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2 Physical characteristics of
sugar cane farms
In 2006-07, the average area operated by Australian sugar cane growers was 362 hectares. Sugar cane in Australia is normally grown on a four to five year rotation, with producers harvesting up to 80 per cent of the crop each year. However, in New South Wales, the growing season is between 18 and 24 months, resulting in a lower proportion of the area under cane being harvested each year.

On average, the area of sugar cane harvested in 2006-07 represented around a quarter of the farm area operated, down from almost 50 per cent in 2005-06. Sugar cane producers also grow a range of other crops - including soybeans, peanuts, bananas, tropical fruits and vegetables. In addition, many sugar cane producers have small beef cattle herds (table 2).

In 2005-06 and 2006-07, the largest sugar cane producers – in terms of sugar cane production – were in the Ord River region of Western Australia (table 3). However, with production halting in this region, the largest producers are now located in the Burdekin, Mackay and Herbert River regions of Queensland.

The smallest producers, on average, are located in southern Queensland, Bundaberg and New South Wales. Producers in the Burdekin, Mackay and Bundaberg regions are the most dependent on irrigation water for sugar cane production, with a majority of the crops receiving at least one application of water during the year (table 3).

With more than 15 per cent of producers exiting the industry between 2005-06 and 2007-08, the average size of sugar cane production in the various regions has changed markedly (table 3). For example, the average producer in the Herbert River, Bundaberg and New South Wales harvested more sugar cane land, but lower yields in these regions limited production growth between 2005-06 and 2007-08. In contrast, the average area harvested for sugar cane production in southern Queensland fell from 56 hectares in 2005-06 to 49 hectares in 2007-08.

New South Wales had the highest sugar cane yields, averaging 131 tonnes per hectare in 2007-08, reflecting the longer growing season in this state. In Queensland, the highest cane production and yields were achieved in the Burdekin, with producers on average harvesting between 115 and 118 tonnes per hectare in the three years to 2007-08.
2 Physical characteristics, sugar producers, 2005-06 to 2007-08
average per farm
 
less than 7.5 kt
7.5 - 15 kt
15 kt - 22.5 kt
22.5 kt to 30 kt
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2005-6
2006-7
2007-08 s
2005-6
2006-7
2007-08 s
2005-6
2006-7
2007-08 s
2005-6
2006-7
2007-08 s
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Beef cattle number, 30 June
no.
20
7
na
30
15
na
54
5
na
14
0
na
Number of beef cattle sold
no.
na
7
na
na
13
na
na
14
na
na
143
na
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Proportion of producers growing crops other than sugar cane
Oilseeds
%
6
7
8
19
13
10
6
10
11
16
1
1
Bananas
%
3
2
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Peanuts
%
0
1
0
4
2
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
Vegetables
%
11
11
5
12
11
2
3
12
4
4
0
5
Other crops
%
8
7
10
1
3
10
0
5
12
3
11
5
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Milling sugar cane supply and disposal-
Area harvested
ha
37
47
46
109
114
113
193
200
199
251
283
275
– irrigated
ha
16
18
16
57
56
56
100
111
120
174
217
195
Production
t
3 121
3 582
3 636
10 504
10 230
10 087
18 324
18 145
17 910
25 388
25 969
26 029
Sugar cane yield a
t/ha
84
76
79
97
90
89
95
91
90
101
92
95
Quantity sold
t
3 122
3 521
3 578
10 203
10 073
9 927
17 843
17 816
17 617
25 004
25 425
25 553
 
30 kt to 50 kt
more than 50 kt
average
 
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2005-6
2006-7
2007-08 s
2005-6
2006-7
2007-08 s
2005-6
2006-7
2007-08 s
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Beef cattle number, 30 June
no.
17
13
na
79
1 023
na
25
20
na
Number of beef cattle sold
no.
na
12
na
na
157
na
na
13
na
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Proportion of producers growing crops other than sugar cane
Oilseeds
%
4
0
8
0
0
0
9
8
8
Bananas
%
0
0
0
8
0
0
2
2
1
Peanuts
%
4
0
8
13
9
9
1
2
1
Vegetables
%
6
14
6
13
23
13
11
11
4
Other crops
%
5
0
22
3
13
23
6
6
10
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Milling sugar cane supply and disposal
Area harvested
ha
417
349
403
790
949
997
87
93
93
– irrigated
ha
314
322
210
683
860
989
49
52
49
Production
t
38 453
35 167
37 971
93 091
101 271
104 148
8 195
8 233
8 184
Sugar cane yield a
t/ha
92
101
94
118
107
104
95
88
88
Quantity sold
t
38 047
34 743
37 384
92 135
99 601
102 506
8 066
8 097
8 052
 
a Tonnes per hectare harvested. s Provisional estimates. na Not available.

3 Sugar cane production by region
average per farm
 
area harvested
yield
sugar cane produced
proportion irrigated
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2005-6
2006-7
2007-08 s
2005-6
2006-7
2007-08 s
2005-6
2006-7
2007-08 s
2005-6
2006-7
2007-08 s
ha
ha
ha
t/ha
t/ha
t/ha
t
t
t
%
%
%
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Far North Queensland
74
94
84
90
71
80
6 714
6 719
6 717
12
11
8
Herbert river
93
102
111
98
84
77
9 163
8 573
8 571
13
11
5
Burdekin
121
132
130
118
115
117
14 274
15 173
15 183
100
100
100
Mackay
114
112
111
82
80
81
9 314
9 004
9 000
80
77
69
Bundaberg
64
65
76
84
87
74
5 411
5 632
5 622
95
98
99
Southern Queensland
56
58
49
69
83
77
3 867
4 802
3 784
10
22
33
New South Wales
31
33
36
153
143
131
4 695
4 740
4 753
3
9
8
Ord River
262
281
–
120
116
–
31 516
32 628
–
100
100
–
Australia
87
93
93
95
88
88
8 195
8 233
8 184
57
56
53
 
s Provisional estimates.