CANEGROWERS recognised for environmental work

CANEGROWERS has welcomed the visit today by the Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch to an Innisfail district sugarcane farm and her acknowledgement of the hard work of the organisation’s members towards improving water quality for the Great Barrier Reef.  

CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan said the programs highlighted today - Cane Changer, the Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project and Smartcane BMP - had full industry support with their success relying on the collaborative approach they have taken and the leadership of local cane growers.

“Our industry program, Smartcane BMP, is the accreditation process that underpins this cooperative effort, allowing growers to demonstrate and prove that they operate at or above industry best practice,” he said.

“70% of the Queensland cane farming area is involved in Smartcane BMP with 250 farmers and businesses already accredited in the three key water quality modules including CANEGROWERS Innisfail Chairman Joe Marano who today showed Minister Enoch around his farm.”

Best practices involve managing cane paddocks and landscapes to avoid sediment loss and minimise the need for herbicides and using the optimum fertiliser rate applied in a way that keeps it in the crop.

“All of these projects recognise that farming is an important and continuing part of the economic and social fabric of regional Queensland and that it has a sustainable future,” Mr Galligan said.

“The good news for growers is that the economic and environmental drivers line up – in protecting the Reef our industry will meet the increasing world sugar market demands for sustainably produced sugar.

“Our members have embraced innovation to ensure they, their families and communities have a strong future in the landscape that they love.

“We welcome the State Government’s recognition of this effort today and the Minister should be congratulated for the significant time and effort she has taken to understand the issues and see the commitment of growers and the outcomes being achieved.”

The commitment of growers was mirrored by the Minister today as she signed her own Cane Changer document pledging to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of growers in improving farming practices, especially as they relate to the health of the Great Barrier Reef, recognise the important role that growers play for the State of Queensland and work collaboratively with the sugar industry for a better future.