when is sugarcane harvested in louisianawhen is sugarcane harvested in louisiana

The planting history of Louisiana sugarcane can be traced back to 1795 when New Orleans' first mayor, tienne de Bor, produced the first known granulated sugar in the French colony. 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. Those plants need to be able to go through photosynthesis and convert energy into sugar. Cane is harvested and chopped, and the sugar juice is pressed out and then purified. Other LSU AgCenter sugarcane production research includes soil fertility, rotational crops, cold tolerance, engineering and economic studies. Sugarcane Profile | Agricultural Marketing Resource Center William B. Hallmark and Charles W. Kennedy address research issues to make the most out of fertilizer inputs and other soil amendments. Typically a farmer may try to plant new seedcane on about 20 to 25 percent of his land. While a lot of the maturing 2021 crop was twisted, and in places, flattened, the Richards fared well, considering the magnitude of the storm. Currently, the plants generate about 1,800 megawatts in surplus electricity, or about 3 percent of the countrys overall needs. ST. GABRIEL, LA. Different areas of the states sugar belt have experienced various challenges during 2021. How do farmers plant sugarcane in Louisiana? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. In the United States, the Clewiston Sugar Factory in Clewiston, Florida, is powered by bagasse. Farmers and the public alike must all do their part to drive safely during sugarcane harvest. Receiving cane from seven parishes, Lula and its sister Westfield factory have a combined grinding capacity of 25,000 tons per day. With a $3 billion economic value to the state you can make a pretty convincing argument that sugarcane will always be Louisiana's number one crop. We have a pretty decent crop in the field, and it has been dry. Last year, at the beginning, we had rain after rain after rain. News. (10/10/2022) THIBODAUX, La. There are several commercial sugarcane varieties available for Louisianas farmers. Sugarcane Harvest Underway Louisiana Farm Bureau News In 2021, 469,000 acres were harvested but this season about 475,000 acres are expected to go to the state's 11 sugar mills. Folks can prepare a real sugar recipe and post it on social media, Simon said. Ratoon stunting disease (RSD), however, cannot be controlled through resistant varieties. Sugarcane begins to grow fast after the last freeze is over, but grows fastest during the hot summer months. While many people have heard of sugar cane, not everyone knows how or where it is grown and harvested in the U.S. Lets take a look at harvest, an important step in getting real sugar from sugar cane from the farm to your pantry. The cloudy, rainy spring and summer weather that blanketed south Louisiana may have put a potential damper on the crops sugar production. What You Need to Know About Sugarcane Burning - FoodPrint For 2020, the average Louisiana sugarcane farm was 1,360 planted acres. The ability to grow sugarcane in Louisiana and increase sugar yields to levels attained in the tropics has largely been the result of sugarcane breeding efforts. Further, it is estimated that, by not burning this trash, the industry would spend more than $24 million in transportation and processing costs. Last years sugarcane production in Louisiana set a record at 1.82 million tons. Crops Sugarcane Harvest & Cold Tolerance Harvest & Cold Tolerance Economic Value of Prescribed Burning to the Louisiana Sugarcane Industry Prescribed burning is a crop management practice widely used in the production and harvest of many agricultural and timber products across the United States. 2023 Ag Marketing Resource Center. In 2018, sugarcane was harvested in Louisiana on 181,501.5 ha of land, with an estimated 171,991 ha harvested for sugar (USDANASS, 2019 ). When you get along the Bayou Lafourche and Mississippi River areas, those are some of the youngest alluvial soils in the U.S. Photo by Derek Albert/LSU AgCenter, The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture, 101 Efferson Hall The Louisiana sugarcane harvest typically begins in October. Sugarcane and sugar yields in Louisiana (1911-2018): Varietal PDF Louisiana Prospective Plantings - National Agricultural Statistics Service (Photo by Mark Claesgens). Other than the rain and the wet weather, things have been going pretty smoothly, Carriere said. Hoy also led the AgCenters research efforts with billet planting. MARTINVILLE, La. Louisianas most common sugarcane insect pest is the sugarcane borer. Its Sweet to the Environment Raw Sugar Factory Operations The prior five-year average production is 1,678,200 tons. The 2022-23 Louisiana sugarcane harvest is in full swing now and most everyone in the industry is feeling optimistic for a good harvest. The final products of refining include powdered, granulated and brown sugar, which is sugar that contains some molasses. 