Harvesters ready to roll as growers brace for difficult season

Tableland crews will fire the starter gun on the seven-month harvest, with the first rakes of cane due to go through the rollers at MSF’s Arriga mill on 18 May. 

Tully Sugar will be the next cab off the rank, kicking off its crush three weeks earlier than usual on 26 May due to a larger crop. 

The remainder of the sector – from Cairns to the Gold Coast – is expected to begin crushing throughout June. 

Conditions across growing regions have been generally favourable this season, with around 29 million tonnes expected to be cut and processed by December. 

Despite that, 2026 could prove to be one of the most financially and emotionally stressful years in recent memory for Queensland’s cane-farming families, CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens said. 

“It’s not too often that the stars align and we get the holy trinity – good crop, good weather and a good price. Sadly, this year is no different,” Mr Menkens said. 

“The crop is looking promising and, so far, conditions in the paddock have been favourable, but the sugar price is really dragging growers down. 

“Australian producers are one of the few sugar industries in the world fully exposed to the global sugar price. We're directly impacted by supply and demand fluctuations and soaring input costs.” 

However, it’s not just sugar prices weighing on the sector. 

Ongoing fuel supply uncertainty has raised fears growers may struggle to source enough diesel to harvest their cane. 

Almost 100 million litres of diesel will be required between now and the end of the year – most of it for harvesting and planting operations and transporting cane to mills. 

A CANEGROWERS member survey conducted in April found growers statewide had less than four million litres of fuel on hand, while one in 10 had tried unsuccessfully to source fuel in recent weeks. 

Fertiliser availability is equally concerning, with around 130,000 tonnes of urea needed between now and December, but with significant uncertainty about supply. 

“It’s an anxious time for growers,” Mr Menkens said. 

“CANEGROWERS has been working directly with the fuel and fertiliser sectors, who have assured us supply is on the way – still, the high diesel price alone is expected to blow a massive $150 million hole in grower profitability. 

“The challenges we have faced this year are unprecedented, but the industry has pulled together to get ready for harvest. That level of cooperation will be critical to getting us through the season.”