Fields had dried enough by mid-morning in the Richmond Valley for whole cane to be harvested and crushing to start at the Broadwater mill.

Harvesting is expected to start within the next few days in the Tweed area, with the Harwood Mill in the Clarence due to start 2008 operations on June 16.

This season's crop is estimated to be about two million tonnes, down on recent seasons due to sever frosts and flooding across the Far North Coast during the past 12 months.