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As this email hits your inbox on Sunday 13 April, the countdown is officially on - we’re just two weeks away from Sugar Cubed 2025, the biggest and most exciting event on the Australian sugar industry calendar!
Get ready for three unforgettable days packed with fascinating speakers, thought-provoking panels, hands-on field trips, cutting-edge technology, innovation, and a whole lot more - including plenty of great food and drinks to keep the conversations flowing.
If you haven’t grabbed your tickets yet, don’t stress - there’s still time! Click here to check out the full agenda and secure your spot.
Come along - join your fellow growers and industry leaders at the event that brings the entire sugar community together.
I can’t wait to see you there!
Cross-border cane connection
As mentioned in last month’s email, the CANEGROWERS triennial elections are underway, with results due later this month. This week, the Queensland board held its final meeting of the current term - but instead of gathering in Brisbane, they hit the road.
The board travelled to Maclean in northern NSW to join Clarence Canegrowers in celebrating an incredible milestone: 100 years of representing local sugarcane growers.
It was a fitting way to mark the end of the board’s term and to recognise the strong cross-border connection that continues to unite growers. Read more here
Chopping and Changing - Harvesting Challenges Pt 1
The 2025 crush is just weeks away, and while growers are gearing up, the harvesting sector is under pressure.
In the first episode in this three-part Around the Paddock series - we head to Far North Queensland to hear from growers and contractors and mill reps about the real-world challenges they’re facing. From labour shortages to rising costs and machinery issues, it’s a candid look at what’s happening on the ground. Future episodes will explore how these challenges are playing out in other regions.
Listen here or search CANEGROWERS Around the Paddock on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Safety on the Move: Roadshow Drives Home Key Messages
As part of our ongoing commitment to member support, CANEGROWERS recently hosted a Transport and Workplace Health and Safety Roadshow across seven locations from Cairns to Mackay.
More than 200 growers and contractors attended the sessions, which featured presentations from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
The roadshow delivered clear, practical advice on grower and contractor responsibilities - both on the farm and on the road - helping members stay informed, compliant, and safe.
If you'd like more information, drop us a line at info@canegrowers.com.au
Planning for Profit: Farm Business Resilience Goes Online
For the past two years, CANEGROWERS has been travelling across Queensland, delivering free Farm Business Resilience workshops in cane-growing regions to help growers strengthen their business planning skills.
To make it even easier for growers to take part, we’ve now delivered the program online. Fifteen participants joined the two-part webinar series, which offered the same valuable content in a flexible, accessible format.
If you missed it, don’t worry - the session was recorded and will soon be available to watch anytime. It’s free, practical, and designed to help you plan for a stronger farming future.
CANEGROWERS praised for SAF leadership
At this week’s Queensland Energy Club lunch, Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki acknowledged the important role Queensland farmers are playing in reducing emissions, highlighting CANEGROWERS for its leadership and advocacy around future fuels and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The Treasurer’s remarks reinforced the growing recognition of agriculture’s role in Queensland’s clean energy future, and the opportunities for cane to contribute to the development of sustainable fuel alternatives. Read more
Tariffs, Trade & Tough Talks
In this episode of Around the Paddock - Talking Trade, long-time sugar industry trade guru Warren Males breaks down how global trade is shaping things for Aussie sugarcane growers.
He chats about the headaches caused by international tariffs and why fair trade really matters.
Warren explains how our growers can’t just sit back - they need strong advocacy to make sure they’re not getting a raw deal.
It’s a great listen if you want to understand the push and pull between local policies and global trade deals, and why having a solid voice at the negotiating table is key to keeping the sugar industry strong and competitive.
Your retirement roadmap with ART webinar
While managing the daily challenges of life, it's easy to lose track of your personal super. With so much focus on the present, planning for the future can often take a back seat.
In this live webinar with Australian Retirement Trust’s Education Lead, Steven Fehring, we’ll guide you through key steps to help you stay on track for the retirement you want. We’ll cover:
- How the Age pension works
- How much you need for a comfortable retirement
- How to add money to your super, and
- Estate planning and asset considerations.
There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions at the end of the session.
Date: Tuesday, 15 April 2025
Time: 10:00am – 10:45am (AEST) including Q&A