Global spotlight on Queensland cane
Cairns has taken on a sweet international flavour this week, with grower reps, policymakers and sugar industry experts from across the globe touching down for a major international conference.
EU trade talks must deliver for Aussie farmers
Australia and the European Union are back at the negotiating table, with trade talks set to resume after a long pause. For those of us in agriculture, this is a moment of both opportunity and caution.
Hope, harvest and a push for change
It’s been a big week in cane country. Harvesters are up and running in the Tableland and Bundaberg districts, marking the start of the 2025 crush.
All News & Media
Worker shortage threatens season success
It’s hard to believe we’re almost into March. It seems like only yesterday we finished the 2023 sugarcane harvest, yet here we are, just 13 weeks out from the 2024 crush. While officially a quiet period in the industry, there is still plenty of work underway. Maintenance is the primary activity, with machinery being…
Better planning needed to protect prime farming land
Turn on the news these days and without fail you’ll hear reports on either the cost-of-living crisis or the housing crisis, or both. In many respects they are related. Prices are going up and whether it’s buying groceries or paying rent, people are struggling to make ends meet. For many people, especially in our…
Councils must do more on pest management
Footage of ‘rafts’ of Red Imported Fire Ants being swept along by floodwaters in the Rocky Point district and news reports of a nest being discovered near Wardell, 100 kms south of the Queensland border, has left the general public considering something they don’t often think about – biosecurity. For farmers,…
Sadly, fairness is something we must fight for
Happy New Year! I hope readers had a peaceful and relaxing break over the Christmas period and are feeling motivated for all those New Year’s resolutions as we head into 2024. It’s shaping up to be a big year on the agricultural advocacy front, with local government elections looming in March and the state election…
Heartbreaking end to 2023 for flooded communities
With the harvest finally complete and growers, mill workers, and harvesting crews looking forward to spending some well-earned quality time with loved ones over the Christmas break, I had planned to sign off for 2023 with a message of hope and joy for readers. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other…