Sugarcane Soil Fertility Recommendations For 2024
When considering a sugarcane soil fertility program, follow these guidelines. The number one priority should be the soil pH. Soil pH that is outside the optimum ranges will adversely affect the availability of all other applied nutrients. The second most important component of your fertility program should be nitrogen, followed by potassium, sulfur and phosphorus. Soil testing should be a regular part of your soil fertility program. Periodic leaf tissue analyses can verify midseason plant health
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2023 Louisiana Sugarcane Crop Summary
The Louisiana Sugarcane Industry has now completed 229 years of commercial sugar production. Considering it’s the northernmost sugarcane growing region in the world, that’s certainly something to be proud of.
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American Sugar Cane League, American Society Of Sugar Cane Technologists Meetings Feb 6-7
Be sure to mark February 6-7 on your 2024 calendar. Those are the dates of the annual meeting of the American Sugar Cane League. The League, founded in 1922, depends on the continued support of the sugarcane industry’s growers, millers and landowner members and we’d like everyone to be there.
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St. Martin Sugarcane Processing Farm Takes Hit From Summer Drought
Louisiana Sugarcane Cooperative located in St. Martinville processes sugar from nine parishes. Ag. Division Manager John Hebert said the sugarcane yield from the summers crop were the effects of the drought.
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No Matter the Loss: Iberia Parish Looking Forward Despite Sugarcane Losses
Despite losses of $1.69 billion in Louisiana agriculture and forestry from the statewide drought, only portions of Iberia Parish are affected and as farmers strive to overcome it, industry continues to move into the region.
Sugarcane profits in Iberia Parish dropped by 30% because of the drought affecting much of the region, according to local farmer Ronnie Gonsoulin.
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There is No Sugar Supply Shortage in the United States. Period.
Recently, big corporate candy executives have been pushing a false narrative that there is a domestic sugar shortage. According to a recent report from the United States Department of Agriculture, not only are these reports totally false — there is actually a plentiful supply of sugar, assuring American families they will once again enjoy another holiday season with all their favorite treats.
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River Parish Christmas Bonfire Tradition Honors Sugarcane
The Mississippi River levee in front of retired sugarcane farmer George “Scrap” Hymel’s Gramercy, Louisiana home has been the site of a Christmas Eve bonfire for 53 years. Hymel saw his last bonfire in 2022; he passed away on December 30, 2022.
But for the Hymel family to not participate in the annual tradition of building the holiday bonfire was out of the question.
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Candy Cane Producers Feel the Bite of Rising Sugar Prices
Giambri’s candy canes are made almost entirely of sugar — and all are made by hand.
To find out more, we went to the land of Mardi Gras and jazz bands. Why? Because Louisiana is also the home of sugarcane. We drove an hour and a half west of New Orleans to visit one farm.
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October Rainfall, Cooler Temperatures Ease Worries for 2023 Iberville Sugarcane Harvest
The worst drought Louisiana endured in decades brought concerns of significant declines in sugar tonnage this year at Cora Texas Manufacturing Co., but prospects now look brighter.
Rain and mild weather in mid-October fueled growth of sugarcane and a better outlook for the 2023 harvest, said Charles Schudmak, chief operating officer/secretary for Cora Texas in White Castle.
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High Sugar Prices Create Signs of Substitution Among US Manufacturers
The USTR’s reallocation of 223,740 tonnes, raw value, of unused raw cane sugar TRQ allocations for 2023-24 was one of the earliest reallocations on record and should help ease tight raw cane sugar supplies. US raw cane supply is tight because of drought- reduced output in Louisiana and Mexico and a sizeable TRQ shortfall mostly due to the Philippines designating all of its production for domestic use this year.
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Louisiana Crop Production: Cotton Ginnings & Sugarcane Production
As of December 1, Louisiana upland cotton production is forecast at 210,000 bales, down 30,000 bales from the November 1 forecast and down 148,000 bales from last year. Yield is expected to average 877 pounds per harvested acre, down 125 pounds from last month and down 27 pounds from 2022. Harvested acreage is estimated at 115,000 acres, down 75,000 acres from 2022.
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Sugarcane Yield Less Than Previous Years After Record Drought
Sugarcane farmers, like the rest of Acadiana, have been experiencing a record-breaking drought.
Eddie Lewis III, the operator of Eddie Lewis Cane Farm, LLC, said that the harvest season had started rough. He said he started harvesting in September and October, and the cane was coming out 15 to 20 tons to the acre, which is below average.
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Sugarcane Crop Decent Despite Enduring Drought
This year’s Louisiana sugarcane crop will fall short of last year’s record crop, but it isn’t as bad as many believed when the harvest started at the end of September. LSU AgCenter reporter Craig Gautreaux has this report from south Louisiana.
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Holiday Rituals
Thanksgiving heralded in the holiday season and most folks will be celebrating the traditional autumn rituals by expressing gratitude for their good fortune.
Part of Louisiana’s fall tradition is the sugarcane harvest which is proceeding as it often does through December and into January. It’s 100+ days straight of harvesting, trucking and milling cane 24-7 until it is all made into raw sugar. It’s hard work. Producers do not have the luxury of taking a day off during harvest because the perishable crop needs to be brought in a safe, and timely manner.
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Sugar Outlook Clouded by Uncertain Supply Situation
The US sugar market appears in a state of flux amid uncertain supply (both domestic and global) and demand expectations for the 2023-24 marketing year that began Oct. 1. Prices remain historically high.
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