AFTER a prolonged wet season and a staggered start in the North, the sugar cane crush has finally hit its groove in Wilmar's milling regions.
Wilmar's eight mills are now in full production, and about 20 per cent of the crop has now been harvested.
Wilmar's general manager cane supply and transport Paul Giordani said there had been a staggered start for their factories throughout June, followed by lengthy wet weather delays earlier this month.
"While ground conditions have improved since the widespread rain, some harvesting groups in the Herbert and Proserpine regions are still restricted by wet paddocks," Mr Giordani said.
Despite the rough start, Wilmar has processed 3.21 million tonnes this season, or 20 per cent of the estimated 15.41 million tonne crop.
The Burdekin region has crushed over 2 million tonnes after reaching that milestone on Tuesday. The region mills produced the first raw sugar of the season with the Inkerman and Kalamia Mills firing up on June 4. Invicta and Pioneer mills, also in the Burdekin, started on June 11.
Mr Giordani said as of Friday, the Burdekin had crushed about 26 per cent of their forecast 8.24 million tonne crop.
He said harvesting groups were making good headway due to the fine, dry weather, with 2.13 million tonnes crushed.
CCS levels are also tracking ahead of budget at 14.35.
In the Herbert region, which was hampered by wet weather delaying their crush start date until late June, the crop is cutting close to estimate.
Mr Giordani said the cane quality had been good overall, and CCS levels had been climbing steadily due to fine days and cool nights.
"Some groups are still struggling to find paddocks dry enough to harvest, due to above-average rain in the first half of this year and persistent in-season showers," he said.
So far, 585,000 tonnes have been harvested which is 14 per cent of the estimated 4.26 million tonne crop.
In Proserpine, harvesting conditions are also improving after significant widespread rain early in the season.
"Contractors are to be commended for their efforts to maintain cane supply under such difficult field conditions," Mr Giordani said.
However, he said current trends show the crop was cutting below estimate, with 224,000 tonnes crushed.
Further south at Plane Creek, the crop is cutting close to estimated and the CCS is increasing with dry and cool conditions and was this week at 13.42.
Plane Creek has crushed 274,000 tonnes, which is 21 per cent of their forecast 1.3 million tonnes.
