ON THE LAND

Wilmar apprenticeship applications now open

Wilmar Sugar

WILMAR Sugar Australia is calling on the next generation of apprentices to get their resumes ready, with applications for 2022 apprenticeships opening online last Saturday, 10 July.

Apprenticeships in diesel fitting, electrical, fitting and turning, and fabricating trades are up for grabs across Wilmar’s eight sugar mills and bioethanol distillery.

First-year fitting and

Weekly production figures

Burdekin region mills Week 5, ending 10 July 2021

Cane crushed This week Season to date Invicta 150,070 685,796

Pioneer Kalamia

79,484 354,552 71,267 332,864 Inkerman 71,880 279,512

Burdekin 372,701 1,652,724

CCS

Invicta Pioneer Kalamia

14.39 13.66 14.09 13.68 13.88 13.31 Inkerman 13.55 13.11

Burdekin 14.07 13.50

Weekly variety performance for region

Variety % CCS Variety % CCS

Q240 38 14.18 Q232 7 14.20

KQ228 33 13.83 Q208 5 13.61

Q183 14 14.43

Comments:

Throughput for the Burdekin mills in week five was good with just over 370,000 tonnes of cane put through the rollers. This brings the season total to just over 1.65M tonnes.

This was a pleasing result given two factories lost time to unplanned stops. Kalamia Mill had unscheduled stops early in the week to replace a pan door, and replace a broken roller in the bagasse system. Inkerman Mill had an extended stop to repair some leaking boiler tubes. All factories crushed very well for the remainder of the week.

Average weekly CCS was 14.06. This was again well above budget thanks to the dry cool conditions.

The highest CCS sample was 16.9 from a rake of Q240 plant cane in the Invicta Mill area.

John Tait Cane Supply Manager Burdekin Region

turning apprentice Katelyn Smith has been learning her trade at Victoria Mill, located near Ingham, for the past six months.

She said she was glad she chose an apprenticeship, having spent six years after high school on a different career path.

“I started as a fibre chemist at Victoria Mill. Through that, I spoke to some tradesmen and fitters, and I got to see the type of work they were doing,” Ms Smith said.

“I really like Wilmar’s safety values, so knowing you will come home safe every day.”

For first-year fitting and turning apprentice George Burns, scoring a Wilmar apprenticeship has given him the opportunity to gain skills he has always wanted.

“I grew up on a farm and used to pull machinery apart and put it back together, just never correctly, so this field will help me understand how it goes back together,” Mr Burns said.

“Most of the work in the mills is done in-house. You do it and you learn from that hands-on experience.”

Wilmar Training Superintendent Daniel Shipard said applications would be open for three weeks, closing on Sunday, 1st August.

“We are very proud of our apprenticeship program. We currently employ about 130 apprentices across various trades,” Mr Shipard said.

“The four main trades that we focus on are fabricating, fitting and turning, electrical and diesel fitting.

“The application process is fairly simple and is all done online.”

CONNECT NOW:

For more information about Wilmar’s 2022 apprenticeship program applications, visit wilmarsugar-anz.com/ourpeople/apprenticeships

Farmers applaud State Government’s commitment to tackle Queensland’s labour shortage

AgForce

AGFORCE and the National Farmers’ Federation are supporting a State Government push to boost agricultural labour on Queensland farms.

With trial on-farm quarantine arrangements for workers from Pacific Island nations now underway in Queensland, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said almost 3000 workers have been drafted in to work on farms and related businesses.

The announcement comes as the Federal Government exacerbates the farm labour shortage by changing the rules for backpackers seeking to extend their Working Holiday Maker visas to second and third years - allowing them to complete their 88 days work not just on farms but now in the tourism and hospitality sectors in northern and remote Australia as well.

The change threatens to put further strain on Queensland’s horticulture sector, which is currently as many as 9,000 workers short.

AgForce CEO Michael Guerin acknowledged the State Government’s support for the agriculture industry during tough times, and thanked Minister Furner for his ongoing commitment to ease the farm labour shortage.

