MACKAY Sugar has cut 34 jobs and the 2017 apprentice program has been deferred.

But chief executive officer Jason Lowry said only four staff member positions had been made redundant.

The rest of the redundancies came from amalgamating existing roles and not filling six roles currently vacant he said.

Eight locomotive crew will not be recruited for the 2016 crush.

Mr Lowry said the efficiency improvements and cost-savings initiatives had been identified as essential to meet the operating requirements of the business following the completion of the budgeting process for the new financial year.

He reiterated despite the company cutting 34 positions last week, only four people lost their jobs. For privacy reasons, Mr Lowry did not want to disclose which positions they held.

Wilmar's general manager of government relations Chris Stewart said the redundancies wouldn't affect the Wilmar mill in Proserpine.

Wilmar was providing regular updates to growers on the development of 2017 cane supply agreements but since the April 19 meeting with Canegrowers in Brisbane, growers have heard little.

Mr Stewart said this was simply because there had not been much to report.

He made assurances that "as we made a landing on any issue, we will be communicating that with our growers".