by Mat Churchill

Despite a larger harvest of sugar cane this year than in 2009, farmers and the local sugar cane industry were not able to take advantage of record sugar prices.

Wet weather attributed to a La Nina affect meant difficult conditions for growers. A La Nina causes extensive cooling of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean which results in increased probability of wetter conditions, especially on Australia's east coast.

Bill Phillips-Turner, chairman of Mossman Central Mill Company said record rainfall in September and October meant that the commercially recoverable sugar content in the sugarcane was reduced.

"It has been the most difficult season weather wise for decades. Last year we crushed 468,000 tonnes of cane and this year we did 539,000 tonnes but there was less sugar in the cane," he said.

"Because the price (of sugar) is the highest in decades the local industry wasn't able to fully capitalise on these higher prices."

Mr Phiilips-Turner said that the effects of the unseasonably wet weather may still be felt in the 2011 with a reduction in the harvest a possibility.

The Mossman mill was the first in Australia to finish crushing, completing its processing on 13 November.