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What an event!
Sugar Cubed 2025 brought together over 150 growers, researchers, and industry leaders in Brisbane for three big days of ideas, innovation, and inspiration late last month. Under the banner 'Growth for Generations', we tackled everything from mill viability and cane varieties to diversification, ag-tech, and new opportunities in sustainable sugar markets.
The field trips were a real highlight - getting hands-on with cutting-edge research at SRA’s IRIS labs, seeing the latest ag-tech in action at UQ Gatton, and exploring sustainable cotton farming at Brimblecombe Farm.
It was fantastic to see such strong collaboration and a shared focus on building a smarter, more sustainable future for our industry. If you missed it, you can catch some of the pictures here.
Around the traps
Sugar Cubed might be done for another year, but things certainly haven’t slowed down! Over the past few weeks, the CANEGROWERS Brisbane team has been busy out in the districts - attending grower shed meetings, running WHS and transport workshops, and delivering our Business Essentials training, both online and face-to-face.
Our legal expert Chris Cooper has also been on the road, supporting district offices with governance matters and new director training after the successful wrap-up of our triennial elections.
At the same time, Chairman Owen Menkens and I have been flat out in high-level meetings with industry stakeholders and government, working through critical issues like the STL insourcing proposal and broader matters impacting our industry and ag more generally.
Plenty happening - and as always, we’re focused on making sure your voice is heard where it counts.
Asking the tough questions
Part of making sure your voices are heard is having open, honest conversations about the big issues facing our industry.
That’s exactly what I sat down to do recently on the latest Around the Paddock podcast - Unpacking the Mill Performance Puzzle.
Myself, Ash Salardini (Australian Sugar Manufacturers) and Carl Morton (Mackay Sugar) had a frank chat about the ongoing frustrations with mill performance - something I know many of you are feeling keenly.
We dug into the big issues - foreign ownership, shifting expectations, and the need to rebuild trust across the supply chain.
It’s clear we need better alignment between growers and millers to get the outcomes we all want. If you’ve ever felt like your voice isn’t being heard or that the system’s out of balance, this one’s worth a listen.
We don’t have all the answers yet, but starting the conversation is a step in the right direction.
You can find the Around the Paddock podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or just below.
On the horizon!
New Policy Council prepares to elect board
On 26 May, the newly appointed CANEGROWERS Policy Council will meet in Brisbane for the first time in its three-year term. While many familiar faces are returning, there’s fresh energy too. Their first task: electing the new CANEGROWERS Queensland Board. It’s a great example of our grassroots democracy in action—growers elect local boards, who appoint Policy Council reps, who then elect the state board. We’re proud to be an organisation of growers, for growers.
Crushing season ready to roll
The 2025 sugarcane harvest is expected to get underway soon, with the Tablelands district likely to be first cab off the rank. Of course, the weather will have its say, so fingers crossed for a smooth start.
Global growers gather in Cairns
In June, Australia will host the annual World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG) meeting in Cairns, bringing together delegates from over 30 countries. It’s a valuable opportunity to share insights and collaborate on the challenges and opportunities facing our global industry.
Women in Sugar visit the big smoke
The CANEGROWERS policy team weren’t the only ones out and about this month - 15 women from the Herbert River, Burdekin, and Innisfail districts took part in a Women in Sugar (WISH) study trip to Brisbane.
The tour kicked off at CANEGROWERS HQ, where the group met the QCGO team and heard updates from myself and policy managers on a range of topic, such as advocacy, education, membership, Smartcane BMP, communications, and our environmental initiatives.
From there, they travelled to Rocky Point for a district tour with Ben Spann from the local CANEGROWERS office, finishing with a guided visit to the impressive mulching facilities, hosted by Josh Keith.
It’s great to see this kind of initiative helping build connections and leadership among women in our industry - another important part of securing a strong future for sugar!
Survey winners revealed
Thanks to everyone who took part in our 2025 CANEGROWERS membership survey. We had a strong response, with almost 15% of members having their say!
It’s no surprise the top concerns remain mill performance, rising input costs, sugar prices, workforce shortages, and harvesting.
While members expressed solid satisfaction with CANEGROWERS services, confidence in the industry sits at just 44%.
What came through loud and clear is that growers want to see the industry revitalised, with 75% backing a united approach across all sectors and 68% saying we need to increase the industry’s value.
Nearly half believe investment in new technology is key to achieving this.
Congratulations to Gerald Azzopardi from Mackay, who took out the $1500 prize draw, and to the ten $50 prize winners from Burdekin, Herbert River, Mackay, and Isis!
Tully celebrate a century
This weekend, Tully Sugar’s mill celebrates an incredible milestone—100 years of sugar production! It’s a moment to recognise the generations of growers, workers, and community members whose hard work and resilience built not just an industry, but a thriving community in the Tully region.
The celebrations include a sold-out Gala Dinner, the launch of the centenary book Beyond the Banyan, and a full program of community events, including a Heritage Day and sugar industry field day.
Congratulations to everyone who has played a part in this proud history. It’s a remarkable achievement and a powerful reminder of the strength and future potential of our sugarcane industry. Find out more at tully100.online.