ID :
154572
Thu, 12/23/2010 - 17:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/154572
The shortlink copeid
Farmers survey weather damage
About $800 million in profit from sugarcane crops has been washed away by bad
weather along Australia's eastern seaboard this year, sugar producers say.
Industry group Canegrowers says growers started the year on a sugar high as world
prices rose to their highest level in 30 years.
But torrential downpours on the eastern seaboard washed away hopes of a record season.
The group says the extraordinary downpours made the sugar content in the cane low,
making it less profitable to mill.
Boggy fields meant harvesting machinery could not be used, leaving up to 18 per cent
of the crop unharvested.
And wet paddocks left growers unable to replant next season's quota, adding to other
problems that will also see reduced profits in 2011.
"Australia-wide, we are looking at well over five million tonnes of unharvested
cane, equated to around $320 million in losses to the sugarcane industry, which when
looking at the flow-on effects in the local communities, equates to up to an $800
million in estimated losses to the economy," Canegrowers said in a statement.
But farming group AgForce says there has been a "green-lining" in the clouds.
AgForce president Brent Finlay said farming communities were still coming to terms
with the cost of widespread rain, which has devastated crops across central
Queensland, the Downs and western areas, but the long-term outlook was good.
"There is too much mud at the moment and many farming families are facing
significant crop and infrastructure losses, but looking ahead the outlook for the
three commodities AgForce represents - cattle, sheep and grain - is strong for the
mid to long term," Mr Finlay said.
He said historic sheepmeat and wool prices looked set to continue thanks to
beneficial rain in grazing areas and heightened demand.
Queensland cattle producers should see a bumper calving season, he said.
But the grains industry had been hit the hardest, with growers unable to harvest
many crops and individual losses already as high as $700,000, Mr Finlay said.
"The one positive from the damaging rain is that it has replenished the soil
moisture profile and refilled irrigation dams," he said.
weather along Australia's eastern seaboard this year, sugar producers say.
Industry group Canegrowers says growers started the year on a sugar high as world
prices rose to their highest level in 30 years.
But torrential downpours on the eastern seaboard washed away hopes of a record season.
The group says the extraordinary downpours made the sugar content in the cane low,
making it less profitable to mill.
Boggy fields meant harvesting machinery could not be used, leaving up to 18 per cent
of the crop unharvested.
And wet paddocks left growers unable to replant next season's quota, adding to other
problems that will also see reduced profits in 2011.
"Australia-wide, we are looking at well over five million tonnes of unharvested
cane, equated to around $320 million in losses to the sugarcane industry, which when
looking at the flow-on effects in the local communities, equates to up to an $800
million in estimated losses to the economy," Canegrowers said in a statement.
But farming group AgForce says there has been a "green-lining" in the clouds.
AgForce president Brent Finlay said farming communities were still coming to terms
with the cost of widespread rain, which has devastated crops across central
Queensland, the Downs and western areas, but the long-term outlook was good.
"There is too much mud at the moment and many farming families are facing
significant crop and infrastructure losses, but looking ahead the outlook for the
three commodities AgForce represents - cattle, sheep and grain - is strong for the
mid to long term," Mr Finlay said.
He said historic sheepmeat and wool prices looked set to continue thanks to
beneficial rain in grazing areas and heightened demand.
Queensland cattle producers should see a bumper calving season, he said.
But the grains industry had been hit the hardest, with growers unable to harvest
many crops and individual losses already as high as $700,000, Mr Finlay said.
"The one positive from the damaging rain is that it has replenished the soil
moisture profile and refilled irrigation dams," he said.
