Inside Louisiana Sugar Cane Season, from Fields to Trucks to Millions of Pounds of Sugar
Hundreds of pounds of sugar fell from a conveyor belt into a warehouse, piling in a massive heap.
“It’s raining sugar,” said Charles Schudmak, chief operating officer at the Cora Texas Manufacturing Co. in White Castle.
But as big as the pile was Tuesday, it was still a fraction of what it would be by the end of the harvest season.
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Cane & Train! Call Before You Haul!
With the 2023 Louisiana sugarcane harvest in full swing, sugarcane producers should advise their drivers of proper railroad crossing safety.
Railroad crossing safety is always an important matter and Union Pacific Railroad is saying “Call before you haul” and “Find the blue and white to save your life” in a series of English and Spanish language public service announcements.
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USDA Sees Tighter US Sugar Supplies
The US Department of Agriculture in its Oct. 12 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report reduced its estimate of 2022-23 US sugar supply, cut its forecast for 2023-24 supply and cut its projection of Mexico’s 2023-24 sugar production, dropping the US stocks-to-use ratios for both this year and last year.
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World Sugar Shortage Due to Extreme Weather Threatening Halloween Candy Prices
Sugar prices are the highest since 2011. Analysts point to extreme weather and with El Nino in place, weather extremes will continue into 2024.
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The Top 6 Most Valuable Crops Harvested in Louisiana
Step into the lush landscapes of Louisiana, where agriculture is the backbone of the community. This state is teeming with a variety of crops, from towering sugarcane to sprawling rice fields. This article focuses on the top crops that add serious value to Louisiana’s economy and fill our dinner plates with Southern goodness.
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US Top Sugar State Louisiana Begins Harvest Expecting Losses
Louisiana, the state that produced the largest amount of sugar in the United States last season, kicked off the harvest of the new crop expecting losses as drier-than-normal weather in the second half of this year hurt sugarcane development.
The Alma Mill in Lakeland, southeastern Louisiana, started operations Wednesday, and other mills in the state are expected to follow through next week, said Kenneth Gravois, sugarcane specialist at the Louisiana State University.
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Have A Sweet Time At New Iberia's Sugar Cane Festival
If you’re in the mood for a sweet time, then the 80th annual Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival is the place to be this weekend.
Avery Hebert, who was named the 79th Louisiana Queen Sugar, is from Erath, Louisiana, but says she is deeply rooted in the tradition.
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USDA Announces '24 Sugar Loan Rates, Allotment & Marketing Allocations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced sugar loan rates for crop year 2023 (fiscal year 2024).
USDA offers commodity loans to processors of sugar beets and domestically grown sugarcane to provide interim financing to producers so that sugar can be stored after harvest when market prices are typically low and then sold later when price conditions are more favorable.
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National Poll Reveals Strong Support for the U.S. Sugar Industry
In a national survey of 2,000 registered voters, Morning Consult found strong support for the U.S. sugar industry and recognition that it is an important part of the American economy and food security. An overwhelming majority, 94% of surveyed voters, recognize the vital role farmers play in the economy, and 86% of surveyed voters support sugar policy in the Farm Bill.
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Work To Repair Plaquemine Bridge Extended Into Sugar Cane Harvest Season
A bridge closure in Plaquemine could spell trouble for truck drivers that haul sugar cane.
Work to repair the LA 1 Southbound bridge was supposed to be complete by the end of September, before the sugar cane harvest season began. Now, DOTD has extended that deadline to October 20th.
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Sugar Cane Farming: From Mules to Drones
Domingues Farms has come a long, long way from the days of “Brodie and Mitchell.”
Reista Domingues used to hitch up mules so they could do the heavy lifting, er, heavy pulling, soon after his sugar cane farm was established in 1919.
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U.S. Sugar Production View Cut Due to Drought in Louisiana
U.S. sugar output in the new season starting in October will be less than previously projected due to a widespread drought in Louisiana, the No. 1 producing state, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Tuesday.
The USDA slashed its projection for Louisiana in 2023/24 by 18% to only 1.68 million short tons (ST).
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Don’t Believe the Sourpusses; Domestic Sugar Farmers Prepared to Meet Holiday Needs
Louisiana’s sugar cane farmers and millers found it hard to take George Will’s “Sugar protectionism may sour holidays” column seriously.
Will invokes a scary image of candy rationing for American trick-or-treaters and Christmas angels. In Will’s world, candy makers believe the Grinch is hardworking sugar cane farmers and Congressional members who have steadfastly kept the Farm Bill safety net strong for United States agricultural production.
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First Generation Farmers Love the New Iberia Industry
Hugh Andre can’t get enough of the smell of the dirt.
As a first generation farmer, Andre loves what he does. And he does it each and every day he can.
Andre is from Iberia parish. He went to school at Catholic High and began farming in 1998 where he started with 75 acres of land and built it to 8,000 acres that is today.
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More Downtown Focus for 80th Sugar Cane Festival
As the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival enters its 80th year of entertaining Teche Area residents, organizers are trying to consolidate the festival more into downtown New Iberia.
For Louisiana Sugar Cane Association President Lisa Norris, the effort is an attempt to bring the festival back to its roots. For years the festival has been spread out in various parts of the parish and bringing more events to the Main Street area.
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