REPLACING a 20-year-old packing machine with one incorporating a computerised grading system has boosted the output for a North Queensland citrus operation.
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Oscar Bugno and his family have been farming for more than 50 years on their land 10 kilometres west of Dimbulah.
The Bugnos' was originally a tobacco plantation, and as the industry declined, Mr Bugno explored alternative options.
"We decided to try something different. Everybody else was doing mangoes, so I decided to do citrus. It's been a long learning curve, but we eventually got on track," he said.
Thirty years later, Mr Bugno, with wife Giannina and son Dwaine, run a citrus operation with more than 6000 lemon, 2500 grapefruit and 850 lime trees under two brand names - Bug's Citrus and JDL.
"When Dwaine returned to the farm after completing an electrical apprenticeship, we started producing more fruit and it became clear that we needed to expand the business," Mr Bugno said.
The new equipment was funded by a Sustainability Loan from the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA).
QRIDA offers Sustainability Loans up to $1.3 million for primary producers looking to invest in the latest infrastructure or technology to create a viable future for their farming business.
Mr Bugno and his son began looking into ways they could expand and, having accessed a loan from QRIDA previously, he contacted regional area manager, Sam Spina, to see if QRIDA could assist them again.
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"One of our shortfalls was our packing machine, at that time it was over 20 years old. So, we met with Sam about using a Sustainability Loan to put in a new machine," Mr Bugno said.
Mr Spina met with the Bugnos on farm to talk through the application process and explain the business plan and other documents they needed to submit as part of their loan application.
Installation of the new packing machine has greatly improved the business' efficiencies.
Dwaine Bugno said the computerised grading system removed the need for the grading process to be manually completed.
"With electronic weights and an extra eight bins for the fruit, we've made the process more efficient and allowed more fruit to be processed, graded, and packed quicker than before - saving both time and money," Dwaine said.
"In moving our two graders that we had to packing means we can keep production going through the machine, reducing losses and time.
"The machine has really helped because we've been able to move more produce through to meet our market demands."
Mr Bugno says he would encourage other primary producers looking to expand their operations to see if QRIDA could help them.
"I'd suggest other people look at QRIDA and the terms and conditions that they offer, which I think are extremely good," he said.
"The loan has been very beneficial for us. It's helped us do a lot of things that we wouldn't have been able to do prior."
"We can now keep up the pace and compete with the other large growers that are now operating in the area."
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