Dear Frank,

The CANEGROWERS Herbert River board and I have introduced five strategic pillars.

The first pillar is Profitability and Sustainability aimed at optimising profit through revenue and operational costs. Some of the key areas we will look at focusing on include;

• Real value for Smartcane BMP
• Cost of Production workshops
• Payroll Service
• Business Management courses
• Analysing your rakes / varieties
• Reading your cane pay statements
• Cane pay formula workshops
• Collective purchasing

The purpose of these strategic pillars is to add further value to CGHR members businesses. 

On Wednesday 3 March we will be holding our first strategic pillar workshop to further define each pillar and set the goals for 2021. If you would like to be involved in one of the five groups, please contact me.

Frank Scardamaglia

Manager

CANEGROWERS Herbert River

Email: frank_scardamaglia@canegrowers.com.au

Phone: 0475 818 800

Canegrowers Herbert River Launch Podcast Series!

Canegrowers Herbert River Chairman Michael Pisano is the first to step up to the plate as we launch a podcast series on Smartcane BMP accreditation.

To listen to Michael's chat click on the button below.

Tech to help sugar get the premium market

Australia is in the box seat to capitalise on an increasing push by food manufacturers seeking sustainable sugar production practices. With moves already underway to incorporate blockchain technology within the sugar supply chain, Australia could hold an edge against its much larger and more dominant global competitors.

To read the full article click on the button below.

Bureau of Meteorology March Webinar

The Bureau of Meteorology will hold it's Autumn 2021 climate and weather update on Thursday 4 March.

In the webinar, the Bureau's experts will present an in depth analysis of recent conditions, as well as the temperature, rainfall and streamflow outlook for autumn. Ask the experts all your climate and water questions to help make decisions for the months ahead.

To register click on the button below.

Draft Standard Conditions for New or Expanded Commercial Cropping Activities – CANEGROWERS Submission

In response to the public consultation on this Standard, the CANEGROWERS submission made the following points:

• It duplicates existing requirements for growers under Standard Condition 3 (SC) of the Agricultural ERA standard for sugarcane cultivation. SC3 in the Sugarcane Standard states that, “Erosion and sediment control measures to minimise soil loss and surface water run-off must be implemented and maintained on the agricultural property”. This is already being assessed during farm inspections by Queensland Government compliance staff

• There is therefore no point in Government duplicating this requirement. Cane growers should not be captured by Government moves to regulate those industries for which an Agricultural ERA standard does not exist. They are already subject to intensive regulation of their practices and most certainly do not need a duplicate layer of regulation and paperwork

• The importance to our industry of bringing new cane land into production, to maintain and increase cane supply.The Standard in its current form would threaten the viability of mill districts and their regional economies. The onerous requirements, especially when site-specific applications are undertaken, will be a significant distinctive to new growers to enter the industry or to invest in the industry

QSL Local Weekly Update

• Advance rate increase: The 2020-Season Standard Advances rate increased by 2.5% last week bringing the rate to 82.5%. The next advance rate increase is scheduled to be 2.5% with payment from 17 March 2021.

• Pre-Crush Advance Payment Scheme: The QSL Pre-Crush Advance Payment Scheme is now open for nomination. Participating growers can receive $50/tonne of sugar IPS on 26 March for up to half of their 2021-Seaosn QSL GEI Sugar. Nominations close 12 March. 
• Key dates:

• 1 March 2021 QSL Actively Managed Pool: Nominations open for the QSL-Managed 2021 Actively Managed Pool.
• 3 March 2021 Facebook Video Market Update: The next scheduled QSL video Market Update will be published on our Facebook page from 4pm on Wednesday 3 March.
• 26 March 2021 QSL Pre-Crush Advance Payment: 2021 season Pre-Crush Advance payment paid to growers

SRA Restructure

Earlier this month, the SRA Executive Team met with all staff to discuss the proposed restructure for SRA.

Through this restructure, the core functions and activities that you are familiar with will be retained or enhanced under our new strategic direction, including our ongoing commitment to plant breeding and biosecurity. We are also committed to delivering the value of research to the farm gate and the mill and will be delivering this through a new business unit called Industry Services, which will create higher impact industry connections.

To view the consultation timeline click on the button below.

CANEGROWERS Herbert River Directors

Chris Bosworth    0418 983 507      ca_ltbosworth1@bigpond.com

Jeff Cantamessa  0418 182 067      jeff@jefcan.com

Paul Marbelli        0408 180 552      Marbie08@bigpond.com

Steven Marbelli    0417 621 970      marbi.70@bigpond.com

Michael Pisano    0429 113 465       Pisanom220@gmail.com

Terry Motti            0417 636 863      tezmot71@gmail.com

Sam Torrisi           0408 779 598      Torrisi5@itnq.com.au