Strong international prices, access to futures pricing to secure those higher returns and the potential for increased production have set an upbeat tone within the sugar cane growing sector.

Industry has emerged from a lengthy period of rationalisation and deregulation, leaner, meaner and well prepared to reap some long overdue rewards of a stronger, more stable marketplace.

During the past 12 months governments have presented Jekyll and Hyde faces to industry, with the Commonwealth promoting improved production practices through partnership and incentives but the Queensland government using the heavy hand of legislation to impose a web of complex, unnecessary and largely bureaucratic regulations over cane growing practices.