CANEGROWERS Herbert River Update

Growers,

The CANEGROWERS Herbert River board and myself will be in a consultation session next week on the draft standard conditions for new cropping in the Great Barrier Reef Catchment. We will be expressing our disappointment and objecting to these new regulations the Queensland State Government is proposing to introduce this year.

This is another layer of duplication of red tape which is totally unnecessary, as the Regulations already require best management practices on the Sugar industry. Along with QCGO we will be calling for a cane exemption to new cropping land regulations.

Frank Scardamaglia
Manager
CANEGROWERS Herbert River
Email: frank_scardamaglia@canegrowers.com.au
Phone: 0475 818 800

Call for Cane Exemption to New Cropping Land Regulation 

A State Government move to impose a new bureaucratic process on farmers expanding their cropping area along the Queensland coast is unnecessary and duplicates existing regulation on the sugarcane industry. 

From 1 June 2021, new or expanded commercial cropping along the Queensland coast from the Burnett Mary region to Cape York will require an environmental permit and meet ‘standard conditions’. 

CANEGROWERS Herbert River and QCGO will be making a submission objecting to new cropping regulations proposed.

Click on the link below for the full story.

Clarification of Cane Payment Invoices

There has been some confusion regarding a line item identified on the cane payment invoices which requires clarification.

The item which appears on the cane payment invoice and labelled ‘Voluntary Levy Canegrowers Herbert’ is actually the Siding Cleaning Levy. This applies to every grower in the district including non-members.

The Manager of CANEGROWERS Herbert River will be sending a letter to Wilmar requesting this levy to be appropriately classified.
 

News & Information from QSL

Workshops:

• 4pm Tuesday 16 February – Grower Forward Pricing Options
• 4pm Wednesday 17 February – Grower Forward Pricing Options
• 5.30pm Wednesday 17 February – Self-Managed Harvest Contract information session
• 4pm Thursday 18 February – Self-Managed Harvest Contract information session

Numbers limited, RSVP to James (contact details below).

Key dates:

• 15 February 2021

QSL Individual Futures Contract & Self-Managed Harvest Contract Pricing Completion Date: The pricing completion date for the Mar 21 contract for the 2020 season is 15 February. Any unpriced tonnage after this date will be priced by QSL at the next market opportunity.

• 22 February 2021

QSL 2020 Target Price Contract: Any unfilled orders will be rolled to the May 21 Contract after 22 February. Costs may apply.  
 
If members have any questions in regards to the above, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with:

• Russell Campbell -  Grower Relationship Manager – 0408 248 385
• Michelle La Rosa-Aili – Grower Relationship Officer – 0408 800 937
• James Formosa -  Grower Relationship Officer– 0447 062 213

Sugar Industry Revitalisation

The industry-government working group held its first meeting since the formation of the new Queensland Cabinet.

Ahead of the terms of reference being settled and to maintain momentum, a subgroup was established to develop work programs and identify funding requirements around the key priorities previously identified by industry.

DAF noted that it has some scope to fund this activity from an underspend on its sugar R&D budget.

Fall Armyworm Marches On

The Fall Armyworm has most recently been detected in both south-east Victoria and Central Australia, showing its adaptability.

More generally, the risk of it being a serious pest on sugarcane is still considered low, and maize and sweet corn remain the crops at most risk.

Sustainable Sugar Project

CANEGROWERS was part of the Sugar Rush webinar that focused on Blockchain in the Sugar Industry. The webinar discussed what blockchain means for the sugar industry, what applications are under development and implementation now as well as opportunities for the future.

CANEGROWERS presented our work on developing a blockchain platform to show provenance of Smartcane BMP sugar in the supply chain.

CANEGROWERS met with QSL on the blockchain project and discussed market needs for sustainable sugar.  
 

Cane Juice for Distilling Purposes

Aaron Rieniets from Tan Lines Distilling is looking to establish a distillery in Townsville. 
 
Aaron would like to hear from local growers interested in supplying cane and/or cane juice for fermentations and spirit distillations.
 
If you can assist, please contact Aaron by clicking on the link below.

STAY CONNECTED!!!

For the latest news and information from CANEGROWERS Herbert River, visit our Facebook page and website. For access click on the links below.

Please find below CANEGROWERS Herbert River Directors contact details. 

CANEGROWERS Herbert River

OFFICE 
Floor 4, 11-13 Lannercost Street Ingham QLD 4850

TELEPHONE
07 4776 5350