CANEGROWERS Mackay
Mackay Canegrowers Limited (MCL) trading as CANEGROWERS Mackay is an integral part of the CANEGROWERS organisation, the peak body representing Australia’s sugarcane growers in Queensland and New South Wales.
MCL provides services, representation and support to the majority of cane growers across the Mackay and Plane Creek regions on a wide range of issues including advocacy, marketing, water and electricity, workplace health & safety, transport, environment and best management practice, training and business management.
Latest News
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STL needs to win back grower confidence
CANEGROWERS is calling on Sugar Terminals Limited to take the first steps on the long road to repairing its relationship with growers following last week’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) where grower shareholders voted down the STL Board’s remuneration report. Read the media release.
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Growers need to regain control of our sugar terminals
In late January STL ended a long-standing operating agreement with Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) and the breakdown in the commercial relationship between QSL and STL has been a significant industry issue since. “CANEGROWERS has repeatedly called on these two companies to come together to resolve this issue in the best interests of the industry as […]
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Stepping away from EU deal, the right call
CANEGROWERS has congratulated Federal Trade Minister Don Farrell on taking the courageous decision to step away from free trade negotiations with the European Union rather than sign a bad deal for Australia’s farmers. Read the media release.
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Fire ant funding could help turn the tide
CANEGROWERS has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of an additional $268 million for the control and eradication of Imported Red Fire Ants, with CEO Dan Galligan calling the funding essential to halting the spread of one of the world’s most devastating pests. Read the media release.
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Queensland cane harvest update
Queensland’s 2023 sugarcane harvest has finally hit the halfway mark with over 50% of the estimated 30.1 million tonne crop now cut and crushed at the state’s 19 sugar mills, although harvest is lagging in some districts, such as Plane Creek. Read the media release.
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STL stop hiding from shareholders
CANEGROWERS is calling on Sugar Terminals Limited (STL) to let grower shareholders have their say on the company’s controversial decision to insource terminal operations and sever a longstanding and successful relationship with Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL). Read the September 2023 media release.
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CANEGROWERS Mackay appoints new chief
CANEGROWERS Mackay has appointed its new chief, District Manager Michelle Martin. View more information
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Milestone sugar shipment headed to the UK
Australia’s first raw sugar shipment to the United Kingdom under the new Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA) was loaded in Townsville on 10 July, opening an important new market for the Queensland sugar industry. View more information
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Show Cane 2023
Show season is almost here, and entering your cane in show is a good way to highlight our industry and to get behind our Pioneer Valley and Mackay Ag Shows. There are sections for adults, children, and schools, so we encourage you to take a look at the schedules for Pioneer Valley Show and Mackay Show .
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Sustainability Achiever
This year, Andrew Vassallo was the CANEGROWERS Mackay Sustainable Management Practices award winner in Mackay Sugar’s annual Productivity Awards. Read about how Andrew farms in his profile story, featured in the June Billet. The Billet is a monthly magazine produced for CANEGROWERS Mackay members, packed with industry information and feature stories!
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Is government failing Australians on fire ants?
CANEGROWERS is calling on the federal, state and territory governments to redouble their efforts to halt the march of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA), following the release of a damning report on the failure of the current eradication program. Read more here
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RFDS: Mental Health and Wellbeing on the Land
The Royal Flying Doctor Service has produced the booklet Mental Health and Wellbeing on the Land. A down-to-earth guide to mental health especially designed for people living on the land, it covers ideas for maintaining good mental health, managing stress, and managing more serious mental health concerns. CANEGROWERS Mackay would like to encourage members to make use […]
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2023 sugar cane crushing season about to start
Mackay Sugar, CANEGROWERS Mackay and Australian Cane Farmers Association (ACFA) have met and agreed on the start of the 2023 sugar cane crushing season. Read more here
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Queensland cane crush fires up
Queensland’s 2023 sugarcane crush is officially underway, with harvesters roaring into life across the Atherton Tablelands near the end of May as growers, harvesting crews and mill workers start the race to get Queensland’s 30 million tonnes of cane cut and crushed by the end of November. Read more here. For Mackay Region, MSL Farleigh fires […]
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Once in a generation sugar price sets stage for bumper year
Queensland’s 2023 sugarcane crush is just weeks away and once again growers are heading into harvest with a sense of trepidation and optimism. CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens says a recent spike in the world sugar price, coupled with a drop in fertiliser prices, is setting up 2023 as a bumper year for Queensland’s sugarcane industry. […]
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Solving air travel’s emissions dilemma
CANEGROWERS has welcomed Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s recent public vote of confidence in the sugarcane industry’s ability to supply the feedstock for a biofuels revolution in Queensland. Read more here
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CANEGROWERS Mackay’s call out for haulout: trainees get to learn before they earn
The Mackay region is steamrolling towards the 2023 crush, and now is the time to get on board with CANEGROWERS Mackay’s Haulout Driver training courses. There is a high demand for haulout drivers at farms across the region during harvest season, and CANEGROWERS Mackay has developed an outstanding grower-led, RTO-backed training course.
