Mossman Mill has recognised its best growers at its annual productivity awards.
The event was one of the best attended and capped off a sterling 2016 season, mill manager Hayden Slattery said.
Mr Slattery said the awards recognised the growers from each supply region who, when combining sugar content (ccs) and tonnage yield, were leaders in their districts with sugar made per hectare.
The Canegrowing Excellence Award – which recognises the grower who has highest overall actual tonnes of sugar per ha above their zone average – was awarded to W Denk.
The Harvesting Award, judged by field staff and evaluated on consistency of supply, quality of product, workplace health and safety, communications and field operations, was won by C Fasano and Company. They also collected the Best Five Year Average Producer Award.
Guidice Farming received the Sustainable Management Practices Award.
The Young Grower Award went to the Warland Brothers.
CJ and LB McClelland received an appreciation award for on farm research while DA and R Ottone were recognised with the best presented farm for 2016.
Mr Slattery said the mill crushed 898,392 tonnes in 2016.
“The mill was the first finished in the industry, a great turnaround from 2014 season when it was the last to finish,” Mr Slattery said.
“The season crop was one of the best in 20 years with the yield, tonnes per ha averaging 92, up from the average of 78 tonnes per ha.
“This was due to ideal growing conditions leading into and during the season.
“Unfortunately the sugar yield (ccs) was very low, due to increased rain and growth of the crop.”
