Harvested acreage is estimated at 105,000 acres, down 60,000 acres from 2020. On the optimistic side, if everything goes well, we are projected to cut 16.6 million tons of cane which should produce in the neighborhood of 1.6 million tons of raw sugar. Were asking folks to be extra cautious at this really active time of the year.. 2023 The Sugar Association, Inc. All rights reserved. A new shoot will sprout from the cut stalks of cane for the next harvest. Whether you live in the town or country, real sugar can help you attract and enjoy these captivating insects throughout the summer months. Louisiana's sugar-cane industry is by itself worth $3 billion, generating an estimated 16,400 jobs. Several new herbicides are being evaluated to give farmers more weed control options. The sugar industry is really resilient, Castro said. The crystallized sugar is put through a centrifuge and washed. Sugarcane is grown primarily in the tropics and subtropics. Coastal areas experienced some losses from hurricane damage and saltwater surges, although wind damage was limited by planting of L 01-299 as the major variety, which is easier to harvest when lodged. But things looked a little different in Lafourche Parish 12 months ago. PDF Louisiana Prospective Plantings - National Agricultural Statistics Service . Scientists sequence most complete sugarcane genome, USDA sees higher Louisiana cane sugar output, ADM completes sale of Brazilian sugarcane ethanol operations, Sugarcane may join bioengineered foods list, New pet food packaging initiative utilizes sustainable sugarcane, Accelerating plant-based innovation with fats and oils, Soybean futures soar on light delivery expectations, Shark Tank famous frozen pizza startup on the rise, Kroger sees consumer shopping patterns shift. History of Sugar Cane in Louisiana << Back to blog Written by: American Sugar Cane League Sugarcane: Louisiana's Top Crop! The response of nine sugarcane cultivar's yield components to glyphosate and trinexapac-ethyl ripeners was determined in field trials. While most planting in agriculture is done in the spring, the Louisiana sugarcane farmer plants seedcane in the late summer. Sugar and Sweeteners Yearbook Tables, ERS, USDA. Here are some photos from the Louisiana cane belt that show a variety of cane planting techniques. Photo by Derek Albert/LSU AgCenter, The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture, 101 Efferson Hall
web@agcenter.lsu.edu, 106 Martin D. Woodin Hall
After being filtered, the juice is boiled to remove the water, which causes sugar crystals to form. 225-578-4143
Louisiana is the second largest sugarcane producer in the United States. Legendres work provides information regarding how well differ ent sugarcane varieties can withstand freezing temperatures. Eugene T. Gene Reagan, LSU AgCenter entomologist, began looking for safer alternative insecticides and other means of sugarcane borer control. An earlier study evaluating performance and utilization of sugarcane harvest machinery in South Africa reported harvest costs ranging from $3.23 to $3.87 per ton of sugarcane harvested (Meyer, 1999). Ethanol All sugarcane remaining in the industry will be damaged to some extent. Although the final figures for this year aren't in yet, Louisiana farmers grew nearly 495,000 acres of sugarcane in 25 parishes during the previous year. It is planted with whole stalks of cane simply called whole stalk cane which is cut by a whole stalk harvester. At the time of the December 23rd freeze, the industry will be about 83% harvested. Each one was its own universe of complexities and tolerances and required constant analysis. Sugar is an ideal ingredient for a butterfly feeder because it is very similar to the nectar produced by flowers. Some farmers use mechanical techniques because it is faster and offers more planting flexibility, especially after a storm. All hay acres expected to be harvested in Louisiana are estimated at 350,000 acres, down 20,000 acres from 2021. . The AgCenter has also helped sugarcane farmers learn to burn cane to minimize environmental problems. Louisiana Sugarcane Production Data 1982-2021, From Louisiana Sugarcane Fields to Your Sugar Bowl. thanks to 60-straight days of near-perfect harvesting conditions, state farmers produced the best cane crop ever. Most of the world's sugarcane is grown in subtropical and tropical areas. Others tolerate the heavier clay soils. About 60% of this years crop consists of the sugarcane variety L 01-299, which was commercially released in 2009, Gravois said. But in the Acadiana area, the stands of sugarcane look promising. The 2022-23 Louisiana sugarcane harvest is in full swing now and most everyone in the industry is feeling optimistic for a good harvest. Sugarcane Production Handbook, 2019, University of Florida Extension. Hawaii no longer grows sugarcane after its last remaining mill closed in 2016. The first sugarcane harvested acreage estimate for 2022 will be available on June 30, 2022. William B. Hallmark and Charles W. Kennedy address research