Your CY27 Growers’ Handbook
Your CY27 Growers' Handbook brings together everything you need for the season ahead in one place. From contracts, seed ordering and payment options, to harvest information, technical support, funding solutions and key crop year dates, it's your go-to guide for growing with SunRice.
This year's handbook also includes information on the new Matilda Opt-Out Period, GrowRice funding, the Grower Portal, Rice Management Dashboard and Grower Central WhatsApp Community.
The digital handbook is available now and can be accessed anytime through Grower Central. If you'd like a copy or have any questions, contact Grower Services on 1800 654 557.
Easily accessible crop input funding through GrowRice
Through GrowRice, we offer easy-to-access, competitive financing to help eligible growers access up to $3,000 per hectare, on a case-by-case basis, to manage input costs across the production season.
Criteria for the approval of GrowRice funding includes that you have:
• Supplied rice to SunRice in the CY24, CY25 or CY26 harvest;
• Achieved at least 75% of the regional average yield for the variety/s grown in the years of delivery;
• Entered into a Fixed Price Contract to produce rice for us in CY27 or completed a GrowRice – Grower Undertaking.
If approved, you can access GrowRice funding for crop inputs, including water, fertiliser and pesticides, with repayments deducted from your 2027 crop proceeds.
GrowRice funding will now be provided via Westpac’s Payment Plus facility. Under this model, eligible growers will complete an online Know Your Customer process and, once approved, access funding through the Westpac Payments Plus platform. For Matilda contracts, GrowRice funding is only available for hectares that are not cancelled during the Opt-Out Period.
New Opt-Out Period for Matilda contracts
For CY27, we are introducing an Opt-Out Period for Matilda Fixed Price Contracts to give growers more flexibility while seasonal conditions and water availability become clearer.
The Opt-Out Period allows growers to submit a Matilda contract, order seed and plant during the optimal window, while retaining the option to reduce contracted hectares or opt out entirely by 5pm on 15 December 2026. No wash-out fee will apply to hectares cancelled before this deadline.
If you decide not to continue with some or all of your contracted hectares, those hectares must be removed at your expense and you will remain responsible for any costs already incurred, such as seed, fertiliser and water. Grower Services will inspect and verify that the crop has been removed.
After 15 December 2026, any remaining contracted hectares become committed and the usual delivery requirements and wash-out obligations will apply. The Opt-Out Period is only available for Matilda contracts and does not apply to Koshihikari or Opus.
Insurance for your CY27 rice crop
As a SunRice Grower, you can select insurance cover for your rice crop when you place your seed order. You’ll be prompted to select this option as part of the seed order process available through the Grower Portal.
Insurance premiums for the CY27 season are not yet available. Our Grower Services team will confirm your policy and pricing in late 2026 and, at that time, you can opt out or change the excess level applying to your policy.
