2022 Sugarcane Harvest Reviewed
American Sugarcane League
The 100th anniversary of the American Sugar Cane League has drawn to an end and what a year it has been.
We celebrated the centennial of the League’s birth in March at a big gala celebration at the Baton Rouge Hilton that was very well-attended and proceeded into the farming calendar with plenty of optimism. As the spring and summer months rolled around most of the cane belt escaped the drought issues that affected other agricultural areas of Louisiana and our crop looked promising.
The grinding season started smoothly the week of September 11 and right away, sugar levels were exceptional. Factor in that no storms had hit Louisiana when the hurricane season ended November 30 and the entire cane belt felt that 2022 could be a record-breaking year. Cold weather did strike in early November but the effect on sugar recovery was minimal. However, a hard freeze at Christmas time, when about 15% of the crop was still unharvested, was worrisome.
Every production year in sugarcane has its challenges. In 2021, farmers in the southeastern cane belt were hit hard by Hurricane Ida and their production numbers were negatively affected. For the 2022 crop, producers in the more northern and western areas, with cane in the field after the start of the new year saw crop deterioration as a result of the Christmas freeze.
Obviously, there’s no perfect cane season but the Louisiana cane industry has always been resilient and manages to work through adversity to provide a safe and stable supply of domestic sugar to the nation.
We produced more than two million tons of raw sugar this season. That’s a phenomenal number. We’ll know more at our annual meeting on February 7 at L’Auberge Casino and Hotel.
The League moves into its 101st year and will help guide the sugarcane industry backed by a strong research program, a strong national sugar policy and an engaged membership of innovative producers.