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Mossman/Tableland
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n By Gerard Puglisi
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Northern Director Summer 2018–19
2018 went down as one of our wettest and hottest years on record with just over 4770 mm of rain falling for the year and a stretch of days over 40 degrees. The end of 2018 saw just over one metre of rain fall from December 23–31 with most of the rain received at night with very hot and humid days.
The 2018 Mossman/Tableland crush ended with the Mossman Mill tipping its last bin for the 2018 season on November 5. The Tableland Toll Crushing of around 295,000 tonnes of Mossman Cane was also completed in late November. This was a tremendous effort for all involved.
Crops in the Mossman and Tablelands regions were looking very good – we had been lucky that the two late-season cyclones in 2017 caused very little damage to the crop. The signs were there for another reasonable crop for 2019.
But the drier crush meant rats had become an issue last year as they looked for any moisture they can find, usually from the heart of the ratooning cane.
Autumn 2019
It was a bit like Ground Hog day with another wet start to the year to add to the wet end to 2018. In Mossman the wet season definitely lived up to its name and in the first three months of the year the region received around 2270 mm of rain.
The northern crop handled the wet start of the year pretty well but then along came TC Trevor in mid-March. There was some major erosion damage in the district. The persistent rain and at times wild winds, resulted in areas of lodged cane. These were isolated and it was hoped they would have a minimal effect on the 2019 crop.
Winter 2019
Following a very average start to the 2019 Crush, the factory settled down and began working with some consistency. Similarly, most farmers were now well into their planting programs.
On July 5 – after a long 28 months of tireless support and effort from the growers and the Board Directors of Far Northern Milling – the settlement of the Mossman Mill purchase was announced.
October–November 2019
The 2019 crush is drawing to an end with the Mossman Mill aiming to be finished in the middle of October baring any major weather events or major breakdowns.
After spending most of this year in talks with the state Government, on 19 September, the Queensland Government passed legislation designed to help preserve the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
Under this legislation, new Reef protection regulations, which are proposed to commence on December 1, 2019, set minimum practice standards for all sugarcane, beef cattle grazing, grains, banana and horticulture production in Reef regions along the coast of Queensland, excluding Cape York.
I am sure that most Farmers will be frustrated and disappointed following the passing of the legislation that will see a greater regulatory burden placed on Queensland’s farmers while not guaranteeing any benefits for the Great Barrier Reef.
This will stifle much needed flexibility and sustainable growth in several established agricultural industries and communities across the Reef catchments.
Far Northern Milling (FNM) has employed some key people in management roles and – season to date – mill availability is 80.4 per cent which is a pleasing improvement on recent years. Stops to repair a number of boiler tube leaks have been the most significant impact on consistent factory reliability throughout the season. Work planned for the coming offseason will address several of the problem areas in the Thompson Boiler.
The toll-crushing agreement of around 200,000 tonnes of Mossman cane from the Tableland area through the Arriga Mill has been underway since the start of the crush and is progressing well – Arriga Mill is due to completes its season a couple of weeks after the Mossman Mill finishes.
This year’s planting saw a slight reduction
CANE
Knockdown and residual weed control from a herbicide that stays where you put it
