnes more than the 1.8m beds or the other way around, and then the situation often reversed in the first or second ratoons, meaning over the crop cycle, there was no yield advantage either way.

However, as there are 20pc more beds in a 1.5m layout than a 1.8m configuration, that results in significant savings in travel time when carrying out farming operations and lowers the cost of production.

Also, the trials were not done with GPS auto steer guidance, so compaction could have limited yields.

Dr Slater concluded it was likely yields would improve once controlled traffic was implemented and the poor condition of the soil had improved with the use of legume fallows and minimum till farming.