But he also urged Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to reconsider his decision on visas and support Queensland agriculture.

Mr Guerin said: “We would like to thank Minister Furner for his proactivity in sourcing labour for our farmers and encourage a continued and concerted effort to help keep our industry afloat.

“There have always been challenges in finding and retaining ag labour in rural and remote areas, and this shortage has been made much worse by the COVID pandemic and travel restrictions.

“Grains, for example, rely heavily on skilled workers come harvest time. Skilled workers are safe workers, and we need to ensure they are readily available.

“While the State Government has demonstrated its commitment to this, unfortunately the decision by Minister Hawke puts that at risk.

“We are calling on the Minister to review this decision immediately, and would like to see greater transparency moving forward on the basis for making changes to what is a long running visa program, upon which entire workforces have been predicated.”

NFF CEO Tony Mahar said it was time for the Federal Government to take its lead from the State Government when it came to supporting agriculture.

“The changes to the backpacker visa could lead to an exodus of workers from agriculture into pubs, clubs and restaurants right when we need them the most,” he said.

“The current work shortages impacting our industry need addressing. We applaud the State Government for its ongoing commitment to bolstering our industry with farm workers, despite the COVID pandemic.

“However, the same cannot be said federally, and it’s time that changed.

“We urge Minister Hawke to start engaging with industry on the Prime Minister’s commitment to an Ag Visa.

“The industry is not being brought into the development of the visa to date and Minister Hawke appears to be continuing his style of not talking to industry on matters that impact them significantly.

“If this continues he will end up developing up a regime that suits government but is a disaster for industry which would be a terrible outcome.”

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FIRST SHIPMENT OF THE 2021 SUGAR HARVEST

AUSTRALIA’S largest sugar marketer, Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL), has dispatched its first shipment of sugar from the current harvest.

The cargo of 42,000 tonnes of raw sugar from the Burdekin region was shipped on the Pacific Integrity out of Townsville this month, bound for a refinery customer in South Korea.

QSL General Manager Marketing Mark Hampson said South Korea was one of Australia’s largest raw sugar markets and had been one of QSL’s key customers for nearly 50 years.

“While we’ve had other shipments this year, those previous cargos delivered sugar produced last season,” Mr Hampson said.

“Queensland’s sugar is in high demand, so this first 2021-Season shipment marks the start of very a busy shipping program which will stretch through until mid-next year, with exports already planned for refining customers in South Korea, Indonesia, Japan and the USA.”

The Pacific Integrity being loaded with Queensland sugar in Townsville earlier this month before setting sail for South Korea.

Chopper surveys target invasive weeds and feral pigs

Marina Trajkovich

NQ Dry Tropics’ project officers have taken to the skies recently to monitor invasive species like Siam weed and feral pig populations by helicopter.

NQ Dry Tropics Project Officer Shakira Todd said efforts to tackle Siam weed and feral pigs are part of the Restoring Bowling Green Bay Wetlands project.

“The project aims to improve the ecological character of the wetlands, and managing these invasive species is a key part of the strategy,” Ms Todd said.

“Siam weed is recognised as one of the world’s most invasive weeds, and listed as a Restricted Invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.

“Once established, it can out-compete native species at all levels and can climb up to 20m up trees and overwhelm them.”

Ms Todd said that Siam weed is a major threat to coastal areas such as the Bowling Green Bay catchment, and to agriculture.

A coordinated effort between NQ Dry Tropics, Burdekin Shire Council and local landholders attempts to control infestations while levels are still relatively low and before the plants seed, with 78 potential infestation points identified throughout the surveyed area.

Helicopter surveys have also targeted feral pig populations which Shakira said cause widespread land degradation in the Bowling Green Bay catchment.

“They threaten natural

NQ Dry Tropics Project Officer Shakira Todd and Pest Management Officer Brooke Payne from Burdekin Shire Council searched for Siam weed in the region

landscapes in many ways, including spreading weeds, and degrading important wetland bird habitat,” she said.

