Automated irrigation demonstrations, the Inkerman Mill and the Tassal Prawn Farm in Bowen were all on the agenda when fourteen members of the Proserpine Young Farmers (PYF) group recently toured the Burdekin.

The group took the opportunity to share knowledge and compare regional operations and practices with Burdekin growers both young and old.
The young farmers got to see and hear about some of the automation technologies being used by a Burdekin grower and also two other systems located on Wilmar’s Stockham Road farm and Farmacist’s Research farm.

The group also got to see the diffuser set-up at Inkerman Mill and, on the final day, travelled to Tassal Prawn Farm.
After a tour of the hatchery, ponds and control centre, the growers ended the tour at the production building where Tassal were kind enough to provide a feed of prawns.
“It was really great to see another industry and how they operate,” one of the young farmers commented.

"The Proserpine Young Farmers tour to the Burdekin was organised by CANEGROWERS Proserpine with funding support from the Queensland Government."

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Fourteen members of the Proserpine Young Farmers group recently toured the Burdekin. Photos supplied: Canegrowers Proserpine

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Simon Hood
Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing

This time last year, post the annual Dubai sugar conference, there was a reasonably consistent view that the market had upside potential on supply constraints. In effect, the fundamentals played out for most of the year and the speculative money helped push prices to record highs. This spectacularly unwound at the end of our season, and we are now in the mid to lower end of last year’s trading range.

The views this year are much more two sided.

The Brazilian crop is obviously the primary focus, and we will soon start to see some results as the dry period for February and March allowed for an early start to harvest. Recent forecast of rain may be viewed as a short-term positive for the market, as it will delay harvest output.

It is early in the 24/25 season and global production and consumption forecasts are very contingent on a few key variables. With Brazil providing around 80% of the global raw sugar trade, the focus is rightly on the expected Brazilian cane tonnage, ATR, and sugar mix, which will be driving expected change in global raw sugar stocks.

Wilmar is currently forecasting a reduced crop, from the record 665 million tonne crop harvested last year, of more than 600 million tonnes. This, combined with an increase in the sugar to ethanol mix of over 50%, results in a sugar make not unlike last year’s record sugar production.

In addition, there has been a supply response in the mid-tier production countries with Russia, Ukraine, and the EU all seeing an increase in sugar beet production, as the economics stack up against a depressed wheat and corn price.

Likewise, China is expected to increase sugar beet production for the same reasons.

By adding half a million tonnes here and there around the globe, the supply total creeps up. As underlying demand or consumption is expected to increase its relentless rise at roughly 1.5-2.0 million tonnes a year, the supply total needs to creep up.

The period of sustained high sugar prices last year did little to erode this momentum.

Currently, we are forecasting a small surplus of stock for 24/25 season which will keep global sugar prices under pressure. This is contrary to many other trade house views around the world who forecast a more bullish outlook.

As noted, it is early days and a small change in one of the key assumptions around Brazilian output can have a significant effect on the market in either direction - so nothing is assured at this point.

Growers will need to have their risk management hat on this year as we are likely to see a more volatile market as opposed to the one-way traffic we enjoyed last year – until we didn’t!

For more information, please get in touch with your local Grower Marketing consultant.

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Sugar price movements over the last two years

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Burdekin Community Garden is looking forward to inviting the community to its Open Day on Monday, April 15.
The garden provides a safe space where members can gather, interact, build friendships and enjoy the garden.
Everyone is welcome to visit the garden anytime, while visitors are invited to join every Monday morning from 9:00am to 12:00pm for a cuppa and a chat – weeding the garden is optional – starting from Monday, April 15.
2024 is the Burdekin Community Garden’s third year of operation, providing a place for all members of the local community to meet for a chat in the outdoors.
The group grows fruit and vegetables that are distributed free of charge to the local community.
To find out more and to get involved, contact Burdekincommunitygarden@gmail.com.

