Crushing end to the season

Poor performance at Wilmar mills has cost the industry a staggering $81 million this season – $57 million of which will come directly from the pockets of farming families.

That’s not just a number – it represents real people, real businesses, and real livelihoods. And it’s unacceptable!

Year after year, the problem seems to be getting worse, and it’s taking a devastating toll on growers and regional communities. Left unchecked, it could threaten the very future of our industry.

Every year we warn that the situation is unsustainable, yet here we are again. The frustration is palpable.

Growers put everything into producing a crop, only to see it left in the paddock due to circumstances beyond their control.

Now, widespread heavy rain, flooding, and the looming threat of a cyclone is adding to grower anxiety.

While we can’t control the weather, we should be able to ensure our mills are up to the job processing the entire crop efficiently and on time.

That’s why CANEGROWERS is taking decisive action and launching a taskforce to tackle this crisis head-on.

Our approach has three key components. First, we are conducting a detailed cost analysis to quantify the financial damage caused by delayed crushing in recent years.

We already know growers are paying too high a price, but it’s time to put the numbers under the microscope and ensure the true scale of the damage is understood by all stakeholders.

Second, we’ve assembled a taskforce to investigate the root causes and propose practical solutions – whether that be operational improvements, investment in mill infrastructure, or workforce training.

Third, we are engaging directly with senior milling sector representatives to ensure these changes happen. The days of growers shouldering the burden while the milling sector drags its feet must end.

This is not about blame - it’s about fixing what’s broken. The problems are complex and costly, and we know that solving them will take collaboration and commitment from all sides, but growers cannot be expected to keep absorbing the costs of a system that is failing them.

The burden must be shared, and the responsibility for delivering improvements must be taken seriously by the milling sector.

A decade ago, CANEGROWERS sent a delegation to Singapore to discuss these exact concerns with Wilmar International’s senior management. Ten years later, we’re still having the same conversation. It is beyond frustrating.

Most Australian mills are now owned by large international companies, which should bring investment and expertise. Yet, on the face of it, adequate capital expenditure and a shortage of expertise seem to be a significant part of the problem.

The knowledge gap is growing, and if we don’t address it now, our industry’s future is at serious risk. It’s not just about efficiency, it’s about ensuring we have a skilled workforce capable of keeping our industry viable in the years to come.

The Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC) has acknowledged the crisis and committed to working with us ahead of the 2025 crush. That’s a start.

But words aren’t enough, we need action. We’ve heard commitments before, and yet here we are, facing the same problems, year after year.

The proof will be in the outcomes we achieve, and we will not let this issue slide. We will keep the pressure on until real, tangible changes are delivered.

Growers are angry, frustrated, and deeply concerned about the future. And they have every right to be. They deserve better. As do the regional communities they support.

We will not rest until we secure a stronger, more reliable future for Queensland’s sugar industry. The time for talk has passed. The time for action is now.