Prime Minister John Howard and his deputy John Anderson met with about 700 cane growers and their families at a cane farm in Mackay on Saturday.

Mr Howard spent about three hours in Mackay speaking to farmers about the plight of the struggling sugar industry.

Member for Dawson De-Anne Kelly escorts Prime Minister John Howard from the tarmac during his visit to Mackay on Saturday

The Prime Minister was invited to the city by the Federal Member for Dawson De-Anne Kelly.

Mr Howard told farmers that the Federal Government acknowledged the hardships being faced by the industry but stopped short of announcing immediate additional assistance to the industry.

Mackay Port Authority acting CEO Trevor Heard (left) has an informal chat with the Prime Minister John Howard and his deputy John Anderson at Mackay Airport on Saturday.

“We will respond as soon as we reasonably can,” he told growers.

Mr Howard’s visit to Mackay generated plenty of community interest with people posing for photographs with the nation’s leader at Mackay Airport.