when is sugarcane harvested in louisianawhen is sugarcane harvested in louisiana

Sugarcane Production Handbook, 2014, Louisiana State University Extension. Blackstrap Molasses No variety in the history of the Louisiana sugar industry has had such an impact. 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. By then, harvesting machines had begun to take over some, but not all, of the work. Sugarcane diseases have long plagued the sugar industry in Louisiana and nearly caused its demise in the 1920s. 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. Its been an odd year. Sugarcane was one of the first "cash crops" of early colonial America. Planted in the fall, the resulting cane is harvested toward the end of the following three to five falls from that planting. Opportunities for increased weed control and supplementary income fit in well with sugarcane farming practices. Richard recalled evacuating with his wife, Lori, and their two children, Jase and Blair. It is planted with whole stalks of cane simply called whole stalk cane which is cut by a whole stalk harvester. Harvest usually runs fromSeptember through December. This year, the American Sugar Cane League is celebrating real sugar by teaming up with the Sugar Association, an organization based in Washington, D.C., that touts itself as the scientific voice of the U.S. sugar industry. 8 1D Breakeven Raw Sugar Yields for Selected Prices and Rental Arrangements, 4-Year Rotation, Harvest through 2nd stubble, Tenant-Operators, Louisiana, 2014. Sugarcane acreage increased again this year. When you get along the Bayou Lafourche and Mississippi River areas, those are some of the youngest alluvial soils in the U.S. When youre in muddy fields, its just a more expensive crop to harvest, Gravois said. 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. Moving through the rows, the harvesters stand up the cane and cut it a few inches above the ground. The new insecticide is specific, controlling only the sugarcane borer without destroying beneficial predator insects. According to statistics from the American Sugar Cane League in Thibodaux, approximately 463,000 acres of cane were harvested by 417 farms in Louisiana in 2020. Its harder to clean the cane. LSR produces two billion pounds of white sugar annually for distribution to commercial and retail customers throughout the U.S. and operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Mr. Gravois estimated sugar recovery will average 232 lbs per ton of cane, or about 8,350 lbs per acre, which is in the top three crops for the state. Cane is not planted with seeds. While most planting in agriculture is done in the spring, the Louisiana sugarcane farmer plants seedcane in the late summer. By 2020, according to USDA sources, Americans consumed69.0 pounds of refined sugar per person per year. Yield is expected to average 877 pounds per harvested acre, up 42 pounds from last year. Just about everybody that I have talked to is encouraged by the tonnage and the sugar recovery. To help control this disease, Hoy established the Sugarcane Disease Detection Laboratory in 1997. The path from plant to product is also far more complicated than you might think. . Louisiana is the second largest sugarcane producer in the United States. 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. Gravois said many farmers especially in the sugar belts southeastern parishes are facing the added challenge of having to perform both operations at the same time. The January forecast is subject to revision in February. He said there are many ways the industry, its farmers and the general public can participate. If you spend much time with folks who work in the sugar industry, you learn a few things pretty quickly. Magdi Selim and Richard Bengtson have conducted studies on the fate of pesticides and sediment in runoff water during sugarcane cultivation. 225-578-4143 The other day he just told me, I guess Im going to be a farmer too, Daddy. . 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. With an average of 8,568 pounds of sugar produced per acre, 2020 was a stellar year for the industry. 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. Sugarcane is grown in 24 parishes throughout southern and central Louisiana. Weve lost a lot of growers over the years, Castro said. Or, it is planted with shorter stalks of cane called billets. Sugar is an ideal ingredient for a butterfly feeder because it is very similar to the nectar produced by flowers. 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. Of those industries, baking and cereal industriesare generallythe largest end users of sugar followed byconfectionery makers. The crop is beautiful.. Were going to produce almost 2 million tons of sugar, Mr. Gravois said. Published estimates of sugarcane harvest costs in other regions show values significantly less than what would be expected for Louisiana. ST. GABRIEL, LA. Blanchard Brothers Farms running this John Deere CH960 for the 2021 Louisiana grinding With LCP 85-384, farmers can obtain three to four stubble crops with a single planting. Joel Gremel and his family are proud to farm the same land his great-grandparents first planted sugar beets on over 100 years ago. Its been one of the main parts of the heart of the industry for more than 200 years, Gravois added. Stephanie is the Head of Communications for the Sugar Association. A lot of time goes into the planting, growing and harvesting of cane, and converting sugar cane into sugar takes expertise, experience and capital. 