26 May 2010 > The sweet sound of cane harvesters (and the season) starting up
The sound of sugarcane harvesters firing up will soon be heard around Queensland and northern New South Wales, as sugarcane season 2010 kicks off for another year.Tablelands Mill is the first cab off the rank, scheduled to cut its first cane this Monday, 31 May.
The start of the Australian sugarcane season is staggered across cane growing areas depending on differing climatic conditions, crop size and maturity with most mills then operating continuously for just over five months. The industry stretches 2100 km along the eastern seaboard from Mossman in far north Queensland, to Grafton in NSW.Harvest is planned to finish in most areas by early November depending on the intervention of weather and mill performance.
“Mill performance in season 2010 will be crucial.While the very positive January outlook has moderated somewhat as a result of wet and overcast weather, we are still setting sights on a 10% increase on 2009 cane production to close to 33 Mt, and 5% increase in sugar to 4.4-4.5 Mt sugar, says Ian Ballantyne, CEO of peak sugarcane growers body CANEGROWERS.
The coming week marks the first meeting of the new three year term for CANEGROWERS’ Board of Directors following elections in all regions during March and April.Twenty-two cane growers, representing all sugar producing areas in Queensland, join CANEGROWERS senior staff in what is set to be a packed agenda.
“This year has marked the introduction of regulatory limitations on the use of chemicals and fertilisers – and this Board will continue to work hard to have the good practices already adopted on mass by cane growers around the country recognised.The State will also undertake a review of water prices which will directly impact on cost of production for a large proportion of growers who are already meeting increased energy and fuel costs, says Mr Ballantyne.
Milling company restructuring in the far north and the potential acquisition of CSR sugar division (Sucrogen) by Chinese conglomerate Bright Food Group will also be considered by the regional representatives on the CANEGROWERS Queensland Board. Directors will also be briefed on the outcome of recent meetings in Geneva between Australian, Brazilian and Thai industry and government officials. These meetings sought to develop common response to renewed European exports onto the world market.
The new season follows on from the previous which had been marked by high prices.CANEGROWERS has forecast improved production on last year, even though there had been a wet, and some places windy, lead up to the season.“We are looking to 2010 being a reasonably good year.Our members have been given the opportunity to benefit from strong returns in 2009 and now have the tools to manage some of their forward price exposure. While sugar prices have fallen considerably during the past months, there continue to be opportunities for a leaner, meaner Australian industry steeled by years of low prices, he says.
While payday for this year’s crop is a long way away for cane growers who do not see the full result from 2010 crop until July 2011 when final payments are declared, growers are relatively upbeat.
“As always, the new sugar season opens with positive expectations and a big dose of hope, says Mr Ballantyne.