“They also cause significant damage to agricultural crops such as sugarcane.”

Work to tackle Siam weed and feral pigs is part of a wider effort by NQ Dry Tropics in collaboration with the Burdekin Regional Pest Management Group, bringing together partners from local and state governments, Traditional Owners, and Landcare groups.

QSL Market Update

current as of 13 July 2021

Raw Sugar prices

• Last week saw raw sugar prices give back all of the previous week’s gains, with the ICE 11 market trading lower each day.

Following the US Independence Day holiday last Monday, the prompt Oct 21 contract opened the week at 18.35 USc/lb and closed at 17.28 USc/lb, inking a 5.83% loss for the week. • The market appeared to dismiss speculation around potential frost damage to the Brazilian crop. While we won’t know the extent of any damage for another week or so, the two-day frost covered less than 10% of cane area and most of this had already been harvested, so it looks likely to have little impact on Brazilian production. Weather forecasts are predicting a wetter-than-average August which could be bullish (positive) for sugar prices in the short term if harvesting is delayed or sucrose washed out. However, it may have longer-term negative impacts on prices as the ratoon cane for next season receives a much-needed boost. • Corn, wheat and soybean prices were all significantly lower following an improvement in the weather forecast for the

United States on Tuesday. Sugar prices were dragged lower by almost 40 points as soon as the grains market opened weaker. • In India, high ICE 11 raw sugar prices have made exporting sugar viable without the government subsidy. Market researchers estimate a record 6.15 million tonnes of sugar have been exported so far this season. It is expected up to 6.5 million tonnes could eventually be shipped, filling some of the lost supply from the poor Thai and Brazilian crops. • The latest Commitment of Traders report provides little insight into speculator behaviour as the market is now approximately 90 points lower on a live basis than the report date of 6 July 2021. A 222,000-lot net-long position was printed, but this is likely to be well under 200,000 today.

2021-SEASON RAW SUGAR PRICES

This is a whole-of-season ICE 11 price chart for the 2021 Season, based on the current 3:2:1 pricing ratio applicable to QSL Target Price Contract growers. Source: Bloomberg

Currency

• Risk-off sentiment dominated financial markets last week and forced the Australian Dollar down to a year-to-date low of 74.10 US cents on Friday, slipping from a high last Tuesday of 75.99 USc to close the week at 74.88 USc. • An accumulation of factors rather than a single event appeared to drive the change in sentiment lower, with ongoing fear of the US Federal Reserve raising interest rates and the rapidly spreading Delta variant of COVID-19 being the two main influences. As countries such as the

UK commit to fully reopening and ‘returning to normal’, financial markets are bracing for the worst and keeping a very close eye on daily case numbers and hospitalisations. • Domestically, the Reserve Bank of Australia met last Tuesday for their July monthly meeting. This brought little news for the market, with interest rates left on hold. Governor Lowe remains focused on economic data rather than specific dates, and stated that while he acknowledges the improved economic conditions, wage growth and inflation targets must be met before any rates changes will occur. At this stage 2024 remains the target for the first hike. • West Texas Intermediary (WTI) oil prices skyrocketed to more than six-year highs of almost $US77/ barrel after a conflict between Saudi Arabia and the UAE blocked an oil supply increase.

To read our full commentary in the QSL Market Update, please visit www.qsl.com.au or contact the Burdekin QSL team: Russell Campbell, Grower Relationship Manager 0408 248 385 Kristen Paterson, Grower Relationship Officer 0438 470 235 Rebecca Love, Grower Relationship Officer 0429 054 330

This report contains information of a general or summary nature. While all care is taken in the preparation of this report, the reliability, accuracy or completeness of the information provided in the document is not guaranteed. The update on marketing and pricing activity does not constitute financial, investment advice. You should seek your own financial advice. Nothing contained in this report should be relied upon as a representation as to future matters. Information about past performance is not an indication of future performance. QSL does not accept any responsibility to any person for the decisions and actions taken by that person with respect to any of the information contained in this report..