WHAT: Burdekin Community Garden Open Day
WHEN: Monday, April 15 from 9:00am to 12:00pm
WHERE: Burdekin Community Garden, Lot 23, International Road, Ayr (behind the Burdekin Community Church)
CONTACT: Burdekincommunitygarden@gmail.com

Burdekin Community Garden is hosting an Open Day next week. Photos supplied

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Burdekin Race Club has revealed the 2024 Faces of the Races in the lead up to next month’s Burdekin Growers Race Day.
Loyal patrons Colin and Brittany Bauer and Gianna O'Brien and Chris Tapiolas have been announced as the 2024 Faces of the Races.
“We genuinely appreciate the support we receive from these avid race goers who are at almost every race meeting we hold,” Burdekin Race Club said.
“We cannot thank you enough and look forward to working with you in the lead up to Burdekin Growers Race Day.”
Taking over the Burdekin Race Club on Saturday, May 18, the Burdekin Growers Race Day is well known as the premier social event on the Burdekin’s calendar with thousands of locals and visitors flocking for the event.
Featuring six highly competitive races, the event is more than just a race day: the Fashions of the Field are also hotly contested amongst race goers with thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes up for grabs throughout the day.
The event celebrates local horse racing, fashion, mega prize draws, super bets, live music and more, and attendees will even receive a free box of fresh fruit and vegetables, so everyone leaves a winner!

WHAT: Burdekin Growers Race Day
WHEN: Saturday May 18 from 11:00am to 9:00pm
WHERE: Burdekin Race Club, Home Hill
TICKETS: On sale soon, visit Burdekin Race Club on Facebook

Colin and Brittany Bauer and Gianna O'Brien and Chris Tapiolas have been announced as the 2024 Burdekin Race Club’s Faces of the Races. Photo supplied

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“That was a game we should have won and threw it away with our handling letting us down badly,” said Burdekin Roosters A grade coach Steve Lansley after seeing his team go down by just 2 at 24 - 22 to Western Lions at the RLTD grounds in Townsville last Sunday.
“It was a game we should have won by at least four tries.”
While the coach was critical of the way his team respected the ball, he did say that he could not fault their effort.
Lansley thought the forwards were dominant but dropped ball cost them.
“I thought Rhett Williams had a good game controlling the rucks and giving his big forwards room to move while lock Kali Nauque played a good tough match,” the coach said.
Lansley also added Lachlan Shepherd was also dangerous in the forwards.
He added that Dylan Doak is a smart five eight while Jones Munro at fullback could not be faulted.
Luke Russell, Ethan Hagarty, Lachlan Shepherd and Jeremiah Matuata scored tries with Dyland Doak kicked 3 goals.
In other A grade games Souths def Herbert River in Ingham 22 - 12, Brothers beat Centrals 12 - 10 while Charters Towers were too good for Norths in the Towers by 44 – 12.
In a game they should have won, the reserves went down 30 - 22 after the Lions had lead at the break 26 – 6.
Had the reggies played the first half like they played the second the win would have gone to the Roosters.
It was as though two different teams were on the paddock with Roosters jerseys on.
The first half saw dropped ball and missed tackles the order of the day with the Lions allowed to dominate.
In the second session the defence became as it should have been with the attack also improved.
Coach Chris Perry said we were too generous with giving away possession first half and we were not sharp in defence.
Perry said the care factor was back second half and we were unlucky not to come away with a win.
The coach singled out Beady Horan and Brody Ferguson as two of his better players with Caleb Noah dangerous.
The two French players Wassine Mauhuli and Paul Meryl showed enough to look for better things in the future even though both boys were severely affected by the humidity.
Meryl did show plenty of speed in scoring a 70 metre try first half.
In other reserves matches Centrals beat Brothers 24 - 6, Bowen beat Charters Towers 44 - 4 and Souths beat Herbert River 40 - 18 with Norths on a bye.
Hens coach Anita Hagarty praised her girls for their efforts after going down to Western Lions 44 – 12.
Three-time premiers the Lions lead by only 16 - 8 at the break but size and experience told second half.
“We have not had many training runs and our young team acquitted themselves very well against a team of premiership players who have also picked up some players from the runners last year, Centrals,” the coach said.
Anita said she thought Abby King and Mckenzie Hatch with Alekah Heron, Kezzia Lammon and Talisha Bulgarelli stood out.
She also praised Tamara White who put her hand up to help out.
Kezzia Lammon, Martina Monday, Toni Daisy scored tries
In other matches Centrals beat Brothers 20 - 12 and Charters Towers beat Norths 24 - 4
This Sunday the Roosters are away again to Souths at the Old Bindall grounds in reserve and A grade with the Reserves at 1:30pm and the A grade at 3:00pm.
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Contributed by Brian Carnes

