Sugarcane crews on the Far North will fire the starter gun on the state’s multi-billion-dollar harvest this week.
The roar of harvesting machinery will echo across the region on Monday, May 18, with the Atherton Tablelands officially opening the state’s seven-month crush as the first rakes of cane head through the rollers at MSF’s Arriga mill.
Tully Sugar, which marked its 100 year anniversary last year, will be the next cab off the rank on May 26, kicking off three weeks early to handle a big crop, before the Mulgrave Mill down to the Gold Coast joins the crush through June.
Canegrowers, a grower-led not-for-profit which represents the Queensland industry, is expecting 29 million tonnes to be cut and prcoessed by December this year.
The company stated ongoing fuel supply uncertainty has raised fears growers may struggle to source enough diesel to harvest their cane, with almost 100 million litres of diesel required between now and the end of the year.
Caengrowers chairman Owen Menkens, who is a fourth generation farmer at Home Hill in the Burdekin, said 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most emotionally and financially draining seasons in memory for farming families.
“It’s not too often that the stars align and we get the holy trinity – good crop, good weather and a good price. Sadly, this year is no different,” he said.
“The crop is looking promising and, so far, conditions in the paddock have been favourable, but the sugar price is really dragging growers down.
“Australian producers are one of the few sugar industries in the world fully exposed to the global sugar price. We’re directly impacted by supply and demand fluctuations and soaring input costs.”
Unlike international competitors, Aussie producers are exposed to volatile global markets.
A Canegrowers member survey revealed statewide on-farm reserves sit at less than four million litres.
One in 10 farmers have been turned away when trying to buy fuel and are reporting a similar story with fertiliser
Mr Menkens said the high price of diesel alone will rip a $150 million hole in grower profits.
“It’s an anxious time,” Mr Menkens said.
Extracted in full from: https://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/tableland/tablelands-sugarcane-harvest-begins-amid-fears-of-diesel-crisis-and-price-collapse/news-story/952351dd4eed09c89ae610cb8d614ddf
