Cane growers assess Queensland flood impacts

Sugarcane farmers’ organisation CANEGROWERS says the 2018 crop has been hit hard by the flooding in Far North Queensland.

Just over half of all of the sugarcane area between Townsville and Cairns has been inundated.

“It’s taking some time to access all of the flooded farms to assess the damage,” CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan said. “Roads, sheds, vehicles and also some homes have also been affected meaning there’s a big clean up job ahead.”

In the Herbert River region around Ingham, 80% of the cane area was flooded and fast currents have caused significant damage on some farms.

Three days after the flood peak, water was still sitting in 20% of the cane paddocks in the Tully region and 10% of those in the Babinda/Mulgrave region.

“This situation causes us a lot of concern,” Mr Galligan said. “While sugarcane is a resilient crop, the longer it sits in water, the more damage is done.

“We’re hoping that over the coming days all of the water will recede and the ground will start to dry out.

“Only then will we get a clear picture of what the flooding means for cane yields – in terms of tonnage and sugar content.

“Where total losses are being seen it is in blocks of young, plant cane that has been submerged and where fast-moving water has caused erosion, washing out sections of paddocks and taking plants with it.

“Where plants have survived, the flooding may mean slower growth and a set back to the development of the sugar in the stalks.

“Ironically some of our growers will be looking for rain in the next week to help wash the flood silt from their plants – but not too much!!” Mr Galligan said.

CANEGROWERS is contributing to the Queensland Government assessment of the agricultural impact of the flooding and members are urged to make sure the picture is accurate by contributing their data.