Where is sugarcane located in Louisiana?
Louisiana Sugar Refining (LSR) is a sugar cane refinery located in the town of Gramercy in Louisiana, touted as being the largest sugar cane facility in the US. Where did the sugar cane industry come from? A proud industry got its roots in Louisiana in 1751, 1 when sugar cane was first planted in the United States.
When is sugar cane season in Louisiana?
“It’s a busy time of the year right now, we are at the end of September with next week being the beginning of October which in the cane growing area, around here in Acadiana the Teche area that means it’s time for sugarcane harvest,” says Blair Hebert. Hebert is a county agent for the LSU Ag center.
Does Louisiana produce sugar cane?
Sugarcane is produced on more than 400,000 acres of land in 22 Louisiana parishes – with production of approximately 13 million tons of cane yearly. About 17,000 jobs are supported in the production and processing of sugarcane in Louisiana – and the state boasts 11 raw sugar factories.
Is sugarcane used to make gasohol?
‘One of the many industrial uses of ethanol involves blending it with gasoline to make gasohol.’ ‘In Brazil, ethanol from fermentation of sugarcane is used pure or blended with gasoline to yield gasohol, which contains 24 percent ethanol.’
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What kind of sugar cane is grown in Louisiana?
Variety Recommendation The following varieties are planted to some extent in Louisiana: HoCP 96-540, L 99-226, HoCP 00-950, L 01-283, L 01-299, L 03-371, HoCP 04-838, Ho 05-961, Ho 07-613, HoCP 09-804 and L 11-183.
What month is sugarcane harvested in Louisiana?
OctoberThe Louisiana sugarcane harvest typically begins in October. However, the farmer must keep a percentage of his farm planted with new seedcane on an annual basis. It's very important to get the planting done before harvest but rain and muddy conditions can delay planting completion.
How much does sugarcane grow in Louisiana?
Louisiana is expected to harvest 480,000 acres of sugarcane in 2020/21, the most since 2003/04. Louisiana cane sugar production is currently projected to once again exceed 1.8 million STRV in 2020/21, with Louisiana accounting for 45 percent of U.S. cane sugar production and 20 percent of domestic sugar production.
What is sugar cane used for in Louisiana?
There are 11 sugar mills in Louisiana. In 2018, farmers grew sugarcane on 470,000 acres. The first products secured from sugarcane are sugar, syrups and edible molasses. By-products of sugarcane are the final, or blackstrap, molasses primarily used in livestock feed, and the stalk residue known as bagasse.
How much do sugarcane farmers make per acre?
More than 180,000 net standard tons of sugarcane are produced annually from the representative farm, generating more than $4.5 million in total annual revenues (Table 3). Average revenue is $1,153 per harvested acre (3,944 acres), or $909 per farm acre (5,000 acres).
Can you grow sugar cane from seed?
The parent species of of these grasses produce abundant sugarcane seeds, but many cultivars are mostly sterile and don't bear seeds. Commercial sugarcane plantations grow vegetatively from seed cane, pieces cut from the stems of established cultivars and rooted.
What state produces the most sugar cane?
FloridaFlorida is the largest cane-producing region in the United States. Most of the sugarcane is produced in organic soils along the southern and southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee in southern Florida, where the growing season is long and winters are generally warm.
Why do they burn the sugar cane fields?
Farmers burn sugarcane crops before harvest to remove the leaves and tops of the sugarcane plant leaving only the sugar-bearing stalk to be harvested. This unnecessary harvesting practice negatively impacts the health, quality of life, and economic opportunity of residents living in and around the EAA.
How many sugarcane farms are in Louisiana?
Louisiana grows sugarcane in parts of 24 parishes and on 439 farms statewide. Nearly 500,000 acres produce more than 15 million tons of cane to be ground down for consumer consumption. That's a lot.
Who brought sugar cane to Louisiana?
When the Jesuit priests first brought sugarcane to Louisiana in 1751, little did they know that they were laying the foundation for an industry that now contributes $2 billion to the Louisiana economy.
