Mackay sugar cane growers say millions at stake as community hit hard by milling delays
Cane farmers say that delays caused by mills will cost them millions of dollars and cause delays in future seasons.
Whitsunday
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Sugar crops worth $60 million in Mackay alone are still waiting to be harvested with growers blaming millers for lengthy delays.
A late finish last season meant that growers were already behind going into this year’s crush but delays at mills have put a significant dampener on the season.
Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables Central district committee chairman and director, Steve McKeering, owns a cane farm at Mirani in the Pioneer Valley, said this year’s crushing has been “very longwinded” due to mill performance.
“With this weather around, which happens now, it’s going to be touch and go for everyone,” he said.
“I think it’s all good and well to say we’re going to get the crop off every year, we’re going to do our best to get the crop off.
“But the thing is, we really need those mills running and have them off in a timely manner.
“By mid-November, the sugar content starts dropping off and the only ones that lose out are the growers.
“The millers – it doesn’t bother the millers, so they’ll keep crushing until there’s no sugar left in it, just about.”
Mr McKeering said he cannot see all of the cane that is left being crushed this season.
“We’re now sitting at 20 per cent to go so it’s a pretty significant impact,” he said.
“It’s not just me, but it’s our contractors, our harvesting contractors.
“That’s 20 per cent of their income still left in the paddock too.
“It’s the wider community as well, we do business all over town with local businesses, and those guys are impacted as well.
“They’ve already seen it with the slow start to the crushing this year, they’re all having lower incomes as well, so it’s bigger than just us.”
Mr McKeering said there was about a million tonnes still left in the paddocks in Mackay alone which equates to around $60 million.
The impact will be felt across the community.
“Everyone’s upset about it, and don’t get me wrong, I think the millers are pretty ashamed of their performance this year,” he said
“We’re not trying to run them into the ground, we’re just disappointed and clearly want to show our disappointment, because it’s more than money, it’s our livelihoods.
“And we can take a loss, we’re farmers, we can take a loss, we know how to handle that.
“But when it’s at the hands of someone else, it’s a bit harder to take.”
Ash Salardini, CEO of the Australian Sugar Mills Council said she was “dismayed” at some of the commentary about the industry.
“I am surprised I need to say this, but the sector that loses most from delays in crushing are the mills,” she said.
“Given our high fixed cost base, we are most incentivised to ensure a smooth and quick crush.
“We do not doubt it has been a sub-optimal year due to a variety of reasons, and no one is blameless for the season.
“But taking pot shots at each other doesn’t resolve the challenges.”
The Whitsunday Times have reached out to Wilmar and Mackay Sugar for comment.
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