Cane will go to grazing without market backflip

With the cattle industry buoyant and low sugar prices, the shift to grazing makes sense to people looking to earn a wage.

Cane land could be doomed to grazing if sugar prices don't increase. Picture: Stuart Quinn

MORE than 60 cane farms are on the market in Mackay's surrounds.

Landmark Harcourts, Mackay agent Gary Johns said that some farms aren't that well maintained and aren't as appealing to prospective buyers.

"There's quite a number of cane farms for sale and very simply if one comes on the market that is unusually in a tightly held area or a dress circle area they do sell,” he said.

Mr Johns said the properties that are in highest demand are along the river.

"They normally have excellent harvesting conditions and ease of watering and all of these efficiency situations come into play and therefore the farm, and if it is well maintained, it holds good value.

"There are a lot of farms that aren't very well maintained and their efficiencies are lower. They become harder to sell and we're fast heading into a situation where if another cane farmer doesn't buy it, it'll become grazing land.”

Meanwhile Royce Dunn from Blacks Real Estate said that the cattle industry is buoyant and with low sugar prices, the shift makes sense for people looking to earn a wage.

"Because the productivity is not as good as it used to be in cane (people) are looking to diversify," he said.

He believes that many of the properties are being bought up by first and second generation farmers, keen to get back out on the land and supplement their mining income.

Originally published as Cane will go to grazing without market backflip