Which country is known as the land of sugar?
Cuba - The country of Cuba traces its roots in the production of sugar under the Spanish rule. It has the largest sugar industry in the world for which it is known as the 'Sugar Bowl 'of the world.
How is sugar related to slavery?
The labor of enslaved Africans was integral to the cultivation of the cane and production of sugar. Slaves toiled in the fields and the boiling houses, supplying the huge amounts of labor that sugar required.
What time of year is sugar cane harvested?
fallWhen to Harvest Sugarcane. Sugarcane harvest is around late fall, when the canes are tall and thick. If the plan is to make your own syrup, and I'm sure it is, harvest as close to your area's first frost date as possible but not so late that they get hit by the first frost.
Where is sugarcane grown in Louisiana?
Sugarcane is grown in at least 22 parishes in the south central part of the state, extending from Rapides Parish near the center of the state, south to Lafourche Parish south of New Orleans and west to near Lake Charles in Calcasieu Parish.
What is the main crop grown in Louisiana?
Crops. Sugar cane is the leading farm product in Louisiana. Other important crops are rice, soybeans, cotton, and corn for grain. Sweet potatoes and tomatoes are the most important vegetable crops and peaches, strawberries and melons lead the fruit crops.
What is harvested in Louisiana?
Upcoming Louisiana Harvest of the Month episodes premiering each month at lpb.org/harvest and on LPB's YouTube Channel (youtube.com/lpbtv) include catfish (April), tomatoes (May), summer squash (June), peppers (July), eggplant (August), watermelon (September), rice (October), and winter squash (November).
What is the sugarcane industry in Louisiana?
Louisiana’s Sugarcane Industry. Sugarcane has been an integral part of the South Louisiana economy and culture for more than 200 years. When the Jesuit priests first brought sugarcane to Louisiana in 1751, little did they know that they were laying the foundation for an industry that now contributes $2 billion to the Louisiana economy.
When was sugarcane first introduced to Louisiana?
When the Jesuit priests first brought sugarcane to Louisiana in 1751, little did they know that they were laying the foundation for an industry that now contributes $2 billion to the Louisiana economy.
What diseases have plagued Louisiana?
Sugarcane Pests. Sugarcane diseases have long plagued the sugar industry in Louisiana and nearly caused its demise in the 1920s. Jeffrey W. Hoy, LSU AgCenter sugarcane pathologist, has worked to keep new sugarcane diseases at bay. Since the late 1970s, four sugarcane diseases have moved into South Louisiana.
How many stubble crops can you get from a single plant in Louisiana?
With LCP 85-384, farmers can obtain three to four stubble crops with a single planting. Because of the heavy tonnage, the new variety has a tendency to fall down or lodge.
What disease is found in sugarcane fields?
In the early 1990s, leaf scald disease was detected, and more recently, yellow leaf syndrome was found in sugarcane fields in Louisiana. Varietal resistance has been the primary means of sugarcane disease control, and the sugarcane pathology program works closely with the breeding program to minimize the disease impact.
How many cane mills are there in Louisiana?
The harvested cane is loaded into trailers and taken to mills, such as this one in St. James. There are 17 mills in Louisiana. (Photo by John Wozniak)
When was sugarcane smut introduced?
Its control has been mainly through disease-resistant varieties. Then sugarcane smut was introduced in the early 1980s, and one of Louisiana’s most promising varieties of the time, CP 73-351, had to be removed from cultivation.
When did sugarcane grow in Louisiana?
In the mid-1950s, using recurrent selection techniques, Louisiana sugarcane breeders repeatedly selected and bred among varieties with high early sucrose content. This led to the development of early maturing varieties with sucrose levels comparable to those achieved in tropical environments. In the late 1950s , Louisiana sugarcane breeders began breeding successful Louisiana varieties with the wild S. spontaneum, a process known as introgression. The objective is to broaden the genetic base of cultivated sugarcane in Louisiana and introduce into Louisiana varieties novel genetic variation for disease resistance, cold tolerance, general hardiness, and other traits found in S. spontaneum.
