Federal food policy changes and a homegrown farming innovation that’s improving water quality in Acadiana highlighted this week’s Sugar Conference at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation’s 103rd Annual Convention.
The two-hour session drew growers, processors, and policymakers from across the state to hear updates on issues shaping the future of Louisiana’s $4 billion sugarcane industry. While several speakers focused on farm policy and economic conditions, two key topics stood out.
Read MoreIn Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, fifth-generation farmer Eddie Drew Lewis III grows sugarcane with his brothers Jordan and Hunter on over 2,000 acres.
Their farm is a symbol of hard work and family history. From a young age, Eddie’s grandfather taught him one key rule—always have crop insurance.
Read MoreLike many other agricultural sectors, there has been consolidation in United States (US) farm-level sugar production. Sugar is a unique commodity because about 56% of the domestic production of sugar originates from sugarbeets and 44% originates from sugarcane.
The US domestic production of sugar has increased from 8.02 million short tons raw value (STRV) in 1997 to 9.31 million STRV in 2024, an increase of 16%.
Read MoreIn Louisiana, sugarcane isn’t just a crop, it is part of who we are. And this summer, the people who grow it, grind it and study it will come together once again for a tradition that keeps this industry strong: field days.
Hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture, LSU AgCenter, and the American Sugar Cane League, these gatherings give growers a chance to visit research farms, hear the latest updates and talk directly with the scientists working on their behalf. It is where new ideas are shared, old ones are tested and the future of Louisiana sugarcane takes shape.
Read MoreFarm policy is about much more than just the farm – it affects countless jobs from the field to the factory. Sugar is the main engine of economic growth in dozens of communities across the country, and much of the sugar made in America is done so by a union workforce. Supporting a strong U.S. sugar policy means supporting good, American manufacturing jobs.
Read MoreLike many other agricultural sectors, there has been consolidation in United States (US) farm-level sugar production. Sugar is a unique commodity because about 56 percent of the domestic production of sugar originates from sugarbeets and 44 percent originates from sugarcane. The US domestic production of sugar has increased from 8.02 million short tons raw value (STRV) in 1997 to 9.31 million STRV in 2024, an increase of 16% (USDA ERS, 2025a). However, there are now 50 percent fewer sugarbeet and sugarcane farms in the country.
Read MoreSeth Benhaim, known for his impactful entry into the spirits scene with Broken Barrel Whiskey, is now making waves with his latest venture under Badwater Brands: Mainland Rum. This innovative project aims to independently bottle rum distilled right here on the American mainland.
Mainland Rum launched in May 2025 with its inaugural releases, including a 10-year-old Mainland Rum Louisiana Single Cask and a 9-year-old Mainland Rum California Single Cask.
Read MoreJune is National Candy Month, a celebration of all things sweet. This month—and every month—we take great pride in the hard work and dedication of America’s sugarbeet and sugarcane farmers and workers. Thanks to them, both candy manufacturers and consumers benefit from high-quality, made-in-America sugar. Sugar is an essential ingredient in not only your favorite treats, but also countless everyday foods vital to a balanced and healthy diet.
Read MoreU.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), joined by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), reintroduced a bill Wednesday to modify the revenue distribution to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, referred to as the "rum cover over," derived from excise taxes on rum produced in or imported into the United States from these two territories.
Read MoreOn July 19, 2025, the Sugar Journal staff will celebrate the 2025 Sugar Notables winners. “We have so many outstanding individuals in our sugar industry that have done so much to improve and move the industry forward that we felt we should celebrate the ‘best of the best’ that were selected,” said Romney Richard, publisher, and editor of Sugar Journal.
Read MoreLate May, a fatal crash with a sugarcane tractor claiming the life of Michelle Seaton of Maurice put road safety in the spotlight months before sugarcane season began.
“I think this is an important topic, especially during the spring and in the fall of the year, when we have planning and harvesting,” said Ron Czajkowski, the Safety Coordinator with Acadiana Region Destination Zero Deaths.
Read MoreThe American Sugar Cane League, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the LSU AgCenter, has announced the release of USDS ARS HoCP 18-803, another new variety for Louisiana sugarcane farmers to utilize.
This milestone is the latest result of more than five decades of collaboration between the League and its research partners. It also stands as a clear example of what sustained investment and industry-wide commitment can deliver.
Read MoreLouisiana sugarcane grower Travis Medine approached the 101st annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C., with mixed feelings. “It’s difficult to leave because you’re always thinking about what you could be doing,” he admitted, citing a constant mental list of unfinished tasks.
Read MoreA sugar refinery in St. James Parish that produces more than 1.2 million tons of granulated sugars and molasses annually is seeking to renew its air permit with the state Department of Environmental Quality.
Louisiana Sugar Refining LLC in Gramercy handles roughly two-thirds of the sugar cane crop grown in Louisiana. It receives raw sugar from eight mills that process sugar from 800 farmers in the state.
Read MoreU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announces a major win for American agriculture by securing the agreement of the Mexican government to meet the current water needs of farmers and ranchers in Texas as part of the 1944 Water Treaty. The Mexican government committed to transfer water from international reservoirs and increase the U.S. share of the flow in six of Mexico’s Rio Grande tributaries through the end of the current five-year water cycle.
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