issues to make the most out of fertilizer inputs and other soil amendments. The raw sugar is then shipped to refineries to produce refined sugar. Ratoon stunting disease (RSD), however, cannot be controlled through resistant varieties. The increased demand for ethanol has generated interest in using U.S. sugarcane as a feedstock for producing the fuel. Youre burning more diesel. Not only does it mean harvest, but also planting season. Be aware that farmers from all over the state whether its sugarcane, rice, cotton or soybeans were all bringing our crops out of the fields into market, said Simon. As January came to an end, Louisiana growers wrapped up what is expected to be a record large sugarcane harvest, with even more acres expected in 2021, said Kenneth. Help us improve our website by taking a short survey. James L. Griffin leads the LSU AgCenters efforts in evaluating new herbicides and control measures for weeds encountered by Louisianas sugarcane producers. They will begin to grow in the spring and mature into stalks over the late summer. And, at its core, that process is amazingly straightforward. From the farm to the factory and even the coffee shop in town, it was a remarkable experience. High labor costs in the United States led to the industry's rapid conversion to mechanical harvesting in the early 1990s. There are several commercial sugarcane varieties available for Louisianas farmers. The type of sugar produced by sugarcane is called sucrose. Of those industries, baking and cereal industriesare generallythe largest end users of sugar followed byconfectionery makers. The sugar is further washed, and the remaining amount of naturally occurring molasses determines the type and color of sugar. 9 Richard recalled evacuating with his wife, Lori, and their two children, Jase and Blair. Hoy also led the AgCenters research efforts with billet planting. The states 496,300 acres planted in 2020 likely will exceed 500,000 acres in 2021, Mr. Gravois said, as continued expansion in northern and western parts of the state more than offsets decreases in some other areas, although strong prices for other crops may temper the increase. (This article appeared in the fall 2001 issue of Louisiana Agriculture. Cautious optimism marks start of soggy sugarcane harvest PDF Sugarcane Production in Louisiana So far, the sugar recovery has been all over the board, Carriere said of preliminary figures seen in his area. Moving through the rows, the harvesters stand up the cane and cut it a few inches above the ground. When the Jesuit priests first brought sugarcane to Louisiana in 1751, little did they know that they were laying the foundation for an industry that now contributes $2 billion to the Louisiana economy. Cane is harvested and chopped, and the sugar juice is pressed out and then purified. He said there are many ways the industry, its farmers and the general public can participate. It can be flattened by high wind but i. skip to Main Content. It is used primarily as animal feed but can also be sold as syrup, to flavor rum and other foods or as an additive for ethyl alcohol. Our growers can be active on social media with posting pictures of themselves in the fields bringing sugarcane from their fields to the consumers tables., For Jason Richard and his fellow southeast Louisiana sugarcane farmers, high tonnage yields and good sugar recovery help to ease the pain of last year's Hurricane Ida. The crop is beautiful.. Blackstrap Molasses The Barbaric History of Sugar in America - The New York Times Sugarcane was once a significant crop in Hawaii, but the last sugar mill in that state closed in 2016. Farm to Table: Sugar Cane Harvest | The Sugar Association Often, its a family business, stretching back multiple generations. Receiving cane from seven parishes, Lula and its sister Westfield factory have a combined grinding capacity of 25,000 tons per day. Sugar is an ideal ingredient for a butterfly feeder because it is very similar to the nectar produced by flowers. Since the late 1970s, four sugarcane diseases have moved into South Louisiana. Because successive crops of sugarcane are grown from a single planting, weed control is a major concern. Sugar is pure, contains no man-made chemical or warning labels, is 100% natural, and is less than 16 calories per teaspoon. . Best Management Practices Following A Freeze In Sugarcane Louisiana The Sugar Association offers important science-based information about sugar, where it comes from and its role in a balanced diet and lifestyle. The whole stalks or billets that are planted are called seedcane. A conveyer arm transfers the stalk pieces to a tractor pulling a large hopper-style trailer. 2022 sugarcane harvest off to a positive start All rights reserved |, Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner, Louisiana Agricultural Workforce Development Program, Louisiana Agricultural Chemistry and Seed Commission, Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research Advisory Board, Louisiana Industrial Hemp Promotion and Research Program.