225-922-6227 news@lfbf.org. The farmers and millers of the American Sugar Cane League have invested in research conducted by the United States Department of Agricultures Sugarcane Research Unit in Houma, the LSU AgCenter farms in St. Gabriel and New Iberia and the Audubon Sugar Institute, also in St. Gabriel. Current U.S. sugar policy provides some assurances of reasonable returns for sugarcane producers even in the face of competition from increasing imports and a well-established corn-derived sweetener industry. New stalks emerge after the crop is harvested and two to four additional annual cuttings (called ratoons) are taken before the land is fallowed and replanted. Well have to see what happens with soybean prices, said Mark Carriere, LSU AgCenter agent in Pointe Coupee and Iberville parishes. When harvested, sugar cane is cut just above the root level so new sprouts will grow, ready to be harvested again in 10-12 months. A Sweet Part of a Healthy Diet History of Sugar Cane in Louisiana | Iberia Travel We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. In the early 1990s, however, environmental problems became apparent with the available insecticides. Sugar is not simply a crop or an ingredient, nor even just a livelihood, for the thousands of farmers who grow and process sugar beets and sugar cane. Richard farms approximately 800 acres of sugarcane along Bayou Lafourche just south of Thibodaux, in the tiny St. Charles community. Behind Kenneth Gravois is the variety. Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Take a look at the photo gallery to learn more. To help control this disease, Hoy established the Sugarcane Disease Detection Laboratory in 1997. Currently there are 16 operating sugarcane mills in the U.S. with 11 in Louisiana, four in Florida and one in Texas. The other day he just told me, I guess Im going to be a farmer too, Daddy. . With an average of 8,568 pounds of sugar produced per acre, 2020 was a stellar year for the industry. The Economic Feasibility of Ethanol Production from Sugar in the United States, 2006, USDA and Louisiana State University. General Manager Jim Simon said he shares in the farmers enthusiasm over the positive start to this years harvest. web@agcenter.lsu.edu, 106 Martin D. Woodin Hall With an average of 8,568 pounds of sugar produced per acre, 2020 was a stellar year for the industry. Harvest takes place rain or shine, and the often muddy sugar cane fields necessitate harvesters mounted on tracks instead of wheels which get stuck in the muck. History of Sugar Cane in Louisiana << Back to blog Written by: American Sugar Cane League Sugarcane: Louisiana's Top Crop! A new shoot will sprout from the cut stalks of cane for the next harvest. Moving through the rows, the harvesters stand up the cane and cut it a few inches above the ground. History of Real Sugar: The Story of Sugar Cane | Sugar.org After the juice has been extracted from the sugarcane stalk, this plant material remains. From the Field to the Table Christopher Columbus likely brought the sugarcane plant to the West Indies. Sugarcane and sugar yields in Louisiana (1911-2018 - ACSESS "As sugarcane grinding season ramps up this September, farmers are harvesting and trucking their cane to mills in south Louisiana which means more slow moving agricultural equipment and 18-wheeler trucks are on the roadway," Strain said. As indicated in this issue of Louisiana Agriculture, the AgCenter, along with Certis USA, provider of Kleentek seedcane, and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, has helped turn the tide against a disease that has caused significant losses in sugarcane for many years. A lot of farmers are not where they want to be with planting, and now harvesting has started, Castro said of growers in her area. 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. James L. Griffin leads the LSU AgCenters efforts in evaluating new herbicides and control measures for weeds encountered by Louisianas sugarcane producers. Louisiana produced an average 1.782 million STRV of sugar between FY 2017 and FY 2021. Granulated sugar spurred cultivation in Louisiana, and sugarcane became the colony's . Some have cold tolerance and some varieties produce a high level of sugar early in the season. Partially Funded by USDA Rural Development. Years ago in Lafourche, we used to have a lot more farmers than we do now. It can be flattened by high wind but i. skip to Main Content. Some farmers use mechanical techniques because it is faster and offers more planting flexibility, especially after a storm. Louisiana production has also expanded because of the adoption of high-yielding sugarcane varieties, along with investments in new harvesting combines. From the Cane Field to Your Sugar Bowl! No variety in the history of the Louisiana sugar industry has had such an impact. Sugarcane Louisiana Ag in the Classroom But there is another weather caveat. Growers are hoping for dryer, cooler weather patterns to allow the crop to mature and produce higher sugar content, Hebert said. Sugars Place in Healthful Eating Patterns, Use this science-based brochure from The Sugar, Click here to find more downloadable learning aides and resources from the Sugar Association for classroom use and education, The Sugar Bulletins Advertising Rates and Sizes. Richard recalled evacuating with his wife, Lori, and their two children, Jase and Blair. PDF United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Principal Crops: Area Planted and Harvested - Louisiana and United States: 2021 and 2022 . Youre burning more diesel. This is the fifth straight year that . Were asking folks to be extra cautious at this really active time of the year.. Sugar cane arrived in the state in 1751 and was first planted at what is now an intersection on New Orleans' Bourbon Street. Simon said during harvest season, the public will undoubtedly notice more trucks hauling cane on the states thoroughfares, along with harvesting equipment that is essential in getting the crop from the field to the mills. 