CEO COMMENT By Dan Galligan, CEO CANEGROWERS
PREPARATION IS KEY TO DISASTER RECOVERY The first significant cyclone of the season to have sugarcane in its sights thankfully fizzled to a tropical low and avoided crossing the coast. But it was a good reminder to us all. With the potential impact regions around Herbert River and Innisfail already very wet following a series of significant rain fall events, a cyclone was really the last thing needed. While this cyclone has glanced past, it was a timely reminder to check in on our disaster preparations. Natural disasters are an all-too-common experience for Queenslanders, particularly in the north but just because something is considered 'part of life, it doesn’t mean it iseasy to deal with, nor should it make us complacent. Having spent plenty of time talking to growers who have gone through the experience of preparing, surviving and recovering from cyclones, including Larry, Yasi and Oswald, I have the utmost respect for the hardship they endured. It is one of the reasons I feel it’s important that CANEGROWERS plays a strong and supportive role in helping growers prepare for and, if necessary, recover from natural disasters. Simply put, your industry body should be there when you need it the most. Our traditional and well-known role is to work with our districts to assess and then communicate disaster impact and recovery needs to policy makers and the community. However, preparedness is by far the more proactive course to managing disaster impacts. This is where the CANEGROWERS Insurance team kicks in. With our relatively unique insurance broker model, which places insurance experts directly into district offices, we have the capacity to provide an insurance service that is becoming not so commonplace. The insurance industry has become crowded with online products offered by seemingly different providers who are in fact mostly underwritten by the same one or two companies. CANEGROWERS has found great value in providing an on-farm, personal experience, with brokers who understand the complexity of grower needs and who can offer a range of insurance products - from crop and business insurance, to house and contents policies, motor vehicle insurance and more - but do so in a way that is custom built for growers and their families. These brokers can come on farm and talk through all the options, enabling them to broker an insurance portfolio that best fits your business. The focus of our insurance model is on service first, then price. There is no doubt that insurance premiums are a huge part of any business. Like any other farm input cost, CANEGROWERS is looking for ways to reduce these costs and maximise profits for growers. But with insurance, we also seek to build resilience and confidence into your business. In the end, farmers are the best risk managers in any business environment, and if CANEGROWERS can help manage those risks then we are helping you grow your business. If you wish to know more about CANEGROWERS Insurance, you can contact your local district office or visit our website.
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