Insight Focus
The farm is steadily recovering from last month’s flooding. Repairs and fertilising are underway as harvest progresses, though recent rain has lowered CCS levels. The team is trialling new farming methods to adapt and stay sustainable.
What’s happening on the farm right now?
We’ve just about recovered from last month’s disaster. Everyone’s had a chance to assess the damage and work out what needs doing. Some areas were hit harder than others — the lowlands copped it the worst. Personally, I’ve lost about 20 hectares. The early plant blocks took the brunt of it, so next year I’ll be replanting around 10 to 20 hectares.
Early plant is actively growing and is now at the ‘out of hand’ stage
We’ve also had to deal with soil movement and erosion from the heavy rain. You can’t just replant — you’ve got to fix the paddocks first. There was a lot of current in the water this time, which really tore things up. So right now, the focus is on fertilising the ratoons and early plant blocks, getting them ready to set us up for next year.
Fertilising is the focus of operations at this time
How’s the crop looking?
The crop’s not so bad, considering everything that’s happened. The harvest is tracking okay, with the crush at South Johnstone Mill about 70% through and looking to wrap up by the last week of November. Over at Mulgrave, they’re closer to 90% and might finish by the end of this month.
CCS was improving earlier on, but after the recent rain event, it dipped again. The lowland blocks have a lot of silt and debris, which increases ash content and lowers sugar. It’s one of those hidden knock-on effects people don’t think about — you can have the same cane, but with extra silt in it, the CCS drops.
Took delivery of tissue culture plants from Sugar Research Australia (SRA) to bolster clean seed for next year’s planting season
What are the main challenges at the moment?
The mills have been great — can’t fault them this year. Harvesting is where the challenge lies. There just aren’t enough harvesters around, and that’s an issue across the industry. The weather’s also keeping us on our toes. We had a big storm roll through yesterday and received about 100mm, which has disrupted harvesting again.
And with cyclone season coming, it’s a bit nerve-wracking. The focus now is on getting everything fertilised and established before the wet really sets in.
What are you doing differently?
My son and I have been exploring a few different farming options, mostly driven by how rainfall patterns have changed over the past few years. We’re looking at different approaches to help maximise production and exploring what will work best for our soils and our system.
Sometimes you’ve got to try something new to see if there’s a better way. We’re not afraid to explore — that’s what keeps the business sustainable: adapting, not just repeating.
A native Wallaby likes to keep a close eye on what we are up to on the farm