When was sugarcane first grown?
Attempts to grow sugarcane in Louisiana began in the early 1700s. In the 1750s, the French Jesuits were among the first to successfully grow and harvest several crops of sugarcane at their New Orleans plantation. However, it was not until 1795 when Étienne de Boré, aided by experienced “sugar makers” from Haiti, successfully granulated about 100,000 pounds of sugar that Louisiana farmers recognized sugarcane as a potential cash crop.
How are DNA markers used in sugarcane?
DNA markers are also being used to identify varieties with resistance to leaf scald, another sugarcane disease. Both diseases account for severe losses when present in the industry, but their sporadic occurrences make the task of developing resistant varieties difficult. Increasing the frequency of parents harboring these genes in the breeding population will increase the chances of developing varieties resistant to these diseases. LSU AgCenter researchers are also utilizing a novel MAS strategy called genomic selection. With this strategy, researchers use DNA markers to scan the entire genome of experimental varieties, and that information is used to estimate breeding values. Breeding values are then used to eliminate varieties likely to perform poorly early in the variety development process, thereby minimizing the need for time consuming and expensive field trials.
Why are sugarcane plants wheeled out of the growing facility?
Potential new sugarcane varieties - Potential new sugarcane varieties are wheeled out of a growing facility daily to spur them to produce flowers. The plants are exposed to a certain amount of sunlight and darkness each day.
Where did sugarcane originate?
The first sugarcane varieties planted in Louisiana came from Martinique and St. Domingue (now Haiti). However, sugarcane is indigenous to areas in Southeast Asia, including Papua New Guinea/Indonesia, India, and China. It is within these native areas that the greatest display of genetic diversity for traits of economic importance to cultivated sugarcane is observed.
Who is the president of LSU?
LSU President William Tate - LSU President William Tate meets Commissioner Mike Strain as SLU College of Agricutlrue Dean Bill Richardson looks on at the 2021 sugarcane field day. It was the first time an LSU president attended a sugarcane field day.
Is sugarcane a physiological limitation?
Evidence suggests that sugarcane has yet to achieve its physiological limit of performance in Louisiana. Combining recurrent selection and introgression, strategies fundamental to plant breeding, with new technologies such as DNA marker-assisted selection will likely lead to breakthroughs in designing future sugarcane varieties for the Louisiana sugar industry.
How much sugar cane is grown in Louisiana?
Overall, Louisiana produces more than 14 million tons of sugar cane on more than 440,000 acres in 24 parishes. The economic impact to growers and processers in the state is $2.6 billion. Sugar cane is also grown in Florida and Texas. But that’s only one half of the industry, as sugar also comes from sugar beets.
Where was sugar cane planted?
Sugar cane arrived in the state in 1751 and was first planted at what is now an intersection on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street. The first stop on our tour was in Houma for a fascinating visit to the . This vital facility traces its history back to ...
What is the Lula Sugar Factory?
Located a short drive from the fields, the Lula Sugar Factory was a reminder of the science and technology so integral to this industry. I was guided through the various steps for extracting the sugar from sugar cane, which include purification, clarification, evaporation and crystallization. Each one was its own universe of complexities and tolerances and required constant analysis. Some were measured by scientific standards, some by the eyeballing expertise of 40 years on the job. Receiving cane from seven parishes, Lula and its sister Westfield factory have a combined grinding capacity of 25,000 tons per day.
How many states grow sugar cane?
Sugar cane is also grown in Florida and Texas. But that’s only one half of the industry, as sugar also comes from sugar beets. In the U.S., 11 states grow sugar beets: California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Wyoming and Washington.
How is sugar extracted from cane?
After being filtered, the juice is boiled to remove the water, which causes sugar crystals to form. The crystallized sugar is put through a centrifuge and washed.
