BROADACRE farm body AgForce is pushing to establish a stand alone cane group under its representative umbrella, placing it in direct competition with the sugar industry's dominant Canegrowers organisation.
Negotiations are currently underway with the Burdekin-based Invicta Combined Growers Organisation, which is understood to have concerns particularly with reef and vegetation management regulations.
AgForce president Georgie Somerset said other sugar industry stakeholders have been informed of the ICGO proposal.
"What we already know is that our respective commodities share similar challenges and opportunities," Ms Somerset said.
"We hope this issue will bring the agriculture industry closer together."
What we already know is that our respective commodities share similar challenges and opportunities.
- Georgie Somerset, AgForce
Canegrowers chairman Paul Schembri said the establishment of a third cane organisation (in addition to the Australian Cane Farmers Association) had the potential to further divide Queensland agriculture.
"The real danger in all this is if Canegrowers takes a position and AgForce takes a different position, it's not going to be helpful for the Queensland sugar industry," Mr Schembri said.
"But I'm pragmatic. Growers will always choose the representative they believe best suits them."
AgForce is also under pressure from elements in the LNP, which want the farm group to drop its apolitical approach. The argument is AgForce should work alongside the LNP, similar to how unions serve the ALP.
AgForce currently represents cattle, sheep, wool and grain producers and is a member of the National Farmers' Federation.
The Queensland Farmers' Federation represents the intensive industries including cane, horticulture, dairy, pork, eggs, chicken meat, nursery and a number of irrigator groups through their individual member organisations. QFF is not a member of the NFF, although both QFF members Canegrowers and Cotton Australia are.