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Hi readers
Another long weekend has come and gone, so, whatever you found yourself getting up to, I hope you enjoyed it.
I saw this long weekend as an opportunity to explore and headed north.
My plan was to explore the Tablelands region, an area that has been at the top of my list for many years.
I found a motel nearby at Bramston Beach that would allow the perfect combination of proximity to the Tablelands while also providing a relaxing homebase at which I could chill when I pleased.
I departed Home Hill on Friday morning, my first stop was a visit to a friend in Ingham, before checking out towns like Cardwell and Tully and exploring nearby lookouts, waterfalls and swimming holes.
Saturday was a day of relaxation spent between the shores of Bramston Beach, the motel pool and the couch.
Then, feeling recharged and ready to go, I embarked on a day trip on Sunday travelling between the towns of Ravenshoe, Innisfail, Yungaburra and Gordonvale, stopping at as many waterfalls, swimming holes and landmarks as I could.
Of course, there is way too much to cram into a day in that region, but I feel like I made the most of my day and ticked plenty of spots off the list while still taking the time to appreciate the beauty of the area.
Driving between these destinations through the rolling green hills was a particular highlight, the weather toing and froing between cloudy and sunny.
Monday was spent making my way back to the Burdekin after checking out Babinda Boulders where I saw only the second cassowary I’ve ever seen in my life.
Other highlights throughout the weekend included Josephine Falls, Tchupala Falls, Mount Hypipamee, Lake Eacham and a swim at Mission Beach on the way home.
I certainly had a full, yet refreshing long weekend of adventure and relaxation and I hope you did too.

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A free activity aiming to engage the youth of the Burdekin is being implemented by PCYC Burdekin between Home Hill and Ayr.
The Drop-In Program is a free program typically provided to ages 12-18 to engage high school aged students in a semi-structured activity after school.
The program involves a refurbished entertainment trailer, which houses three television screens and three PlayStation 4s as well as equipment to hold external events like discos and outdoor movie nights.
PCYC Burdekin Branch Manager Andrew Sherrington started the program before the school holidays, taking the trailer to Home Hill’s Watson’s Green recently.
The program will continue after the school holidays, being held on Thursday afternoons from 3:00pm, alternating between Home Hill and Ayr each week.
“The ideal outcome is building up a rapport with QPS,” Mr Sherrington said.
“Local officers will attend and engage as well so, ideally, it’s all about youth development, building up those relationships with local police, and, more importantly, addressing any youth related issues or providing any support they might need.”
The program will also involve other games, sports and activities to engage the students for the afternoon.
“My role here with the PCYC is to provide programs for youth engagement, so with that, there are crime prevention models where you try and guide the youth to make the right choices,” Mr Sherrington said.
“That’s where the relationship works really well.”
Keep an eye on the PCYC Burdekin Facebook page for more information.

PCYC Burdekin’s Drop-In Program involves video games, food, sport and activities to engage school students after school. Photo supplied

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A teenager was airlifted to Townsville Hospital over the weekend after a car rolled over in the early hours of Saturday morning, May 30.
Three people in their late teens were in the vehicle when it rolled over Beach Road, near Alva.
A Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokesperson confirmed that QAS was engaged at 12:05am on Saturday, March 30.
One female patient sustained significant pelvic injuries and was transported to Ayr Hospital by ambulance in a serious condition before being airlifted to Townsville University Hospital by helicopter.
Another female patient in her teens was transported to Ayr Hospital by ambulance in a stable condition having suffered a minor head injury.
Another female in her late teens suffered back injuries and was transported to Ayr Hospital by ambulance in a stable condition.

