Cane harvest wraps up ‘22

By Jonathon Howard

THAT’S A wrap for the 2022 cane season following a catastrophic flood in February 2022, an unprecedented clean-up and tens of millions in damages, according to Sunshine Sugar CEO Chris Connors.

“This is what the NSW cane industry has faced, and dealt with,over the past eleven months,” he said.

Mr Connors said more than 1.3 million tonnes of sugar cane has been crushed across Sunshine Sugar’s three NSW sugar mills, a handy effort considering the challenges of the year.

Condong Mill completed their crush of around 395,000 tonnes of sugar cane in December, followed by Harwood in early January which crushed some 525,000 tonnes. Broadwater Mill on the Richmond is now celebrating the completion of their crushing following a season that did not start until September 2022.

The crushing of almost 400,000 tonnes finished on January 24, to the great relief of staff and growers.

“The team at Broadwater have achieved what many would have thought impossible,” Mr Connors said.

“To get the mill up and running in a matter of months after the most devastating flood event on record, is an amazing effort that I am incredibly proud of.”

The three mills will now undergo their normal off-season maintenance ahead of a July 2023 start to the next season.

“Although the current cane crop is expected to be down on previous years following the flooding and wet conditions experienced last year, prices are up and the spirits of those in the NSW sugar industry are on the way back as well,” Mr Connors said.

Check out Sweet Talk next week for a wrap up from Robert Hawken and for more harvest updates throughout 2023.