BURDEKIN cane growers are reaping the rewards of rotational cropping with legumes and grains providing a boost to the coffers amid low global sugar prices.
About 10,000 tonnes of soybeans will be harvested in the district this year, with mungbeans, maize, sweet corn, sorghum, sunflower and rice varieties also being planted in the traditional cane growing region.
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries coastal farming team extension officer Brock Dembowski said an abundance of water was allowing more Burdekin farmers to diversify.
"Most of the grain that's grown here now is grown for a cash crop," Mr Dembowski said.
"A lot of growers have planted soybeans in that July-August period and we've got quite a substantial crop, upward of 10,000 tonnes.
"The price is up around the $1000 a tonne mark; it is quite a profitable crop with a four month turnaround.
"Because of the shortage down south with the drought, it's a no brainer to come into the Burdekin where we've got secure water supply, and really good yields and quality.
"It's exciting because it gives growers a bit of an opportunity to diversity their farm."
Clare cane farmer Kevin Fiamingo has been trialling mungbeans and soybeans on his 350-hectare farm for several years.
He has focused on soy beans this year to take advantage of the higher prices.
Mr Fiamingo said he planted across 80 hectares and expected to get his highest yields yet.
"We've had some pretty good growing conditions and are set for a really nice crop at the end of November or start of December," Mr Fiamingo said.
"If everything goes okay until harvest, we should get roughly 320-350 tonnes, so this year will probably be our biggest."
Mr Dembowski said as more growers got on board, focus was shifting to storage solutions to provide more flexibility around harvest and transportation.
DAF senior development agronomist Philip Burrill travelled to the Burdekin recently to meet with growers interested in on-farm storage systems.
Mr Burrill said four key points to consider when it came to storage were to monitor the grains, maintain high hygiene standards, provide adequate aeration and to put a fumigation program in place.
"With growing grain these days, most growers find the flexibility of having some of their own storage on farm really helps, particularly around harvest time and the logistics of taking grain off," Mr Burrill said.