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The Billet March 2023 Grower Profile: The Duncans
Lachlan and Stephanie Duncan are young growers who work in several sectors of the sugar industry, including research, harvesting and mill maintenance, and in 2023 will supply their first cane crop to mill. The couple recently told The Billet about their pathway in farming.
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Bulk Sugar Terminal operation
CANEGROWERS Mackay Chairman Kevin Borg addressed the STL announcement that QSL would no longer operate the state’s bulk sugar terminals in his monthly segment on ABC Tropical North’s breakfast program with Meecham Philpott on 15 February 2023
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Grower commitment to reef recognised
CANEGROWERS has welcomed the Queensland Government’s continuing support of the industry’s best management practice program, Smartcane BMP. Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Meaghan Scanlon has announced $4.47 million in funding for the industry-led program over the next three years.
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CANEGROWERS Mackay CEO Kerry Latter on ABC Tropical North
Aired January 30, CANEGROWERS Mackay CEO Kerry Latter was interviewed by ABC Rural journalist Ashleigh Bagshaw on the subject of Future Foods developments for our region’s sugar industry.
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CANEGROWERS questions motive for terminal move
Peak sugarcane industry body CANEGROWERS is calling on Sugar Terminals Limited (STL) to explain the reasoning behind its decision to abandon a long and successful commercial partnership with Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) for the operation of the state’s bulk sugar terminals. CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens said the bulk sugar terminals, which give Australian sugar a […]
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CANEGROWERS Mackay welcomes our region’s biofuture
CANEGROWERS Mackay Chairman Kevin Borg has welcomed Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles announcement today (17 January) of significant developments for the Mackay region’s emerging biofutures economy. The Deputy Premier has announced a partnership with Cauldron Asia-Pacific’s first large-scale precision fermentation manufacturing launchpad, to develop a business case working towards a […]
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CANEGROWERS Business Essentials Course 2023
Do you want to determine and understand your business costs of production & profitability? Do you have tools to determine what sugar price you need to cover your costs of production & make a profit? Do you want to better understand risk management & in particular manage the risk with volatile world sugar prices? Then consider attending […]
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Rural Electrical Safety Awareness Online Induction
CANEGROWERS Mackay, in conjunction with TAFE Qld, have developed this induction, and is an update to the course that was offered previously to our members. This course will provide you with a basic understanding of hazard identification, risk control, and risk assessment in relation to electrical work carried out in a rural environment. The course […]
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CANEGROWERS Marketing Information Service
CANEGROWERS Marketing Information Service offers support in the form of information and eductation to members. The service offers expert insight regarding sugar price and production forecasting. It is an independent service which will not favour one marketer over another. To access, members can go to www.canegrowers.com.au/marketing-information-service to log in.
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Powerful new Cost of Production Tool helping growers manage costs
The Cost of Production Tool is primarily designed to allow growers to determine what sugar price they need to cover production costs. This is an important part of understanding what sugar prices you would like to lock in for your business. The tool allows you to enter your own farm information, which will enable a […]
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Australia ready to lead world in sustainable sugar exports
Australia is set to pioneer a new era of sustainable sugar exports when the first-ever shipment of fully traceable, sustainably produced raw sugar is loaded for export at the Port of Townsville this week. In a world first, the sugar, produced from cane grown by Smartcane BMP accredited growers, will be traceable through the supply […]
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Farm Business Management Skill Set
Celebrating women in agriuclture – UQ Skills is proud to announce a special ‘for women, by women’ edition of their Farm Business Management Skill Set. The nationally recognised program is designed for farm business owners, managers or wokers wishing to learn how to manage a farm busness, including risk management.
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Sugar industry welcomes support for diversifying markets and improving trade
The Australian sugar industry welcomes the decision of the Australian Government to support the first phase of the industry’s 5 year Trade Policy and Market Access (TP & MA) strategy The strategy is the culmination of multiple years’ analysis and discussion across industry stakeholder groups.
The Billet is CANEGROWERS Mackay’s premium cane growers magazine delivered monthly to members of CANEGROWERS Mackay. The Billet consists of news and information specifically for cane growers and farming businesses. For advertising or subscription information, call (07) 4944 2600.
