Sugar cane farmers pinched between the burgeoning cities of Brisbane and the Gold Coast have had to endure record delays and breakdowns this season with only 34 per cent of the Rocky Point crop harvested.
A fire last week in the control room at the privately held mill and co-generation power plant was the final nail in the coffin for this season, with the fix estimated at between $2.5m-$5m. Growers have already lent the co-generation consortium $1.2m to mend a busted boiler earlier in the year.
That issue created harvest delay that threatened the marketability of two year old cane and as a result NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative’s Condong mill crushed 24,000 tonnes of the older cane to ease that pressure.
After deliberation this week growers will accept an offer from Condong to crush another 40,000 tonnes before Christmas, weather permitting.
Rocky Point growers will use the helping hand to clear fire breaks between cane paddocks About 50% of the district crop will remain in the field as two year old.
Cane Growers director Greg Zipf said high sugar prices would help buffer the financial consequence of extra transport over the border.
For a second income many growers rely on baled cane trash, scavenged from their paddocks after green harvest and sold as garden mulch. This year they scrambled to find alternative supplies for their customers.
Terrific season for NSW sugar as co-op diversifies
A sweet season for sub-tropical sugar has given growers optimism that prices will remain profitable for at least next year.
Heavy winter rains on the coast and a long dry spring made for excellent sugar content and swift harvesting.
All three mills in NSW completed their crushing season on time with Condong the last to wrap-up its local crush today, although they will make steam until Christmas to give northern neighbours Rocky Point a helping hand.
Clarence was the first district to finish with two year old cane producing 700,000 tonnes from 5000 ha, or 140t/ha, which was higher than forecast.
Broadwater, with a mix of two-year old and one year old varieties produce 850,000 tonnes. New one year old varieties growing in new country just east of Casino have proved most viable with increased tonnage and reduced threat from frost because of its higher elevation.
Condong produced 580,000 tonnes including 24,000 tonnes received from Rocky Point earlier in the season.
“I think we are now seeing the results of the SRA cane variety program kicking in, with some the new varieties delivering both high ccs and very good tonnes per hectare,” said NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative CEO Chris Connors.
“Not only are the tonnes per hectare up on forecast, so too is the sugar content (ccs) and the sugar price. It’s not too often that you get the improved sugar price and production coinciding.”
Despite the current optimism the co-operative is insuring against an uncertain future by diversifying into other industries. Currently there is a joint project involving boutique rum distiller Archie Rose, based in Sydney, with fresh cane from the Tweed crushed into juice and shipped with yeast already added.
“I expect this will be the first of many of these projects aimed at diversifying our business and underwriting the sustainability of our local sugar industry,” said Mr Connors.
“This project could lead into building our own distillery at one of our mills within the next three to five years.”
Meanwhile NSW co-operative’s three mills and refinery at Hardwood, along with 17 growers, have once again been assessed as sustainable through the Brazilian-based Bonsucro scheme.