Discover what life on a sugarcane farm is really like during harvest season. Join Malcolm as he visits a Queensland cane farm, meets a farming family, explores big machines, and learns where sugar comes from.
Have you ever wondered what happens during the sugarcane harvest? In this edition of Malcolm Asks, Farmers Answer, Malcolm visits a real sugarcane farm in Mackay, Queensland. Along the way, he learns about farm life, harvest season, big machinery, and what it's like growing up in a farming family.
This story is based on the experiences of a real Australian cane farming family.
Malcolm climbed into the buggy as the sun began to dip low in the sky.
“Ready for a ride?” Nikki asked with a smile.
“Yes!” Malcolm said, holding on tight as the buggy bumped along the track.
Tall rows of sugarcane swished gently in the breeze. Swish-swish!
Malcolm looked around. “Wow… there’s so much to see on the farm!”
What Happens During the Sugarcane Harvest?
As they drove past the fields, Malcolm noticed something.
“Where did the sugarcane go?” he asked.
Nikki smiled. “That’s our front paddock. It’s my favourite time of the sugarcane harvest—when it gets cut.”
“Why?” Malcolm asked.
Nikki smiled.
“Our kids sit out in the yard and watch the whole thing. And afterwards, our house feels so much lighter and brighter without the tall cane all around it.”
Malcolm looked back at the open space.
“Ohh,” he said. “Because the cane isn’t blocking the sun!”
“And sometimes,” Nikki added, “we even see a cane fire—but that’s quite rare here in Mackay.”
Malcolm’s eyes widened. “A fire? Wow!”
What Do Children Do on a Sugarcane Farm?
As the buggy rolled along, Malcolm spotted the shed in the distance.
He pointed toward the yard, where a few kids were playing.
“Do they help on the farm?” he asked.
Nikki laughed. “The kids like to think they do,” she said. “But a lot of the jobs are for big kids or grown-ups.”
“Their favourite thing is helping with the winches,” Nikki said. “They even surf on the soft hose while it’s being reeled in.”
“Surfing on a hose?!” Malcolm said. “That sounds fun!”
Family Life on a Queensland Cane Farm
Malcolm looked up at the sky.
“The sun’s going down… it’s the end of the day,” he said.
Nikki smiled. “It is,” she said. “And after a big day, this is one of our favourite things to do—go for a ride around the farm on the buggy. The kids love it, and so do I.”
“We also like to go for a fish in the creek behind our farm,” she added, “or have a swim in the pool, or kick the footy in the yard.”
“I love to swim too!” Malcolm said.
How Does Sugarcane Grow in Australia?
Malcolm tipped his head back to look at the sugarcane.
“Why is it so tall?” he asked.
Nikki pointed toward the field.
“Sugarcane loves plenty of sunshine, water, and a little bit of fertiliser.”
Malcolm looked up at the sky.
“Thank you, sun!” Malcolm said.
“But we can’t look at it,” he told Nikki. “It’ll hurt our eyes!”
What Machines Are Used on a Sugarcane Farm?
Soon, the buggy rolled up to the shed.
Malcolm’s eyes lit up. “Look at all the tractors!” he said.
“Can I ride one?” he asked.
Nikki smiled. “We don’t drive them without a grown-up,” she said, “but my boys love coming down to the shed and sitting on all the big machines.”
“We have tractors, a backhoe, a digger, and even a forklift,” she added.
Malcolm leaned in. “Do they go very fast?” he asked.
Fun Sugarcane Facts for Kids
As they turned back toward home, Malcolm thought for a moment.
“I have a garden at home,” he said. “Can I plant sugarcane?”
Nikki smiled. “You can,” she said. “When I was a child, I used to think sugarcane billets were planted standing up—like flowers in a garden!”
Malcolm nodded. “I have marigolds,” he said.
Nikki smiled. “Marigolds grow standing up in the soil,” she said. “But sugarcane is a bit special—it’s planted lying down, like potatoes, so new sugarcane can grow from little parts called ‘eyes’ on the billet.”
Malcolm’s eyes widened. “Sugarcane has EYES?”
Nikki laughed. “They’re not real eyes,” she said. “They’re tiny buds that grow into new sugarcane.”
The Ride Home
The light grew softer as the buggy made its way back home.
“That was fun,” Malcolm said.
“It’s one of our favourite things to do after a big day,” Nikki said.
Malcolm looked out at the swaying cane.
Swish-swish.
“It’s my favourite too.”
From the Farm
This story was inspired by Nikki and her family, who live and work on a sugarcane farm near Mackay, Queensland. Mackay is one of Australia's major sugar-producing regions, and families like Nikki's help grow the sugarcane that is harvested and processed into sugar products enjoyed across Australia and around the world. By sharing their experiences, Nikki's family helps children learn more about Australian agriculture, farming families, and where food comes from.
Keep Exploring
Looking for more stories about Australian farms, farming families, and where food comes from? Explore more from Malcolm & Maggie’s adventures.
If your child enjoyed Malcolm’s visit to the cane farm, they might also love The Sugarcane Harvester Song—a playful, sing-along story inspired by real life on Australian farms.