Sugarcane in Australia

As we travel north through the Coral Sea toward Whitsunday Island we had a presentation on sugar cane that took me back to the times Mother took us to Belle Helene plantation and showed us the long abandoned sugar cane processing equipment that her father managed. It turns out sugar cane is a major crop in Australia mainly in the northwestern coast where there is a lot of rain. Much like in Louisiana in the late 1920's it was attacked by the cane beetle so a search was on for biological solution. After inadequate research the cane toad was imported from the Caribbean. What a disaster! It did not eat the cane beetle and it multiplied like wildfire. It has a poisonous substance on its back so just touching one makes you sick. It has caused many a pet to sicken or die. Meanwhile the cane beetle has been brought under control by other means and sugar cane remains a major crop. Not only does it supply sugar but also bagasse (fiber used for mulch and energy), molasses and a special Australian rum called Bundaberg.Read more