TORRENTIAL rain over most areas of Mackay and Plane Creek growing districts has delivered two-pronged benefits to the region’s irrigating cane growers.
Canegrowers Mackay Chairman Kevin Borg said the rain, while heavy in many areas, was not over prolonged periods of time, minimising the potential for damage to crops and paddocks.
“We were fortunate that most of the water had time to dissipate, delivering what will be a positive outcome for the crop,” Mr Borg said.
“The amount of rain we received will provide enough moisture for the crop to flourish for the next couple of weeks,” he said.
He said January was the prime time for growers to receive rain to boost the crop with just five months left of growth to harvest.
Mr Borg said the 2015 crop was currently in ‘great condition’ with ideal rainfall and growing conditions to date.
“Without any catastrophic event over the next couple of months we are very confident of a crop exceeding 2014.”
He said the other benefit the rain had provided to irrigating cane growers was relief from debilitating electricity prices.
He said each time an irrigator turned on his pumps his input costs to grow his crop skyrocketed under the pressure of the steep costs for power.
Canegrowers continued to lobby Government in the lead-up to the State Election for a reduction – by one-third - to unsustainable electricity pricing for agriculture.
“Without a serious reduction farmers will not be able to sustain the costs of the power it takes to pump water to maximise their crop potential.
“This leads to no confidence, and no investment in the future.”
