Peak farming body steps in

No doubt you’ve seen this guy around. He’s usually out in the fields sharing vital research and development information with the Whitsundays’ cane farmers.

He’s an extension officer with the BSES and under a restructure of the organisation that looks after these roles, his position would be wrapped up.

That’s if it wasn’t for the forward thinking of Canegrowers Proserpine the peak farming body in the Whitsundays who have stepped in to fill this vital role that farmers have grown accustomed to over the past half a century.

Canegrowers Proserpine manager Michael Porter said his organisation had an obligation to growers.

"If the BSES is going to close up their operations here … and its vital to have a productivity service in the Whitsundays … then at the very least canegrowers will be putting something in place. We have an obligation to ensure that this service is not lost," Mr Porter said.

In fact, Peter Sutherland is not going anywhere. He might be hard to pick because he won’t be wearing the BSES shirt – but that’ll be the only difference according to Mr Porter.

"This bloke has been here nearly four years. He’s well liked and respected among the growing community who lean on him heavily for advice."

Mr Porter said the BSES which has informed canegrowers that they will close their Proserpine service on June 30 was a backward step and a huge blow to the local industry.

"So we are going to set up our own service here. It might be a subsidiary of Canegrowers Proserpine but it won’t be reliant on membership. The service will be provided directly to growers, it transcends membership … productivity is the most important thing for growers. At the moment we are talking with Sucrogen to see they will fund 50 per cent of the service," Mr Porter said.

Mr Porter said the imperative of the BSES restructure was to make the organisation more financially viable.

"Given the small amount of money they get from the government on both levels, it’s not enough under their current structure. The BSES is undertaking this restructure to prove to the government that they have a sustainable infrastructure and maintain their biosecurity obligations - by restructuring it makes them more eligible for funding," he said.

With several research and development funding pledges made recently, Mr Porter said governments always promised a certain level of funding around election time.

"I guess it really depends on whether they are genuine."