Reasons to grow sugarcane and supply Norco and Cadbury
The amount of sugarcane Brazil processes in a fortnight equals Australia’s entire seasonal production. In NSW’s Richmond area, 11,000 hectares are used for sugarcane. Sunshine Sugar hosted a session for potential growers, with Geoff Pye, who farms 200 hectares, highlighting sugarcane’s resilience and recovery post-floods. Ian McBean emphasized its perennial nature. The session covered technical aspects, pest control, and pricing, with Sunshine Sugar’s Greg Mitchell and Alister Smith discussing the processing and pricing of cane. Interested farmers can contact Broadwater Sugar Mill for more information.
Did you know that the amount of sugarcane Brazil processes in a fortnight equates to Australia’s total production in a season?
It gives a perspective on the sugarcane industry in NSW.
In the Richmond area, about 11,000 hectares of land are used to grow sugarcane.
Sunshine Sugar staff held a session for potential new cane growers at Greenridge Hall yesterday, Wednesday, July 17.
Richmond River Cane Growers Association chairman Geoff Pye farms 200 hectares of cane at Coraki.
He shifted from cattle to sugarcane in 1991.
“It’s a good resilient crop,” he said.
The initial setup is costly because of the machinery needed but Mr Pye hasn’t looked back.
After the 2022 floods, we will be nearly fully recovered, he said, because sugarcane is water resilient.
Ian McBean from Sunshine Sugar said because cane is grass, you cut it and it grows again.
“You don’t have to replant it every year,” he said.
“It is a tropical perennial grass and ideally suited to the floodplain.”
There was plenty of information for growers at the session including the value of sugarcane.
See the chart below.
Any farmers thinking of getting into growing cane will need to start planting from August to November, Mr McBean said.
The term ratoon describes when cane grows again after harvesting – like grass.
“We rely heavily on herbicides – the timing of these herbicides is crucial,” one of the speakers said.
The session included the technical aspects of growing cane, the pests to look out for, weed control, and the cropping cycle.
Sunshine Sugar’s Greg Mitchell talked about the processing of cane and how growers get paid.
Alister Smith explained how sugar is priced.
“Sugar and cane prices are very good ranging between $55 and $58 per tonne of cane for the next three years,” Mr Smith said.
“At these prices, growers can achieve very good gross margins.”
Sunshine Sugar chairman John Harbison said at the end of the session – “We are a united industry. We don’t compete with one another and we are very proud of our produce.”
“Our locally produced sugar goes to major customers including from Norco and Cadbury.”
Source Link : https://indynr.com/reasons-to-grow-sugarcane-and-supply-norco-and-cadbury/
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