Queensland Allocates $300,000 for Soybean and Rice Trials in Mossman

The Queensland government will allocate $300,000 for soybean and rice projects in Mossman under the Mossman Transition Plan. The plan is a $12 million fund created in 2024 after the local sugar mill closed. Half of the new grant will test the viability of a soybean-processing facility intended to supply feed to Far North Queensland dairy, beef and poultry producers.

The remaining $150,000 will support rice trials.

Cutler of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries said the funding would help build momentum for a local soybean industry. "I think the industry could be set for quite a bit of expansion," he said. Drew Watson has planted about 40 hectares of soybeans on his Mossman property.

Despite multiple floods this wet season, Watson said the crop performed well and he expected to make a profit. His harvest began this week.

James Geharty, a Millaa Millaa dairy farmer and director with Dairy Farmers Milk Co-operative, said locally produced soybeans could reduce freight costs for protein feed currently shipped from Brisbane. David Kempton, Member for Cook and chair of the Mossman Advisory Committee, said the committee selected both projects as priorities.

He added that no single crop would solve the region's transition away from sugar cane. The Queensland government has also committed an additional $600,000 for further agronomic trials to identify other potential crops for Mossman growers.