In the News
March 2025
North Queensland Register - 12 March
After months of advocacy from cane industry leaders, the long-awaited Category D Disaster Recovery Grants of up to $75,000 have finally been activated for farmers affected by the North Queensland floods earlier this year.
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7NEWS - 12 March
Townsville Bulletin - 12 March (online) and 13 March (print)
Recovery grants for flood-struck North Queensland cane farmers and businesses have increased as new details about the extent of the disaster emerge.
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WIN News - 12 March
Hinchinbrook Life - 11 March
Floodwaters may have receded but for North Queensland's sugarcane farmers, the road to recovery is only just beginning.
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Mackay Whitsunday Life - 7 March
Townsville Bulletin - 6 March
Taking the fight for an increase in disaster grants all the way to the Prime Minister, Bob Katter says flood-affected cane farmers need more cash to get back on their feet. SEE THE DAMAGE.
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Townsville Bulletin - 5 March
Taking the fight for an increase in disaster grants all the way to the Prime Minister, Bob Katter says flood-affected cane farmers need more cash to get back on their feet. SEE THE DAMAGE.
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7NEWS Townsville - 5 March
Hinchinbrook Life - 5 March
February 2025
7NEWS Townsville - 27 February
Sugar cane crops worth up to $50 million will be left to rot in the fields, due to flood damage.
With no cane to harvest and no clear path forward, the resilience of Ingham's farming community is being tested like never before.
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Burdekin Life - 27 February
QCAR is urging cane farming organisations to back its call to also cover first and second ratoon crops in the proposal for financial support towards replanting of destroyed cane.
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ABC Rural - 26 February
It took just four days for floodwater to significantly change the landscape of Ingham cane grower Wal Giordani's farm. In the middle of what used to be a flat paddock is a 2-metre-deep crater.
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Queensland Country Life - 25 February
Losing power during flood events is par for the course for farmers and residents in North Queensland, but losing phone and internet reception caused utter mayhem for many during recent floods.
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ABC News QLD - 22 February
Mackay Life - 21 February & Burdekin Life - 20 February
QCAR is moving at its usual rapid pace on the QCAR integration with the Australian Cane Farmers Association (ACFA) front.
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Bob Katter - 21 February
Bob Katter - 21 February
Speaking with industry bodies, including AgForce, QCAR and Canegrowers, and impacted farmers in the disaster epicentre of Ingham, Mr Katter said the damage to cane and cattle farms had been severe, and the current funding levels are inadequate.
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Wet Tropic Times - 20 February
QCAR welcomes LNP's announcement Qld farmers can use disaster funds to replant destroyed crops 'for the first time'
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Wet Tropic Times - 20 February
QCAR welcomes Dutton and Crisafulli's visit to flood-ravaged Ingham as farmers push ahead with heartbreaking recovery efforts.
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Newsport (Douglas Shire News) - 19 February
The next phase of the dismantling of the Mossman Mill operations has been well underway over the past fortnight as dozens of cane cages and railstock are scrapped.
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North Queensland Register - 18 February
Flood-impacted growers in Ingham have urged the state government and federal opposition leader to push to change the $100 million disaster recovery package offered to them.
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Townsville Bulletin - 17 February
QCAR Herbert District Committee Junior Vice Chair John Board spoke to journalist Jami Roberts following visits to Ingham from LNP Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and Senator Susan McDonald.
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Townsville Bulletin - 15 February
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has landed in Ingham, where he’s supported calls for a better Bruce Hwy, a stronger power network, and called the insurance industry a ‘mess’.
“People had their lives destroyed,” Mr Dutton said.
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ABC Far North and North Queensland Rural Report - 14 February
QCAR Herbert District Committee Chairman Matthew Pappin estimates the flood damage to his farm could reach $200,000.
He spoke with the ABC about the state and federal governments' announcement of capped grants for flood-affected primary producers in North Queensland, as he backed QCAR's push for further help via the declaration of Category D disaster assistance.
Listen back
Mackay Life - 14 February
QCAR Central District Manager Sonia Ball has handed over the reins as secretary for the Ilbilbie Rural Fire Brigade to Plane Creek sugarcane farmer Peter Currie.
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ABC News Queensland - 13 February
Burdekin Life - 13 February
QCAR Chairman Christian Lago met with Dale Last - Member for Burdekin and Tony Perrett MP in Ayr to push the need for the state and federal governments to declare a Category D emergency.
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ABC News - 13 February
The federal government has announced an extra $100 million in disaster relief for Queensland's flood-ravaged north.
Federal Emergency Minister Jenny McAllister said the package will help farmers, small businesses, and not-for-profits.
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Burdekin Life - 13 February
Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli are words sugarcane farmers worldwide would like to see eradicated; they are the scientific name for the bacterium responsible for ratoon stunting disease (RSD).
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Hinchinbrook Life - 11 February
QCAR estimates there could be up to one million fewer tonnes of cane cut across the Herbert this year, resulting in between $25 to $50 million in economic losses.
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Mackay Life - 7 February
QCAR Central District Manager Ball caught up with members in Proserpine, chatted about QCAR's new magazine with ACFA, a successful meet with Whitsunday Regional Council, and more.
Read more online
North Queensland Register - 7 February
Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables expects the damage to the Herbert cane crops, infrastructure, farms, drains, machinery, and the rail network could equate to $20 to $50 million in economic losses.
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Townsville Bulletin - 6 February
Low interest government loans have been launched to help flood-hit farmers and businesses rebuild, as estimates of sugarcane loss in the Herbert skyrocket.