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. Then sugarcane smut was introduced in the early 1980s, and one of Louisianas most promising varieties of the time, CP 73-351, had to be removed from cultivation. It's . Raw Sugar Factory Operations Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook, 2022, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA. In 2000, LCP 85-384 occupied 71 percent of the states acreage. Bagasse (baa gas) The typical rotation for Louisiana sugarcane has been to harvest a plantcane crop and two stubble crops from a single planting of sugarcane. I was guided through the various steps for extracting the sugar from sugar cane, which include purification, clarification, evaporation and crystallization. Some farmers like the hand planting technique because they dont have to use as much cane to plant an acre. Sugar is pure, contains no man-made chemical or warning labels, is 100% natural, and is less than 16 calories per teaspoon. While that made for great fieldwork opportunities, farmers werent that concerned about growth, but by mid-summer, it appeared stalk growth was lagging behind the norm. web@agcenter.lsu.edu, 106 Martin D. Woodin Hall This year could possibly be a record year. Sugarcane harvesting begins in late September and continues through early January. In commercial production since its release, the variety has provided the industry with good tonnage and sucrose yields with the added benefit of displaying strong stands of ratoon crops. Until proven t echnology allows economically efficient harvesting without burning, it is critical that growers and processors do the best job possible with regard to smoke and ash management. Years ago in Lafourche, we used to have a lot more farmers than we do now. Not all parts of the state reported record-breaking cane harvests, but all reported very good crops. Louisiana produced an average 1.782 million STRV of sugar between FY 2017 and FY 2021. Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is a highly productive tropical grass native to Asia where it has been cultivated for over 4,000 years. A Letter From the American Sugar Cane League concerning the coronavirus. Pelican State sugarcane growers have been producing sugarcane for commercial purposes since 1795, and before that when the Jesuits planted cane in 1765 for their own use. As an up-and-coming farmer, he was a member of the Lafourche Parish Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. Sugar canes growing season is about one year, much different than traditional crops planted in the spring and harvested in the fall. Combine harvesting systems are better suited to varieties such as LCP 85-384 and have improved harvest efficiency in Louisiana. 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. He said sugarcane has been a part of his familys livelihood for generations. This thick, dark liquid remains when the sugar has been removed from the boiled cane juice. 225-922-6227 news@lfbf.org. Farmers across the Louisiana sugar belt are hoping for cooler, drier weather to make for a smooth harvest. The sugar recovery rate was estimated at 12.7%, about even with the prior year, up slightly from 12.5% in 2018-19 but below the prior five-year average of 13.1% due to strong recovery in 2016-17 of 14% and in 2017-18 of 13.9%. After being filtered, the juice is boiled to remove the water, which causes sugar crystals to form. In this role, she is responsible for developing and executing SAIs communications strategy to tell real sugars story, promote industry-leading research, and advocate for evidence-based policy. High labor costs in the United States led to the industry's rapid conversion to mechanical harvesting in the early 1990s. Quick-service restaurants expand menus with new wraps and sandwiches. Both Howard Sonny Viator and Griffin have looked at some of the positive aspects of growing soybeans in the fallow year of the sugarcane crop cycle. (Sept. 16, 2019) With safety the number one priority, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., is reminding both drivers and agricultural producers to use caution and patience on the roadway this sugarcane harvest season. 225-578-4161 Baton Rouge, LA 70803 A total of 24 articles and reports were published investigating relevant economic aspects of sugarcane production in Louisiana. Currently, the plants generate about 1,800 megawatts in surplus electricity, or about 3 percent of the countrys overall needs. In Louisiana, the stalks are planted in rows during the fall. gar is an important agricultural commodity that is primarily produced from either sugarcane or sugarbeets. Sugar is sucroseand everything else. Because cane is bulky and relatively expensive to transport, it must be processed as soon as possible to minimize sugar deterioration. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our. Most of the sugarcane farmers in the state have attended training workshops conducted by the AgCenter on controlled agricultural burning. News. 1/2 Kenneth Gravois Sugarcane has been an integral part of the south Louisiana economy and culture for more than 200 years. Growers are hoping for dryer, cooler weather patterns to allow the crop to mature and produce higher sugar content, Hebert said. All rights reserved. web@agcenter.lsu.edu, 106 Martin D. Woodin Hall Educational Video Information. 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. By the 11th century AD, sugar was being imported throughout Europe. Its just not good for anybody.. 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. 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. Well have to see what happens with soybean prices, said Mark Carriere, LSU AgCenter agent in Pointe Coupee and Iberville parishes. (This article appeared in the fall 2001 issue of Louisiana Agriculture. The harvested cane is loaded into trailers and taken to mills, such as this one in St. James. Others tolerate the heavier clay soils. 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. 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. Wholestalk Seed Cane Harvest, Louisiana 2007. Sugarcane harvest in Louisiana can often occur after a killing freeze. A tropical grass that flourishes in hot, wet climates, sugar cane can grow 10-20 feet high by the time its ready to be harvested. 