Monday, November 18, 2024

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Sweet Season Crosses Three Quarter Mark

Wilmar Sugar and Renewables has reached the three-quarter mark of the 2024 crushing season, with its eight North Queensland mills processing a total of 11.78 million tonnes of cane so far. This represents 77% of the estimated 15.34 million tonne crop.
The Burdekin region is performing particularly well this season, with favourable weather conditions aiding in smooth harvesting. Current CCS (Commercial Cane Sugar) levels have returned to budgeted targets, bringing the season-to-date average to a strong 14.2 units. Wilmar anticipates all Burdekin factories will complete their crush before Christmas, contingent on ongoing weather conditions.
Ian Davies, General Manager of Cane Supply and Grower Relations, highlighted the strong performance across all regions. "Our Burdekin mills are on track to finish before Christmas, which is a great outcome considering the challenges we've faced this year," he said.
Meanwhile, the Herbert, Proserpine, and Plane Creek regions are also progressing steadily. The Herbert crop is averaging 75 tonnes per hectare, and the Proserpine crop is cutting at 103.6% of its original estimate. In Plane Creek, yields are sitting at an impressive 86 tonnes per hectare with a weekly CCS of 14.38 units.
As Wilmar begins planning for the 2025 season, growers are encouraged to update their farm maps on GrowerWeb to ensure accurate forecasts for the year ahead.

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