When was the Louisiana Sugar Experiment Station established?
This vital facility traces its history back to the original Louisiana Sugar Experiment Station, established in 1885. Here, scientists and agronomists research, develop and test sugar cane varieties and play a vital role in establishing and communicating industry best practices. Farm work is hard work, and in the fields of Carmouche Planting Company ...
Which state has the oldest sugar cane?
In fact, of the U.S. sugar-producing areas, Louisiana is the oldest and most historic. Sugar cane arrived in the state in 1751 and was first planted at what is now an intersection on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street.
How tall does sugarcane grow in Louisiana?
Sugarcane Louisiana Candy, A Louisiana Favorite! A sweet plant for the gardener with a sweet tooth Sugarcane grows to a height of 12 to 15 feet then sends out a plume-like flower with silky-hairy feathery like spikes.
What is the best zone to grow sugarcane?
GROW ZONE & LIGHT. Best outdoors if grown in zone 9-11, find your zone here. This plant requires 80-100% sunlight. Depending on your location full sun is best. At the northern end of their grow zone Sugarcane Louisiana Candy Cane plants should be brought indoors or protected during the winter months.
How to store sugarcane plants?
Your new plant can be stored for a while by simply placing it in a bucket with about a half inch of water in the bottom and moving it to a shady location. You can then add some mulch to the bucket to keep your plant standing upright. The mulch will also supply nutrients while in storage. This will give you plenty of time to select the ideal location for your new sugarcane plant. NOTE: To facilitate shipping ALL plants are trimmed to 36″ if necessary.
How tall should sugar cane be before shipping?
Lower leaves are trimmed and plants are topped to 36″ overall prior to shipping to reduce transpiration and travel stress.
How much shade does sugarcane need?
Here at the nursery, sugarcane plants are grown under 20-40% shade cloth. If you plant directly in full sun you may experience leaf burn. It is best to acclimate this plant to its environment by keeping it outside and slowly moving it into a sunny area over a week or so to avoid stress.
Where do we ship live plants?
Presently we only ship inside the lower 48 states. With the current USDA regulations regarding shipment of live plants, our family of growers are restricted to and governed by the guidelines for certification within the lower 48 states only. Orders shipping to Alaska, Hawaii and internationally will not be accepted.
Is sugar cane good for Louisiana?
Sugarcane Louisiana Candy Cane enjoys well drained but moist, rich organic mix. Remember try to stay away from wet, mucky or dry, sandy soils.
Where does sugar cane grow?
Sugar cane is a grass native to Asia and grows mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. In terms of the U.S. sugar cane production by state, it is mainly concentrated in the federal states of Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Hawaii. In 2020, Florida produced around 18.2 million tons of sugar cane and was expected to produce nearly ...
How much sugar cane is produced in Florida in 2020?
In 2020, Florida produced around 18.2 million tons of sugar cane and was expected to produce nearly the same quantity the following year. During this period, Florida accounted for more than half of the country’s total sugar cane production.
Which country produces the most sugar cane?
In 2019, Brazil was the leading sugar cane producer worldwide. In that year, the nation yielded approximately 752.9 million metric tons of sugar cane, accounting for more than 34 percent of the global sugar cane production.
Resilience
He acknowledges it can be a tough crop, but it is resilient, surviving tropical storms and freezes.
The history
From as early as the 1750s, Louisiana farmers have grown sugarcane. By 1822, U.S. consumption was about 45 grams of refined sugar, or the equivalent of a 12-ounce can of soda, every five days, dailyhealthpost.com reports. Today, that amount has reached 765 grams per five days.
The economics
Gravois said farmers sometimes are replacing rice, soy beans, corn and other grain crops to plant sugarcane, while Hanks said he has seen sugarcane growers move in occasionally when farmers abandoned acreage.
The bounty
The 2017-2018 Louisiana crop set a record harvest at 1.82 million tons, from yields averaging 8,853 pounds of sugar per acre. The acreage had increased by 19,000 over the previous year.