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Over 80 parishioners of the Burdekin Catholic Parish met at the top of Mt Inkerman on Friday March 22 to walk the steps of Jesus through the 14 Stations of the Cross.
Fr Manoj and Fr Truong led the congregation through a moving spiritual reflection.
Parishioners from all four parishes attended the event being Ayr, Home Hill, Giru and Clare.
The afternoon ended with a shared supper and gorgeous views of the Burdekin region.  
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Contributed by Lisa Sarri

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Burdekin Catholic Parish took to Mount Inkerman for a special service. Photos supplied

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After a promise of a new way forward in marine rescue, thousands of volunteers have been left in uncharted waters with no clarity on the future according to Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Dale Last.
As the July 1 deadline for the first VMR squadrons and AVCG flotillas to transition to the new Marine Rescue Queensland approaches, Mr Last said crews, radio operators and skippers had been left in the dark about what the transition would look like and how it would operate.
“It’s been more than five years since Campbell Darby handed down his report into the marine rescue sector and since then we’ve seen volunteers offered lip service, the services of marine rescue moved from QFES to police service responsibilities and countless pie-in-the-sky promises from this state government,” Mr Last said.
“Despite the changes to the responsible agency, there has been a consistent minister at the helm of this ship for the last four years who has failed to provide any sort of clear direction forward for volunteers, let alone the communities that rely on their services.
“The Minister has stated on several occasions that July 1 would see the new marine rescue entity commence but volunteers are yet to be provided with transitional agreements for consideration and legislation governing the new entity is still to be debated in parliament.
“At the heart of all of this is volunteers who go out in rough conditions to save lives at sea and the communities who for years have supported and fundraised for new boats and assets.”
Mr Last said after hearing first-hand from both Australian Volunteer Coast Guard members and Volunteer Marine Rescue it was clear that a lack of consultation and direction had left a sour taste in the mouths of crews and leaders within both blue water rescue organisations.
“While the government may have us think that the transition to bring about one entity for marine rescue in Queensland is smooth sailing, what we are seeing at the coal face could best be described as nothing but shifting goal posts and lip service by this state government,” he said.
“We are lucky in Queensland to have some of the greatest coastlines to enjoy but, just as we do if we got into trouble on our roads, we need assurances that if tragedy strikes, help is on the way and that falls squarely in the hands of the Minister.”

Burdekin Marine Rescue boat; Photo supplied

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A 13-year-old girl was stung by a jellyfish near Cape Upstart over the weekend and was one of three people hospitalised due to jellyfish stings across the state over the weekend.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed the female patient in her teens was transported by boat from Cape Upstart to Gumlu after suffering a marine sting on Sunday, March 31.
Bowen paramedics met the patient on the shore and assisted in transporting her to a rescue helicopter which flew her to Townsville University Hospital in a stable condition.
That same day, a female in her 40s was transported to Proserpine Hospital in a stable condition after suffering a marine sting on Hamilton Island.
A male child was also transported to Rockhampton Hospital following a marine sting on Kemp Beach, Rosslyn.
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Bowen paramedics and a rescue helicopter safely transported a 13-year-old girl to Townsville University Hospital after a marine sting. Photo supplied: Queensland Ambulance Service

