Annual Report 2023-24

Chairman's Report

Owen Menkens

What a year it’s been at CANEGROWERS!

The 2023 crush showed some improvement, although challenges like mill performance, especially in Mackay and Plane Creek, stretched finishing dates well into Christmas. While we have all pulled together to see a future for the industry, seeing Mossman Mill going into administration was clearly a sad milestone.

We faced a smaller overall crop due to the tough 2022 season, but sugar prices soared past $900 a tonne late in the year and while there was volatility, this did allow some growers to lock in solid prices for the upcoming seasons. 

We are sharing our stories with the community and our stall at the EKKA was a hit, showcasing the industry to thousands of school students and families.

Throughout the year we held member meetings in every district and in October, we held a regional State board meeting in Proserpine and attended the National Farmers' Federation Conference, where David Jochinke was elected president. David later travelled into the districts to meet directly with growers. 

On sustainability initiatives we partnered with QUT to highlight analysis that shows a 30% reduction in emissions among Smartcane BMP-accredited growers and saw accreditation levels go beyond 40% of production.

In November, we continued our focus on practical outcomes as we examined the harvesting sector's viability and pushed for government support on workforce issues. On the trade front, we successfully advocated against the bad EU free trade agreement and continue discussions with US buyers for better market access.

Lastly, we hosted our first Sugar Cubed Industry Conference, featuring world class speakers and a great opportunity for growers to meet and discuss the future of the industry.

And that's just the beginning. To find out more, click on the link at the bottom of the page and read the full report.