Improving the profitability of canefarmers in the wet tropics : Analysis and strategies : final report BSS222

Abstract

This document provides the results of a 4-year benchmarking project in the Wet Tropics region of the Queensland sugar industry. The project examined production costs from Tully in the South to Mossman in the North as well as the different production systems of the Atherton Tablelands. the bulk of participants came from the Innisfail Tully region. the project was a joint activity between BSES and RCS. Both parties provided complimentary skills to the process, with RCS providing the business acumen and tools and BSES the technical advice and local contacts. Both organisations successfully ran the Prophet project (BS91S), which stimulated an interest in business management.During the period covered by this survey the industry experienced some of the worst conditions ever: a combination of low prices and low yields meant that many growers lost money for most of the period of the project.