Mark and Brad Piper of MGBJP Pty Ltd were announced as the District Champion at the Annual Bundaberg Sugar Industry Productivity Awards held at The Waves on Friday, 21 March.
Director of Bundaberg Sugar Services Limited, Mr Michael Cavallaro congratulated the Piper’s whose Bundaberg farm took out the top award of the night, Formatt Machinery’s District Champion with a three-year average of 15.55 tonnes of sugar per hectare.
Representatives from all sectors of the industry and their business associates gathered to hear the awards announced and to celebrate some great productivity outcomes from the 2024 crushing season.
Director of Bundaberg CANEGROWERS, Mr Dean Cayley, took the opportunity to acknowledge the continued support of local sponsors of the awards and encouraged growers to continue to do business with these local service providers.
Ryan Dingle was recognised as a Young Industry Achiever.
Ryan worked in the day-to-day operations of the family farm before starting his own agricultural contracting business and finally purchasing the family cane farm, taking over management of the farm and changing the farm layout to increase tonnes produced. This was proven successful in the 2024 Season with
the farm averaging 130 tonnes of cane per hectare.
Graham McCracken has been a stalwart of the local agricultural industry and next year sees Graham contributing 60 years as a second generation businessman of irrigation expertise in service, design and manufacturing.
His knowledge of local properties and their irrigation challenges, and the support he has provided to local growers saw Graham awarded the Contribution to Productivity Award.
Maurice and Barbara Chapman were acknowledged for their extraordinary partnership whose dedication to growing sugarcane led them to receiving an award for 60 Years of Excellence in Sugarcane Farming after having supplied Millaquin Mill for 60 seasons.
A total of 20 award winners were announced in 16 categories:
J & R McCracken Highest Actual CCS Sample – RJ and Mrs JE Zunker (No 2) – 17.80 CCS – awarded to the grower who has returned the highest actual CCS sample for the 2024 Season.
Cheshire Machinery Harvesting Contractor Award for Best Harvesting Efficiency and Most Reliable Performance – STH Contracting Pty Ltd.
Wilson’s Industrial Sales Award For The Best Farm Presentation For Harvesting – Mr SA Algeo – awarded to the cane grower who implements the best farm practices to achieve efficient harvesting. The farm must have a cane production area of at least 20 hectares and at least 70 per cent of the cane production area must be harvested in the current year.
Gro-Sure Award for Contribution to Productivity – Graham McCracken – awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the wellbeing of
cane growers through the enhancement of individual growers productivity and district productivity.
Nufarm Award for Service to Industry – Ron Crouch – awarded to an individual who has made special contributions and/or provided substantial services to the sugar industry. Such contributions and services can be in specific regard, or applied in a more general sense for current and past activities, interest and support over a significant period.
Sunwater Award for Young Industry Achiever – Ryan Dingle – the aim of the award is to encourage sugar industry participants younger than 31 who
are actively involved in sugar production. Account is taken of cane farming and industry associated activities.
Ergon Energy Inspiring Female Leader Award– Leone Aslett – recognises a woman who inspires others through her work, ideas and examples within
the sugar industry. She is a role model who is making a difference within the industry through her proven record of growth, success and influence within the sugar industry and community.
Incitec Pivot Cane Growing Excellence Award – Two Divisions: Up to and including 60 ha -– Racmac Pty Ltd and Greater than 60 ha – RM Dingle – awarded to cane growers who achieve high standards of farm efficiency and have implemented practices to ensure the longer term sustainability of cane growing.
RDO Equipment Award for Percentage Closest Estimate to Actual Tonnage – CM and Mrs LF Townson (No 1) – awwarded to the cane grower who most closely assesses the potential estimate of their seasons crop to the final actual tonnage for their individual cane production area.
Wide Bay Drones Awards for Highest Tonnes Sugar Per Harvested Hectare – Redtrail Pty Ltd (No 1).
Bundaberg Distilling Co Awards for High Sugar Producers – At least 70 percent of the cane production area must be harvested in the current year to be
eligible for an Award – WR and AJ Baldry (No 1) 17.55 ts/ha, RL and Mrs MR Lines 17.29 ts/ha, Mr SA Algeo 16.65 ts/ha, RM Dingle (No 1) 16.44 ts/ha
Mrs EM and Mr SR Taske 16.01 ts/ha.
Waterfind Award for Most Sustainable Yield for the Past 3 Seasons – Milworth Pty Ltd – awarded to the cane grower who has the highest average yield of tonnes cane per hectare obtained across the whole farm for the past 3 seasons (excluding plant cane or standover).
Formatt Machinery District Champion – MGBJP Pty Ltd.
50+ Years – Evelyn Taske – in recognition of growers who have supplied Bundaberg mills for 50 years or more.
60 Years of Excellence in Sugarcane Farming – M & BJ Chapman – in recognition of supplying Millaquin Mill for 60 seasons.
