The season continues to be unkind to us in NSW with rain and now fairly cold weather and although there has been little to no frost yet, this could come at any time.

The crop at all mills is below a sustainable level, although growers still continue to be optimistic about the recovery to full production in the next two to three years.Due to the wetter than average season to date (my rainfall records from January to June are just 100mm short of our average annual rainfall for a year) the soy bean crop which many growers rely on to help the budget, has been less than productive with some not worth putting a harvester into.

The NSW harvest is to start at Condong on the 19th of June, although this will be in doubt with heavy rain falling as I write this report. The other two mills will start over the next month .

All mills will be reduced to a five day crushing week this year, with our total crop in NSW estimated at around 1.2 million tonnes.

All farmers in NSW realize how critical it is now to raise production back up to the 2million + of past seasons, if we are to return to sustainable levels.

The QSL weather forecast while not great for the start of the crush shows a return to more normal conditions as the year progresses. This should go well for the plant cane, as we work our way back to full plantings in this state.

NSW growers just need one normal season – we hope 2012 is it.

Robert Quirk
NSW Director