North sees worst crop in 40 years
MULTIPLE factors have combined in 2019 to create a perfect storm for Gordonvale, near Cairns, cane growers, who say this year’s harvest is shaping up to be the worst in 40 years and will have flow-on effects for business.
A dry spring, very wet summer and wet periods during the crush have meant a one-third reduction on the yield.
Second-generation Gordonvale cane grower Paul Gregory works a large farm on marginal country established by his father in the Packers Camp area, east of Edmonton.
In 2016, Mr Gregory’s farms yielded 112 tonnes of cane per hectare.
This year he said the farm was expecting to average between 70–75 tonnes to the hectare.
“We have had one of our driest winter/springs on record and then we had a really heavy wet season that started in midDecember and it rained continually through summer and autumn,” he said.
“They are the two least favourable weather events for growing cane on some of this land that is a bit marginal. And we had them one on top of each other. It robbed the cane of all potential to achieve its full growth.” Initial crop estimates for the total amount of sugar cane crushed at the Mulgrave Mill have been reduced by 15 per cent halfway through the crush by MSF Sugar.
Adding to farmers’ woes is poor quality cane, or cane with a low sugar content or CCS (Commercial Cane Sugar).
Mr Gregory said reduced yield and sugar content of the cane would wipe $150,000 from his operation this year, with cane valued at $30 a tonne.
MSF Sugar cane supply general manager Hywel Cook said it had been a poor yielding year from Tully to Mossman.
“It’s a poor yield and prices are poor too, so we have a double negative impact which is very challenging for both the grower and the miller,” he said.
Mr Gregory expected knock-on effects for businesses in Edmonton and Gordonvale.
“There will probably be a very limited number of new machines bought, which has an impact. If you were planning on buying a new work ute this year, you wouldn’t,” Mr Gregory said.
“A lot of farmers have structured debt and the other people in the equation are the lending institutions. How will they deal with this?
“There is a lot of latitude given by them now and they are flexible, but I would think people will be having conversations with their bank.
“Most farmers are optimists but most growers I have spoken to want to put his year in the rear view mirror and get on with next year.”
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