Financial analysis for Mackay and Proserpine canegrowers
Published Thursday, 07 February, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Mackay and Proserpine district canegrowers are being given an opportunity to assess whether their cane farming systems are on the money – literally.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries and Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin said DPI&F business development officer Raylene Hansen and senior extension officer Neil Cliffe would present a series of Financial and Economic Analysis Tool (FEAT) spreadsheet workshops from February 14.
“The free FEAT workshops will enable growers to compare the economics of different cane farming systems to review their return on investment,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“Unlike computer cashbook programs such as Quicken and MYOB that rely on financial records, the FEAT spreadsheet is actually a planning tool.
“Growers will be able to calculate gross margins for each cane ratoon and for a range of complementary crops such as soybeans or peanuts.
“FEAT will also provide a guide to the optimum number of ratoon crops to maximise profitability.
“This spreadsheet can assist growers to calculate a range of whole farm gross margins using different sugar prices and CCS levels.”
Ms Hansen said the FEAT workshop series would initially involve growers from Mackay district’s Bakers Creek catchment and Proserpine’s O’Connell River catchment. Each workshop will cater for 10 growers.
The afternoon workshops will start at the Mackay BSES library on February 14 and at the Proserpine RSL on March 19. Workshops will then alternate between the two venues on the second Wednesday of each month through to December.
Ms Hansen invited interested growers to contact her at Mackay DPI&F on 4967 0602.
The FEAT workshop series is an initiative of the DPI&F FutureCane project and additional sponsorship has been provided by the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group.
Media: 3239 6530
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries and Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin said DPI&F business development officer Raylene Hansen and senior extension officer Neil Cliffe would present a series of Financial and Economic Analysis Tool (FEAT) spreadsheet workshops from February 14.
“The free FEAT workshops will enable growers to compare the economics of different cane farming systems to review their return on investment,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“Unlike computer cashbook programs such as Quicken and MYOB that rely on financial records, the FEAT spreadsheet is actually a planning tool.
“Growers will be able to calculate gross margins for each cane ratoon and for a range of complementary crops such as soybeans or peanuts.
“FEAT will also provide a guide to the optimum number of ratoon crops to maximise profitability.
“This spreadsheet can assist growers to calculate a range of whole farm gross margins using different sugar prices and CCS levels.”
Ms Hansen said the FEAT workshop series would initially involve growers from Mackay district’s Bakers Creek catchment and Proserpine’s O’Connell River catchment. Each workshop will cater for 10 growers.
The afternoon workshops will start at the Mackay BSES library on February 14 and at the Proserpine RSL on March 19. Workshops will then alternate between the two venues on the second Wednesday of each month through to December.
Ms Hansen invited interested growers to contact her at Mackay DPI&F on 4967 0602.
The FEAT workshop series is an initiative of the DPI&F FutureCane project and additional sponsorship has been provided by the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group.
Media: 3239 6530