By Joseph Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay
As the crushing season draws out and moves into its sixth month, it is pleasing to see that we are finally getting onto the downhill run, with both millers issuing their end-of-crush notices.
Plane Creek expect to finish harvesting 26 November and Mackay Sugar announcing completion around 12 December, with any continuation dependent on sufficient cane supply.
This follows a reduction of crop estimates in both districts, being 1.35Mt in Plane Creek and 4.85Mt for Mackay Sugar area. I would say, however, that these still appear to be a little on the high side and whether this materialises in a season shortening is yet to be seen.
Another critical factor in this equation is that the onset of the storm season has begun in late October and is appearing to continue, potentially even ramping up in the lead-up to our annual wet season. Both of these factors, in addition to factory performance, will at the end of the day dictate the final end date of the 2025 crushing season.
I believe it is fair to say that the sooner the end date materialises, the better for all parties involved, on the proviso that growers are given the opportunity to harvest all cane that they want to harvest. This will hopefully allow a much-needed reset in our local industry, giving the crop more time to grow and millers more time to do the necessary repairs and get their factories where they need to be for the commencement of the 2026 harvest.
It must be said that growers and harvesting contractors cannot sustain these extended season lengths for what would be considered average crop totals.
It appears that with the rainfall which has followed the prolonged dry spell, is beginning to have an effect on CCS and weight in the crop. Both of these appear to have an expected but concerning a downward trend.
It has been a long season, and over the past few months, has seen several unfortunate accidents occur: some involving members of the public and industry vehicles, as well as inter-industry parties. This is a concerning trend which must be rectified as we all know that everyone deserves to be able to come home safely and soundly to their loved ones at the end of the day. I would like to wish those involved in these incidents all the best and hope that they make as successful recovery as is possible from their injuries, both physically and mentally.
I would ask members of the Industry and the wider public to please have patience over the next month or so until the end of the harvest season, and let’s work together to make the end-of-crush a safe and hopefully more timely ending then what we have seen over the past five years.
Stay safe everybody.
The crush is in its final stages, giving the following crop a good chance to grow for 2026. Photo credit: Kirili Lamb.
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