THE recent rains have had limited effect on the sugar cane crushing season and the Mossman Mill is on track to reach its target of 870,000 tons.

In fact, said Haydn Slattery, the mill’s general manager, the crop is larger thanks to the weather conditions.

“The rain and warm weather has allowed for good growing conditions and coastal cane is up by 10 per cent,” he said.

“The 13 days we lost because of the weather has not impacted us. In our planning, we allow for 10 ‘lost days’ and the additional three days has not affected us.

“I am delighted to say that we are proceeding well and in Mossman, 25 per cent of the crop has been crushed; and 30 per cent has been toll crushed in the Tablelands,” said Slattery.

Slattery added that Mossman is now able to put more cane through the mill.

“We are now crushing 330 tons per hour compared to 310 which we were previously doing,” he said.

Mossman Central Mill Company Limited started life as a grower owned co-operative sugar mill back in 1894. In 1897, Mrs Annie Rose fed the first sugarcane into the mill, with the mill producing its first sugar after crushing 27,905 tonnes of cane for the initial season.

In 1906, Mossman Mill became the first Queensland mill to crush over 100,000 tonnes of cane. That season lasted just under 8 months, extending from June 1906 to late January 1907.

Mossman Mill is one of four Mackay Sugar operating mills. Mackay Sugar is Australia's second largest sugar milling company, with an annual turnover exceeding $300 million. Its other operating sugar mills are at Racecourse, Marian and Farleigh. Its revenue base includes raw and refined sugar, molasses and renewable energy.