9 How Well Do You Know Sugar? He guided the vehicle through dense rows of cane in whats essentially a moving processing plant that harvests, cuts, strips, chops and collects cane for its next stop at the sugar factory. Planted in the fall, the resulting cane is harvested toward the end of the following three to five falls from that planting. In the United States, sugarcane is grown commercially in Louisiana, Florida and Texas. We had a dry November and December, and that's some of the biggest weather influencers for the next years crop., Its a very encouraging start to the crop, Gravois said. Varietal resistance has been the primary means of sugarcane disease control, and the sugarcane pathology program works closely with the breeding program to minimize the disease impact. However, the farmer must keep a percentage of his farm planted with new seedcane on an annual basis. Farm to Table: Sugar Cane Harvest | The Sugar Association The school year, abbreviated by the covid-19 pandemic, is officially over and Louisianas sugar industry, Sugarcane farmers and millers held their collective breath last month when a double whammy of, Production farmers, sugarcane producers included, generally do their work in the fields and dont necessarily, The Sugar Bulletins Advertising Rates and Sizes. The LSU AgCenter is committed to conducting research to meet the needs of this vital South Louisiana industry. Nevertheless, an analysis by the Sugar and Sweeteners Team of USDAs Economic Research Service suggests that the U.S. market will continue to depend on refined sugar imports from Mexico and Central America to meet demand. The sugarcane industry =s ability to burn sugarcane is a significant economic factor for the survival of the sugarcane industry. 225-578-4143 The stalk that remains after crushing is called bagasse and is often burned to power the factory but can be used for the production of paper, building boards, plastics and for mulching or animal bedding. While those are big numbers, whats most important is that more than 800 Louisiana growers, on mostly family-run farms, supply the sugar cane that in turn is refined into sugar. For the 2018-2019 fiscal year, Louisiana accounted for 45% of total cane sugar production and 20% of total sugar production in the United States. Cane is not planted with seeds. Sugarcane fields generally provide three to four years' worth of crops harvested annually from mid-September through mid-January before they must be replanted. However, Louisianas cold, wet winters and stalk rot diseases make the success of billet planting more tenuous. 16 7B Estimated Resource Use and Costs per Acre for Wholestalk Seed Cane Harvest B . He started farming full time alongside his father, Philip, in 2004 after graduating from Nicholls State University with a degree in agribusiness. Photo by Derek Albert/LSU AgCenter, A queue of trucks hauling harvested sugarcane to Raceland Raw Sugar Corporation will be a common sight during the 100-day harvest that is expected to finish near the end of December in Lafourche Parish. The whole stalks or billets that are planted are called seedcane. Sugarcane diseases have long plagued the sugar industry in Louisiana and nearly caused its demise in the 1920s. In the U.S., 11 states grow sugar beets: California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Wyoming and Washington. Blanchard Brothers Farms running this John Deere CH960 for the 2021 Louisiana grinding The January forecast is subject to revision in February. Plants arise from the joints on the stalk and are typically harvested for the first time the following fall. 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 Gravois, Louisiana State University AgCenter sugarcane specialist. Sugar canes growing season is about one year, much different than traditional crops planted in the spring and harvested in the fall. United States upland cottonproduction is forecast at 17.9 million bales, up 58,000 bales from November 1 and up 3.85 million from last year. Research goals include milling efficiency and a more diversified sugar processing industry. In 2021, 469,000 acres were harvested but this season about 475,000 acres are expected to go to the state's 11 sugar mills. It is used as a sweetening agent for foods and in the manufacture of cakes, candies, preservatives, soft drinks, alcohol and numerous other foods. A Closer Look at Sugar Conveyer belts then move the sugar cane through the mill and a series of steps to extract the sucrose (sugar) from the sugar cane. In October 2021, Jason Richard was doing exactly what he is doing this October. With fertilizer prices increasing because of rising natural gas prices, efficient use of fertilizers is of utmost importance. Modernization of sugar cane cultivation began when 16 whole-stalk harvesters were successfully used to harvest cane in Louisiana in 1938. 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. We didnt have too much damage, just a few pieces of equipment, Richard recalled. Hebert said while it looks like the crop has adequate stalk tonnage yields, the crops sugar yields are more uncertain. And its a good start to next years crop.. A great downloadable resource for teachers and folks who just want to know. The new insecticide is specific, controlling only the sugarcane borer without destroying beneficial predator insects. Sugarcane for sugar was harvested from 903,400 acres in 2020 and had a value of $1,403 million. Whether you live in the town or country, real sugar can help you attract and enjoy these captivating insects throughout the summer months. From the state-of-the-art processing floor to the massive sugar shed, which can hold literally tons of sugar (and smells pretty good), its an impressive operation. Sugar cane is a perennial warm season grass which means it doesnt need to be replanted every year. 225-578-4143 Published estimates of sugarcane harvest costs in other regions show values significantly less than what would be expected for Louisiana. So far, harvesting conditions have been optimal but things will get wetter as we move into December.