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. Hawaii no longer grows sugarcane after its last remaining mill closed in 2016. According to the American Sugarcane League ( 2019 ): From the farm to your pantry, the result is pure, real sugar. Producing sugarcane with minimal adverse environmental effects is receiving increased research attention within the LSU AgCenter. Use this science-based brochure from The Sugar For 2020, the average Louisiana sugarcane farm was 1,360 planted acres. Sucrose Sugar Captured Sunshine In Brazil, sugar and ethanol plants produce electricity by burning bagasse and cane straw in boilers to produce steam that generates power. I think theyll still be able to get in there and do what they need to do, but it will be with lesser yields at the mills, Castro predicted. General Manager Jim Simon said he shares in the farmers enthusiasm over the positive start to this years harvest. . A commitment to stewardship and producing a high-quality product for consumers have been their goals for four generations. Ratoon stunting disease (RSD), however, cannot be controlled through resistant varieties. The groups have established National Real Sugar Day which will be celebrated on Oct. 14. Today, over 75 percent of the world's sugar comes from sugarcane. 8 2A Projected Costs and Returns on 1000 Acres of Sugarcane, 5-Year Rotation, Harvest through 3rd stubble, Tenant-Operator, Louisiana, 2014. From the farm to the factory and even the coffee shop in town, it was a remarkable experience. 9516 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA, 70815, United States. Because of the heavy tonnage, the new variety has a tendency to fall down or lodge. Growers in Carrieres area were some of the first to start this years harvest, with the Alma Plantation Sugar Factory in Lakeland grinding its first stalks Sept. 24. . In the early 1990s, leaf scald disease was detected, and more recently, yellow leaf syndrome was found in sugarcane fields in Louisiana. BMPs are voluntary practices farmers use to improve water quality in the surrounding environment. "The only way to process that is with a longer processing season," Gravois said. AgCenter agent Renee Castro has monitored the sugarcane crop in the region most heavily battered by Hurricane Ida: the River Parishes of St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles Ascension, Assumption, and south to Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes. Sugarcane was once a significant crop in Hawaii, but the last sugar mill in that state closed in 2016. An AgCenter survey showed that many of Louisianas sugarcane farmers are using BMPs in their operations. The sheer effort and hard work that go into producing the sugar we casually pull off a supermarket shelf is amazing. Its Sweet to the Environment Other green harvesting methods, like removing trash in the field, require additional equipment and attention, both . After peaking in 1972 at 102 pounds per person, the use of added sugar (both cane and beet) in domestic food and beverage industries declined to a low of 60 pounds per person by 1986. The raw sugar is then shipped to refineries to produce refined sugar. The average yield per acre was 38 tons. Take a look at the photo gallery to learn more. Its tradition. For 2020, the average Louisiana sugarcane farm was 1,360 planted acres. 2021-22 Louisiana Sugarcane Media Kit This year that is no different, but even with harvesting the less productive fields, the metrics used to measure yields tons of cane per acre and pounds of sugar per ton of cane are promisingly higher than usual. Now, harvest is getting off to a soggy start. Derek Albert/LSU AgCenter, LASUCA, the Louisiana Sugarcane Cooperative in St. Martinville, pumps out steam as the facility processes harvested sugarcane from St. Martin Parish and from areas as far north as Cheneyville. Here is a map that lists all 24 sugarcane producing parishes. On August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc with its Category 4 winds and nearly a foot of rain when it made landfall near Port Fourchon in southern Lafourche Parish, about 60 miles from where the Richards' farm lies near St. Charles. Sugar cane is a perennial grass, meaning it doesnt have to be replanted every year. The type of sugar produced by sugarcane is called sucrose. Sugarcane was once a significant crop in Hawaii, but the last sugar mill in that state closed in 2016. 9 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. Other than the rain and the wet weather, things have been going pretty smoothly, Carriere said. But we had a dry grinding, and we had a dry spring. The 2022-23 Louisiana sugarcane harvest is in full swing now and most everyone in the industry is feeling optimistic for a good harvest. Their efforts now include studies to determine the water quality effects of maintaining the trash residue after combine harvesting with and without burning. Plants arise from the joints on the stalk and are typically harvested for the first time the following fall. Last year, at the beginning, we had rain after rain after rain. This crop started last year, Gravois said. Some farmers use mechanical techniques because it is faster and offers more planting flexibility, especially after a storm. This raw sugar is transported to a refinery to finish the process. ST. GABRIEL, LA. If our sugar recoveries can improve, like we are starting to see and if its dry and we get this crop out cheap it bodes well for this year. The crystallized sugar is put through a centrifuge and washed. We need a lot more days of dry weather. 2023 Ag Marketing Resource Center. (10/12/21) ST. MARTINVILLE, La. Those parishes contain approximately 25 percent of the state's sugarcane production. The first sugarcane harvested acreage estimate for 2022 will be available on June 30, 2022. This year's crop, by contrast, endured a damp, challenging growing season. August 24, 2021 Video How do farmers plant sugarcane in Louisiana? Currently there are 16 operating sugarcane mills in the U.S. with 11 in Louisiana, four in Florida and one in Texas. On August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc with its Category 4 winds and nearly a foot of rain when it made landfall near Port Fourchon in southern Lafourche Parish, about 60 miles from where the Richards farm lies near St. Charles. Gravois noted that despite the slow start to the harvest, drier weather and further progress into the season should elevate sugar recovery figures. 225-578-4161 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. After the juice has been extracted from the sugarcane stalk, this plant material remains. 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. In this role, she is responsible for developing and executing SAIs communications strategy to tell real sugars story, promote industry-leading research, and advocate for evidence-based policy.