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Briefs News

Bingera Mill Closed

Bundaberg Sugar Limited (BSL) has announced that its Bingera Mill (pictured) will not run again and all cane will be processed at the Millaquin Mill in the future. BSL says its total crush, including its own and growers’ cane, in 2020 was just over one million tonnes, down from 1.8 million in 2016 and it could not continue with two sets of fixed costs associated with milling operations. In a letter to growers, BSL said growers would have the same delivery points and type of bin supply as previously and the company was seeking final approvals from the Queensland Government and Bundaberg Regional Council for a dedicated cane transport bridge across the Burnett River to the Millaquin Mill.

The company said it believes Millaquin is more than capable Sweet soy strategy for Mossman A company called CocNutZ plans to set up next to the Mossman Sugar Mill to make an ingredient for sweet soy sauce from sugarcane. It will be the first tenant of the planned Daintree Bio Precinct after receiving a co-contribution grant of up to $250,0000 under Round Three of the Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant program administered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA). The new facility will employ 12 people and process up to 20,000 tonnes of cane in its first year to replace coconut sugar in the manufacture of kecap manis. The company says demand for the sweet soy sauce is growing but coconut sugar is in short supply globally. Managing director Lucas Van Der Walt said the company has patented a fermentation process which aims to turn sugarcane juice into a coconut-like sugar product. “The CocoNutZ platform has been identified as a key diversifying strategy for the mill,” he said. “By creating niche value-added products from sugarcane, growers will no longer be impacted by the declining global sugar price, and will have more certainty in future cane prices.”  of catering to the needs of the local crush at its levels in 2021 and ongoing and further factory upgrades were planned prior to the 2021 season to ensure it could handle the anticipated cane crushes of the coming years.

Meanwhile with MSF Sugar not guaranteeing that the Maryborough Mill will operate beyond the end of the current season, CANEGROWERS Maryborough and the Isis Central Sugar Mill have been lobbying for support for a $20.55 million plan which could see some of the district’s cane head north if necessary. The plan needs $6.33 million from the Queensland Government for infrastructure work including a new transloader facility and expansions to the rail network to assist in the

movement of cane to Childers. 

Pest moves further south

Fall armyworm has been found in more locations in southern Queensland and in New South Wales over the past month. The latest detections have been in the Lockyer Valley west of Brisbane, at St George and Chinchilla and between Moree and Boggabilla. Sweet corn and sorghum crops have been the most significantly affected. As adult moths, fall armyworm can spread long distances and its larvae are known to feed on more than 350 plant species, particularly corn, maize, rice, sorghum, wheat and sugarcane. The pest originates in the Americas but since 2016 has spread rapidly around the world entering the Torres Strait islands in January this year. Any suspected incursions should be reported to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23. Information about fall armyworm and sugarcane can be found here www.sugarresearch.com. au/pest/fall-armyworm/ 

Grower interests in safe hands

Growers have a strong voice in an important role following the election of Babinda sugarcane grower and CANEGROWERS Cairns Region Chairman Stephen Calcagno to the Board of Sugar Terminals Limited (STL). Mr Calcagno was confirmed as the replacement for retiring director and Mossman grower Drew Watson on the STL board, joining Mackay grower Tony Bartolo who was elected by G-Class shareholders in 2018.

“I thank my fellow growers for their support and confidence,” Mr Calcagno said. “There is a lot of uncertainty around at the minute, but I see a bright future for this industry and I want to make sure that we make the best decisions possible for growers at all levels.”

“With Stephen Calcagno, growers are in safe hands,” CANEGROWERS Chairman Paul Schembri said. “He is an experienced representative dedicated to his fellow growers who is also open minded and forward-thinking meaning he will work with other board members for the benefit of the company and the industry as a whole. I wish him well in his new role.” 