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American popstar P!nk wrapped up her record-breaking Summer Carnival Australian tour in Townsville last month, with the benefits being felt throughout north Queensland thanks to the tens of thousands of fans flocking for her two concerts.
Held at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23, the concerts attracted over 65,000 punters across the two nights, breaking the Stadium attendance record previously held by game one of the 2021 State of Origin series.
Millions of dollars are said to have been injected into the local economy from the concerts, with Burdekin Shire Council confirming over 120 rooms across the region were booked by concertgoers and turning Ayr’s Queen Street fountain pink to celebrate.
Before P!nk took to the Townsville stage, the tour’s promoter, Live Nation, revealed nearly one million tickets had changed hands throughout the tour, making P!nk’s Summer Carnival Australian tour the biggest for any female headliner in Australia by far.
“Nobody else has ever played 20 stadium shows across Australia and New Zealand in a single tour, but we just did it together on the Summer Carnival Tour,” P!nk wrote on social media.
“The ticket sales for the Summer Carnival Tour are the biggest for any tour by a female artist in Australia.
“We’ve sold over 3.1 million tickets during six tours here - that’s the most career ticket sales ever achieved by an international performer in Australia and New Zealand.
“We’ve grown up together over the last 20 years.
“And we’ve danced, laughed, screamed and cried together, too.
“You’ve always been there for me, but this week I learned just how great your support has been.”

P!nk finished her record-breaking Summer Carnival Australian tour in Townsville on the weekend. Photo supplied

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The Rita Island Progress Association (RIPA) has recently formed to promote a sense of community and good fellowship with the people of Rita Island, a small rural farming area just out of Ayr where they can get cut off from the mainland during floods.
Having good neighbours in those times of need and hardship really makes a difference, so we aim to bring everyone here closer together through social gatherings and fund-raisers that will hopefully help fund a central meeting point and recreational area for the locals of the island and general public.
The association has just completed their first fundraiser, a whopping Easter raffle which was a great success, and wonderful to see a huge response from the Burdekin and surrounding communities in the purchasing of tickets and the many businesses who donated prizes for the cause.
Congratulations to Keith Frew, Michelle Briant and Jay Patterson on their prizes, and we'd like to thank all of the sponsors for their generous donations.
A huge thank you goes to Burdekin Distributors, Braddy's Quality Seafood, William Quirk, Butcher On Queen, Star Liquor, RG Customs NQ, SWERVE Surf & Ski, Kathleen Brabon, 2BU Nutrition, Intersport Ayr, Fuel me up Cafe, About Town Bait and Tackle and Burdekin Printers.
The Association would also like to thank Kylie Horan for organising the raffle and all of the members who spent their time selling tickets.
We can't wait to see what comes next for us and our amazing little community here on Rita Island, thanks again for your support Burdekin!
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Supplied by Shantelle Ehmann
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Emily Shearman, Jeff Pyott and Shantelle Ehmann of the Rita Island Progress Association

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Opinion Piece
Legislation on a new fresh food tax has been introduced in Parliament, a move that Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says will increase the cost of living and hurt families, farmers, and food producers throughout Australia.
Mr Willcox said the Government’s biosecurity protection levy will charge Australian farmers for the biosecurity costs of importers bringing their product to Australia.
“These costs to farmers will inevitably be passed onto the consumer, hurting individuals and families who are already struggling with immense cost of living pressures,” he said.
“Labor is treating Australian farmers with contempt.
“We don’t know which producers are going to be charged, and the Department has said they will formally advise industries on their rate in the coming weeks or months.
“This tax is meant to come into effect as of 1 July 2024, it’s now March.
“Our farmers deserve more warning than this.”  
Mr Willcox explained the policy follows a disingenuous consultation process and is expensive, confusing, risky, and flawed, putting the entire voluntary levy system at risk.
“It is expected that it’s not just farmers that are captured under this new tax, but also fishers and foresters,” he said.
“If this is true, we can almost say goodbye to Australia’s world-class fishing industry completely, especially after Labor’s announcement to ban commercial gillnet fishing.
“This could destroy the entire fishing industry in our electorate.
“First the Labor Government want to take away our fishers’ ability to catch fish, they now want these fishos to foot the bill for their international competitors to bring their supply to Australia.
“It just doesn’t make sense.
“I will stand shoulder to shoulder with our farmers and fight to get rid of this outrageous tax, after all, without farmers, we all starve.”

