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Meatworks close

There has been a lot of speculation as to when Australia's Northernmost meatworks at Stuart will close this year.

Rumours of an early closure have been circulating since mid Novermber.

Late last week the decision to close the Stuart Meatworks for the year was made.

John Berry director of Swift Australia explains the early closure this year is due to "seasonal conditions".

"Supply this time of the year historically slows down. People hold their cattle and look to see what's going to happen in early 2009".

"I assure producers and our work force in the North that we have a long term commitment to Townsville, at Stuart. We have invested money there in the last year or so, we continue to invest money there".

John Berry, Director of Swift Australia

Sugar market

The lower value of the Australian dollar over the last week has pushed the price for a tonne of sugar up to levels we haven't seen since the 1990s.

Queensland Sugar Limited's Paul Heagney says the softening of the Australian dollar over the past week means Australian dollar returns are still looking good for the next season.

"...and from the longer term perspective 2010 is certainly well into the four forties [hundred dollars per tonne], and 2011 is into the four fifties, on an Australian dollar basis."

Mr Heagney says the market continues to trade over the Christmas period and adds the physical demand for sugar goes up in the Southern Hemisphere over the Summer months as people consume more soft drinks and eat more ice-cream.

Queensland Sugar Limited's Paul Heagney

Farmers food market

North Queensland produce growers are often required to send their produce down to Brisbane to be packed before it is sent back to North Queensland retail outlets.

This means freight costs are doubled and freshness is compromised before the product even hits the shelf.

A campaign has started to push for the establishment of a farmers food market in North Queensland.

The first meeting of key stakeholders was held in Townsville on Friday.

Craig Wallace, Minster for Natural Resources and Water has been leading the campaign, he argues there is enough local produce to supply a farmers food co-op as well as Townsville's existing markets.

Minister Wallace says if the market goes ahead it may also serve to keep the major supermarkets "on their toes".

"We'll say to the big boys, look we're going to do it locally, you've got to get on your toes. You have to source your product locally, stop sending it to Brisbane or Sydney to get re-packed or to one of your big warehouses, source it locally and keep it local".

Craig Wallace, Minister for Natural Resources and Water

Herbert crush continues

It has been a wet few days in North Queensland, which is not good for sugarcane harvesting.

There have been reports that the Herbert area will be unable to finish the crushing season due to wet weather.

Yesterday CSR confirmed that the Herbert's crushing season is still in progress, and released a statement which acknowledged that while rain has affected both harvesting and milling operations, crushing is continuing.

The statement noted that a high mud loading, about four times normal levels, has slowed the crushing rate and caused intermittent stops to clear chokes and other mud-associated problems.

As of 8am yesterday, the Herbert mills had crushed a combined total of about 4.61 million tonnes of cane for the season, and are expected to crush 4.69 tonnes in total.

Keywords:sugar cane; cane crush; CSR; Herbert River; farmers food market; Minister for Natural Resources and Water; Craig Wallace; Stuart meatworks; John Berry; Swift Australia