Modern rum was first made in the Caribbean during the 17th century, with the earliest records of production dating back to 1650 in Barbados.
The spirit we know today was created after it was discovered that molasses, a byproduct of sugar production, could be fermented and distilled to create alcohol.
Today, distilleries keep the original production of rum alive by using premium sugar cane and Grade A molasses.
Read MoreCoca-Cola is slowly selling its classic drink made with cane sugar as opposed to corn syrup.
Read MoreDriving along the River Road, you can't help but notice how lush and fertile everything looks. There's a reason for that – the Mississippi River has been flooding these banks for thousands of years, each time leaving behind another layer of nutrient-rich sediment. It's like the river has been preparing the perfect recipe for agriculture, depositing silt, minerals, and organic matter to create some of the most productive soil in North America.
Read MoreThe sugarcane harvest season has begun, and the crop plays a big role in Louisiana’s economy.
“So far, we’re looking at great conditions. It’s a little bit dry, and the cane is dehydrated. Yields are down a little bit more than what we expected, but the sugar levels are reall,y really good,” sugarcane farmer Chad Hanks said.
Read MoreSugarcane farming in New Iberia is embracing new technology, including drones, to improve efficiency and profitability, according to veteran farmer Ricky Gonsoulin.
Ricky Gonsoulin, who has been farming sugarcane for 39 years, highlighted the industry’s evolution through the adoption of new technologies each harvest. This year, a large drone was used to drop holy water on the sugarcane crops as part of a blessing ceremony.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced sugar loan rates for crop year 2025 (fiscal year 2026). The rates, which were raised in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald J. Trump on July 4, 2025, reflect the first meaningful increase to sugar loan rates in 40 years. CCC also announced no actions taken under the Feedstock Flexibility Program.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival is bringing excitement and tradition back to New Iberia with its annual celebration. This beloved event, honoring sugar as a key local commodity, promises a variety of activities for attendees.
Read MoreThe sugarcane crop development in Louisiana shows improving crop ratings for this time of year. The percentage of the Louisiana sugarcane crop that is rated good or excellent was falling closer to the bottom of the five-year range but has rebounded quickly over the past several weeks (Figure 6). However, summer is the critical period for both crops in terms of putting on sugar content.
Read MoreAs grinding season starts, the American Sugar Cane League and all of our mills continue to work closely with Louisiana State Police (LSP) on proactive safety initiatives.
Read MoreThe sugarcane harvest season is underway across Louisiana, and in St. Martinville, the Louisiana Sugarcane Cooperative is already grinding cane around the clock. John Hebert, agricultural manager with the cooperative, said this year’s crop is shaping up in line with 2024, even as some differences are already showing in the fields.
Read MoreGrowers can optimize nearly everything in the production process, including cultural practices, herbicide and insecticide treatments, and fertilization regimes, said Brayden Blanchard, who grew up on a sugarcane farm before becoming a geneticist working on plant breeding at the LSU AgCenter Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel.
Read MoreThe years when the transition from summer to fall meant harvest time in the sugar industry are a thing of the past for much of Louisiana, but there are some notable exceptions.
Iberville is one such parish.
Read MoreFarmers in Iberville Parish began harvesting sugarcane on Monday, saying snowfall in the beginning of the year led to an interesting growing season.
Read MoreLouisiana sugarcane is a stubborn crop. Battling extremes in heat and cold, invasive pests, sandy soils and the inevitability of destructive hurricanes means sugarcane farmers like the Judice family in St. Mary Parish, need to be as resilient as the crop itself.
Read MoreThe American Sugar Cane League announced today that it has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor in its lawsuit challenging the 2023 guest worker wage rule.
The outcome vacates the rule nationwide, eliminating costly and unrealistic wage classifications that have severely burdened farm operators across the country.
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