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Burdekin-based father-daughter fisher duo Neil and Sienna Green recently took to Canberra’s Parliament House to prepare fresh Burdekin-caught barramundi for politicians and press.
The barbecue and press event was hosted by Shadow Minister for Northern Australia Senator Susan McDonald and the Queensland Seafood Industry Association to raise awareness of the impacts of banning net fishing in Queensland on both industry and consumer.
“I invited fishers to Canberra to cook barramundi burgers for politicians and journalists to highlight that the wild-caught variety of this fish – a table favourite around the country, especially on Good Friday and Easter – will be more scarce and more expensive because of this net ban,” said Ms McDonald.

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Burdekin fishers Dale Vener, Neil Green and Sienna Green joined Shadow Minister for Northern Australia Senator Susan McDonald to cook Burdekin barramundi in Canberra last week. Photo supplied

Fishers Fight Back Against Gillnet Ban
At Canberra Barra Barbecue
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Shadow Minister for Northern Australia Senator Susan McDonald and Queensland seafood identities have warned that feasts of fresh fish are under threat after the State and Federal Government announced a phase out of gillnet fishing on the Great Barrier Reef.
Ms McDonald has been campaigning against the bans since mid-2023 and invited impacted Queensland fishers to Canberra to discuss the issue last Wednesday, March 27, including Burdekin-based Sienna Green who was recently named the Queensland Seafood Marketers Association’s ‘Young Achiever’ for her work publicising the sustainability of net fishing.
“The Queensland Government – with the full support and encouragement of the Federal Government – has rushed to do the bidding of UNESCO and completely ignored the people involved in the industry, the jobs it provides and the regional communities it supports,” said Ms McDonald.
“This is appalling overreach and it’s not backed by the federal Fisheries Research and Development Corporation which lists all the main net-caught species as sustainable on Queensland’s East Coast.”
According to the Queensland Government, “The use of gillnets is being phased out to better protect the threatened, endangered and iconic species of the Great Barrier Reef in keeping with its world heritage status.
“The phase out is being implemented as part of commercial fishing reforms led by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) to support sustainable fishing in Queensland, and is one of the commitments to UNESCO to protect the outstanding universal value of the Reef.”
Sienna’s fisherman father, Neil Green, said banning net fishing was an overreaction that would have severe impacts on fishers, consumers and retailers.
“There is no net fishing anywhere near the Great Barrier Reef, and the creeks, rivers and foreshores that are fished make up just 0.2% of reef waters,” Mr Green explained.
“This leaves 99.8% of the world heritage waters closed to net fishing.
“Barramundi licences in Queensland this year have been reduced from over 90 to 23, robbing consumers, restaurants and retailers of wild-caught barramundi.
“It will potentially deny them the opportunity entirely after mid-2027 when these 23 licences expire.”
Mr Green said the phase out is a warning to other primary producers after UNESCO advised the Federal Government that all food production in reef catchments must be further regulated.
“All primary industries and associated businesses in regional and coastal areas of Queensland need to band together before the government comes after them,” he said.
“We’re calling on the government to reverse this net ban and stand up to UNESCO before this and other important food producing primary industries are sent to the wall.”
Queensland Seafood Industry Association chief executive David Bobbermen said the Queensland Government had ignored fishers’ input and the industry’s moves to reduce impacts on non-target species and improve sustainability.
“There is a lot of science that supports the use of gillnets as one of the most targeted and low carbon emitting fishing methods,” he said.
“Many small regional and remote community economies are struggling, and the loss of net fishing is simply another nail in their coffin.”
Mr Green and Sienna’s partner Dale Vener were two of the 23 to be granted restricted NX licenses earlier this year, allowing them to continue to use gillnets to catch barramundi under strict conditions.
These licenses are due to expire in mid-2027.

L-R Normanton businessman Noel Scott, Burdekin fisher Sienna Green, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald, Leader of the Federal National Party David Littleproud, Queensland Seafood Industry Association chief executive David Bobbermen and Burdekin fisher Neil Green. Photo supplied

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