Each mill performs the cane testing function. SSA's Cane Testing Services Section provides an audit on all cane testing operations at industry level. The audit covers equipment and instruments, sampling and analytical methods and practices as well as maintenance of records and documents. This is to ensure that the cane payment process is equitable to both the miller and the grower.

The mills operate the Direct Analysis of Cane (DAC) system. The critical elements of the DAC system are: the weighing of cane and mixed juice; the sampling of cane, bagasse and mixed juice; and the analysis of the same products for pol, brix, moisture and suspended solids. Unlike in other industries where RV is used, the measure of quality used as a basis for payment in Swaziland is pol % cane. The most important parameter used to monitor the accuracy of the DAC system is the Pol Factor.

A Cane Testing Monthly Report is produced during the milling season. This report provides a brief summary of the critical cane testing data and DAC audit results. These results are circulated to the Mill Group Committees. The final annual industry results are published in the SSA Annual Report.