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January 2025
Mackay Life - 31 January
Hinchinbrook Life - 28 January
QCAR Herbert District Manager Lawrence Di Bella chatted with Hinchinbrook Life journalist Daniel Heggie about how longer crushes not only affect the sugarcane industry but also impact on the wider community.
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Mackay Life - 24 January
Australian sugarcane farmers will soon trade one tropical paradise for another as they explore firsthand the implications of Brazil being ranked number one and two in the world for sugarcane and ethanol production.
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Burdekin Life - 23 January
Australian sugarcane farmers will soon trade one tropical paradise for another as they explore firsthand the implications of Brazil being ranked number one and two in the world for sugarcane and ethanol production.
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Wet Tropic Times - 23 January
QCAR has estimated more than 1.27M tonnes of cane remains unharvested across Australia's sugarcane mills, resulting in forecast losses to farmers of more than $83M.
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North Queensland Register - 23 January
Queensland Cane and Renewables has called upon Wilmar CEO Kuok Khoon Hong for a sit down to address management and "performance declines" at sugarcane processing facilities after a tough 2024 season.
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Mackay Life - 17 January
QCAR estimated more than 1.27M tonnes of sugarcane remained unharvested across Australia's sugarcane mills, resulting in forecast losses to farmers of more than $83M.
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The Australian - 16 January
QCAR Chairman Christian Lago and Central District Committee Chairman Steve McKeering chatted to The Australian about the 2024 crush season which left more than a million tonnes of cane standing in paddocks and farmers an estimated $80M+ out of pocket.
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Burdekin Life - 16 January
QCAR estimated more than 1.27M tonnes of sugarcane remained unharvested across Australia's sugarcane mills, resulting in forecast losses to farmers of more than $83M.
Read full story online
ABC Far North and North Queensland Rural Report - 15 January
Hinchinbrook Life - 14 January
The 2024 season came to an abrupt finish, leaving an estimated 130-140,000 tonnes of standover cane in the fields.
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Newsport - 14 January
As Mossman cane farmer Peter Verri stands in front of a section of about 50 per cent of his 2024 crop that did not end up being harvested this season, he is asked: “Will this be your last sugar harvest?”
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7NEWS Townsville & 7NEWS Mackay - 14 January
Mackay Life - 10 January
Creedence Clearwater Revival's well-known lyric 'Have you ever seen the rain?' was front of mind for QCAR Central District Manager Sonia Ball as she reflected on the wet season and its impact on members.
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WIN News Mackay - 7 January
December 2024
Wet Tropic Times - 19 December
QCAR and Australian Cane Farming Association (ACFA) are pleased a "bona-fide" grower was elected to Sugar Terminal Limited's (STL) board.
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Wet Tropic Times - 19 December
QCAR has successfully challenged Wilmar Sugar to extend its crush end date for Herbert region mills giving more farmers a chance to minimise standover cane.
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Daily Mercury - 13 December
QCAR Central District Committee Chairman Steve McKeering credited Mackay Sugar for extending an olive branch to struggling cane farmers.
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Mackay Life - 13 December
QCAR shared its dismay at the Australian Sugar Milling Council, saying it had lashed out at farmers for their criticism of the performance of mills this crushing season. Plus the QCAR team delivered with a clear purpose and a strong and memorable message at the Mackay Meet and Greet information session at Wests Leagues Club.
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Mackay Life - 13 December
Paul Schembri's election as grower-director to the Sugar Terminals Limited (STL) Board was met with strong approval from QCAR.
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Queensland Country Life - 10 December
QCAR claims it has saved the Hinchinbrook community a loss of $22.8 million thanks to its successful bid in getting Wilmar to extend its crushing end date.
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Hinchinbrook Life - 10 December
Whitsunday Times - 5 December
Sugar crops worth $60 million in Mackay alone are still waiting to be harvested with growers blaming millers for lengthy delays.
A late finish last season meant that growers were already behind going into this year’s crush but delays at mills have put a significant dampener on the season.
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Burdekin Life - 5 December
Townsville Bulletin - 5 December
Cane growers are looking out over paddocks of lush green sugar cane right now - and they are on edge, because those paddocks should be empty by now.
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Hinchinbrook Life - 3 December
Di Bella Produce and Farming is a family-run business situated in Ingham. The Di Bellas believe that business diversity is critical in agriculture to ride through the ups and downs when dealing with weather, markets, pests and diseases etc.
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November 2024
Mackay Life - 29 November
QCAR Central District Manager Sonia Ball was happy to report, thanks in main to the Proserpine district growers and stakeholders who took the time to attend the November 20 Meet & Greet, it was indeed a success.
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North Queensland Register - 28 November
Further pressure has been put on Wilmar to address claims of fibre testing bias at its Herbert River mills.
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Hinchinbrook Life - 26 November
QCAR is an almost century-old farmer advocacy group that continues to go from strength to strength with new members signing up each week.
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Hinchinbrook Life - 26 November
Wilmar Sugar and Renewables announced a review of its Cane Analysis Program (CAP) following months of advocacy from QCAR.
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Burdekin Life - 21 November
Mackay Life - 15 November
There is nothing like an 'over the fence' whisper to travel like wildfire through sugarcane - the ever-reliable speed of the bush telegraph if you wish ... the trouble is it can end up a bit like Chinese Whispers.
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Queensland Country Life - 14 November
In a rare show of solidarity, Queensland's cane grower groups have rallied together to put forward a candidate to join the Sugar Terminals Limited board.
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