Cane farmers across the Northern Rivers are all smiles, as recent rainfall and hot summer days provide the ideal growing conditions for sugar cane, say Sunshine Sugar’s CEO, Chris Connors. Last year’s crushing season produced higher than forecast yields and sugar content (ccs) and, Mr Connors said, the NSW sugar industry has been enjoying a dream run across both the growing and production sectors. “With the combination of stable weather conditions, high performing mill operations and a strong world price, our industry is enjoying a long awaited good run,”’ Mr Connors said in a media release. “The past ten years have been a hard slog for the local industry, with challenging weather events, cane supply disruption, fluctuating sugar prices on the world stage and unstable input costs throughout the global financial crisis period. “I applaud our growers here in NSW, who have continued to show their resilience and commitment to what is one of the oldest and most established industries in the Northern Rivers region. “These growers are well deserving of this good season, and so too, are our local communities. “I would expect to see a positive flow-on effect for local businesses as grower confidence in spending improves. “With over 100mm recorded already for the month of January across the Tweed, Richmond and Clarence valleys, growers are hopeful of even bigger, sweeter cane this season.”