AGM Season In Full Swing

By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay

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November is the season of the Annual General Meeting, and CANEGROWERS Mackay is no exception.
The 2024 Mackay Canegrowers Ltd AGM will be held next week, on Wednesday 27 November, with a wrap on the events and issues across 2023-24, and guest speaker Dr John Pickering. Dr Pickering was instrumental in delivering the Cane Changer project some years ago. It was all about the practice change mindset, and was one of CANEGROWERS initiatives that was a companion to Smartcane BMP.
A decade on, and that industry shift towards sustainable land and water stewardship practices has reaped rewards for the industry. It was an unintended result, but that shift has attracted new markets for sugar and potentially fibre and fuels as the world looks to more renewable and carbon neutral feedstocks.
We encourage our members to get involved- it’s a forum to ask questions of your association, to hear about the year past and how CANEGROWERS is speaking out and taking action on growers’ behalf. It’s also a great chance to catch up with fellow growers socially over afternoon tea and a few drinks, in what is proving a difficult season. Camaraderie is important.
Beyond CANEGROWERS Mackay, we encourage growers to take an interest in their industry organisations. Sugar Research Australia, Sugar Terminals Ltd, Queensland Cane Growers Organisation- all are having AGMs across the month. If it isn’t possible to attend in person because often these state events are held in Brisbane, then it is worth making sure you direct your proxies and, if provided, watch via video streaming.
In forming these industry boards there has been a TREND to include board members who are independent of the industry. Whilst I realise the intention is of bringing a different perspective to the board, there is in actual fact no replacement for actual experienced grower and miller directors who can convey the needs of the industry in decision-making. This is why we ask that growers make serious consideration when voting for grower directors, as we have done recently around the Sugar Terminals Ltd AGM.
It’s important for growers to be active and ensure that they as a group maintain an equal footing with miller representation in industry organisations. Active participation is fundamental in getting balanced representation in those organisations that require it.
Plane Creek Productivity Services also held its AGM on 11 November. It’s been mentioned before but our district prod services are instrumental. They are out in the paddocks, at the front line in working with growers in an attempt to increase productivity, managing pests and diseases, refining their sustainable practices for Smartcane accreditation. This year, Sugar Services Proserpine’s Frank Millar presented on the work around tissue culture and clean seed distribution being carried out by the Proserpine prod service.
It was an informative presentation, and a timely piece of information sharing, as both districts combat Ratoon Stunting Disease and value the importance of clean seed techniques in preventing the spread of the disease.
The meeting was also the final AGM for outgoing Chair Mal Langdon, who has served in the role for MANY years. Mal has put in a great effort into being the Chairman of Plane Creek Productivity Services, contributing much to moving productivity in the Plane Creek area forward and helping to protect our crops against disease. It is a difficult task. As a Plane Creek grower and on behalf of CANEGROWERS, I thank Mall for all he has done, and that hope he and his wife Jane have a great retirement.

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Frank Jacobs, Leahanna Lacey, Frank Millar and Mal Langdon

At the PCPSL 2024 AGM, District Manager Frank Jacobs, Productivity Officer Leahanna Lacey, guest speaker Frank Millar from SSP, and PCPSL Chairman Mal Langdon. Photo credit: Kirili Lamb