HISTORY
Sugar cane probably grew as a wild plant in New Guinea. Australia's first sugar cane was brought from the Cape of Good Hope by the First Fleet in 1788. It would not grow at Sydney or Port Macquarie, but it grew on Norfolk Island. The first successful sugar cane crops in Australia were grown by Captain Louis Hope. In 1862, he grew 8 heactares of sugar cane near Brisbane. He was helped by John Buhot who came from the West Indies and knew how to grow sugar. Captain Hope opened Australia's first raw sugar mill at Ormiston near Brisbane in 1865. By the end of 1867, there were 800 hectares of sugar cane in the Brisbane District. As sugar cane growing spread further north, mills were built at Maryborough and Mackay in 1866, Bundaberg in 1872 and Cairns in 1882. Sugar cane was also grown in northern New South Wales. Raw sugar is Australia's second largest export crop with total sales of approximately $2 billion each year.

GROWING
More than 6 300 sugar growing families own and operate farms along Queensland's east coast. These farms range ion size from 20 to 250 hectares. The average size is 65 hectares. Queensland's east coast has the right envrionmental conditions for growing sugar cane which needs:
(1) at least 1 500mm of rain each year or acces to irrigation.
(2) Temperatures over 21 degrees Celsius while growing
(3) Flat to gently sloping land
(4) Fertile and well drained soil.

Sugar cane is grown from setts (cuttings from mature cane stalks) which are planted by machines which form a furrow, cut the cane stalks into 40cm pieces, drop them into the furrows, add fertiliser, and cover them with soil. A few weeks after planting, new shoots grow from the nodes (growing points) of the sugar cane cuttings. As many as 12 stalks can grow from one sett. As the sugar cane grows, it is cultivated to let air and water into the soil and to control weeds.

HARVESTING
Sugar cane grows for 12 to 16 months before being harvested between June and December each year. When harvested, the cane stands two to four metres high. The sugar cane is harvested by self-propelled harvesting machines. There are two methods used to harvest sugar cane:
In some cane growing areas, it is possible to harvest the cane green. The left over cuttings form mulch which keeps in moisture, stops the growth of weeds and also helps to prevent soil erosion.

In other areas, the sugar cane is burnt to remove leaves, weeds and other matter which can make harvesting and milling operations difficult. In both processes, the harvester moves along the rows of sugar cane, removing the leafy tops of the cane stalks, cutting the stalks off at ground level and chopping the cane into small lengths called billets. These are loaded into wire bins which are towed alongside by tractor, then taken to the mill for processing into raw sugar. Queensland mills own and operate 4 000 kilometres of narrow guage railway which ensures quick delivery of cane to the mill. This is very important as sugar cane must be milled within 16 hours of harvesting because sugar cane begins to spoil if it is not crushed within that time.

USES OF SUGAR
Sugar is used for many purposes in the food industry. It is vital in maintaining the safety and availability of our food.
(1) Ice cream is made thicker and smoother with sugar. More than 20% of ice cream is sugar.
(2) Sugar helps cakes to be moist and soft, and to stay fresh longer.
(3) Soft drinks and fruit juice are often 10% or 12% sugar. As well as adding flavour, the sugar makes the drinks heavier and more pleasant to drink.
(4) The sugar in jams helps them to keep for a longer time, by stopping mould and germs from growing.
(5) Natural sugar in canned fruit also acts as a preservative in the same way.
(6) Condensed milk relies on up to 55% sugar content.
(7) Cane sugar is used in making many lollies.
(8) Sugar is used to bring out the flavours of other foods such as preserved meats, tomato sauce and canned soup.
(9) Custard is made smooth and creamy as well as sweet by sugar.
(10) Many medicines have sugar added to hide their bitter taste. Some cough syrups have sugar to make them more soothing.

BY-PRODUCTS
In addition to raw sugar, the mills produce useful by-products such as molasses and bagasse. Molasses is the dark syrup separated from the raw sugar crystals during th milling process. It is used as a raw material in distilleries where industrial alcholol (such as ethanol), rum and carbon dioxide are made. Molasses is also used in feed for animals such as cattle, and is sold to both the domestic and export markets.

Bagasse is the cane fibre which remains after the sugar juice has been extracted and provides nearly all of the fuel required for steam and electricity generation at the mills. On occasions, some Queensland mills are ner exporters of power to the states electricity grid. Bagasse is also used as a mulch in some areas where excess bagasse is produced. In 1992, one Australian paper supplier released an important range of paper made predominately from bagasse pulp. By-products ash and filter mud are used as a fertiliser on cane farms and gardens. Boiler ash is "scrubbed" from the mill stacks and filter mud is the residue left after the sugar has been clarified.

EXPORT
Australia is currently one of the world's largest raw sugar exporters with a reputation as a reliable producer and supplier of a high quality product. Approximately 80 to 85% of Queensland's raw sugar is exported, earning valuable income for Australia. The Queensland Sugar Corporation is responsible for the marketing of all raw sugar produced in the state.

Each year approximately four million tonnes of Queensland raw sugar are exported. Queensland's overseas markets for raw sugar include Bulgaria, Canada, China, Dubai, Egypt, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Phillipines, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, Taiwan, USA and Vietnam. In 1994/95, Australia's exports of raw sugar totalled 389 million tonnes. Australia's major raw sugar export competitors include Brazil. Cuba, Thailand, and South Africa. Price determination for much of the wolrd's traded sugar occurs through International futures markets in London and New York. At these exchanges, sugar contracts are bought and sold. The Queensland Sugar Corporation uses the New York Coffee, Sugar and Cocoa Exchange, and is also a member of the Exchange.

CONCLUSION
The Australian raw sugar industry has developed a world reputation for innovation, quality, service and reliability, enabling it to continue to make a major contribution to the Australian economy. Sugar is Australia's second largest export crop (after wheat) and the nation's fourth major export earning agricultural product. Sugar is also Queensland's second largest rural commodity (after beef).

Here's a link to "Canegrowers", a peak body representing all Queensland sugarcane growers.