2024 sugarcane harvest: Heavy rain extends expected end to crush

Torrential rain in the Burdekin has brought the sugarcane harvest to an almost complete stop, extending the expected end to the season. Here’s the latest.

Chris Winship, Wilmar’s supply manager for Herbert, flanked by the raw sugar company’s Michael Mombelli and Kaiden Brock at Victoria Mill in the Herbert. Picture: Cameron Bates

Torrential rain in the Burdekin has brought the sugarcane harvest to an almost complete stop, extending the expected end to the season.

John Tait, Burdekin cane supply manager for Wilmar Sugar Australia, said the region had averaged between 25mm and 50mm of rain over the weekend, with Giru recording 200mm.

He said the rain had brought “harvesting to a standstill across the region”.

“We’re in regular contact with harvesting operators and grower representatives about field conditions,” he said on Sunday.

“At this stage, we expect harvesting to resume over the next few days.

“With good throughputs and no further rain impacts, we remain optimistic of crushing out before Christmas.”

Wilmar Sugar and Renewables cane-train driver Kaiden Brock at Victoria Mill in the Herbert. Picture: Cameron Bates

Chris Winship, Wilmar’s supply manager for Herbert, said rainfall totals ranging from 40mm to 110mm in Hinchinbrook only had a minor impact on harvesting operations.

“Harvesting and crushing operations are ongoing and we are currently still on track to finish the season in mid-December.”

He said the Herbert mills had now processed about 92 per cent of the estimated 3.9M tonne crop.

“The harvesting sector has done a commendable job this season of maintaining good communication with the traffic office so we can optimise cane supply to the mills,” he said.

“We’ve also had timely feedback from growers to help improve the accuracy of our crop estimates.”

Mr Winship said CCS was tracking below budget this season.

“The average CCS is 12.55 season to date, which is about a unit below what we’d budgeted, so it hasn’t been the best year for sugar content in the Herbert.”

Wilmar’s Herbert and Burdekin mills have processed about 90 per cent of the total estimated crop.

Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ Leichhardt cane-train at Victoria Mill in the Herbert. Picture: Cameron Bates

General Manager Cane Supply and Grower Relations Ian Davies said he was optimistic that, with no significant rain stops, Wilmar’s Herbert and Burdekin factories would crush out before Christmas.

“We’ve had our share of challenges this season, with industrial action, wet weather and extended stops at some sites due to equipment failure,” he said.

“Despite this, we’re on track to get the whole crop off in the Burdekin and Herbert.

“Everyone’s keeping a close eye on the weather and hoping for minimal impact to harvesting from storms and rain.”

Mr Tait said the Burdekin mills had processed about 89 per cent of the estimated 8.2M tonne crop.

He said CCS was tracking below budget at 14.22 season to date.

“Sugar content was high at the start of the season, but CCS hasn’t really recovered fully since the big rain event in August that cost us two weeks of downtime,” he said.

“It’s not a historically low number, but the early signs for the season were more optimistic.”

Originally published as 2024 sugarcane harvest: Heavy rain extends expected end to crush