Crush finish fuels quiet confidence

The real bright spot is that more than half of Queensland’s growing regions completed their crush by mid-November – once the norm, but sadly something we haven’t seen in recent years.

For most people outside the industry, finishing the crush in late November or early December may not seem especially significant. However, for growers and mills, timing matters. 

A June to November window gives cane the best chance of developing strong sugar content, which in turn improves commercial returns. Once harvesting extends into December, sugar levels drop quickly, reducing both profitability and efficiency.

Dry conditions during the peak harvest period are another major advantage. Harvesting crews can access paddocks more easily, machinery is less likely to bog, and mills operate more cleanly with fewer stoppages caused by mud or debris. The whole process becomes smoother and more predictable.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of an early finish is what comes next. With harvesting complete and paddocks still workable, growers can plant and fertilise in good conditions, giving the 2026 crop a full season to grow. Over time, this improves productivity and supports the broader economy linked to the sugar industry.

That is why extended harvests in recent years have been a real concern. Many growers have been forced to cut late into December and sometimes January. 

As sugar content declined and paddocks became wetter, profitability suffered, and shortened growing seasons made it harder to maintain productivity. And when summer rain arrived early, some cane was simply left unharvested.

Given that backdrop, there is understandable relief this year. An earlier finish gives the industry a sense of momentum and the promise of a stronger season ahead, provided the weather plays its part.

Of course, perspective is important. A smaller crop has helped bring harvesting to a close more quickly, and last year’s difficulties - including more than a million tonnes of uncut cane - remain fresh in people’s minds. Global sugar prices have also eased back from record highs. 

Even so, a quiet confidence is slowly returning. Agriculture has always been a cycle of ups and downs, and incremental gains are always welcome.

But for now, growers will happily put the 2025 harvest behind them and look forward to a well-deserved break.

On behalf of CANEGROWERS, I wish you and your families a safe, happy and relaxing Christmas and a prosperous New Year.