TWILA – Gearing Up To Gear Down
Neil Melancon of This Week In Louisiana Agriculture filed this story about what it takes to get a sugarcane mill up and running for the fall grinding season.
You've found Sugarcane in the News, the home of the official American Sugar Cane League press releases and other news stories about the sugar industry. In this section you will find links to the Sugar News, our email newsletter about the the people who have made sugarcane the Louisiana's number one crop for more than two centuries. You can sign up to receive the Sugar News in your mailbox here.
There's also a link to The Sugar Bulletin, the League's monthly magazine, and its advertising rates and subscrption information. The Sugar Bulletin has been published since 1922 and you can research the sugar industry archives by clicking here or in the drop list to the left. The American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists archives are also available.
Check back frequently to stay up to date on breaking news, legislative issues and other important information about the sugar industry.
Farm and Ranch – April 2020
The Louisiana Farm and Ranch magazine April 2020 edition is available in .pdf form here.
The Advocate: Sugar cane farmers, relying on temporary workers as planting nears, watch for coronavirus
Growing cane at the Ramagos farm - photo by Sally Ramagos Ellyn Couvillion of The Advocate reports on the labor challenge posed by the novel coronavirus to Louisiana's sugarcane producers. The four people from Mexico who have worked seasonally for many years at the Ramagos sugar cane and soybean farm in Iberville Parish were at the U.S. consulate in…
Local distillery switches from rum to alcohol that can be used for hand sanitizer
Baton Rouge Business Report filed this story about a local distillery using Louisiana sugarcane to produce alcohol for hand sanitizer use during the COVID-19 outbreak. Three Roll Estate, the local distillery that specializes in rum made from sugar cane grown on Alma Plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish, is joining the effort to limit the spread of coronavirus by producing…
TWILA – Thailand’s Sweet Spot
Avery Davidson of This Week in Louisiana Agriculture filed this story on the LSU Ag Leadership class's visit to Thailand. Here's the lede to the video story: In 2019, the Thai sugar industry produced 14 million metric tons of refined sugar -- that's almost equal to how much refined sugar came from Louisiana in 2018. With so much in…
The Advocate: Sugar economist says industry in a sweet spot
The Advocate business writer Timothy Boone covered the American Sugar Cane League's annual meeting and heard economist Jack Roney speak on United States sugar policy and prospects for the sugar market. Here's Boone's opening: An economist with a sugar group said stable prices, stable demand and an agreement with Mexico has the industry in a sweet spot. “I’ve got…
Weather depresses sugarcane harvest; farmers say ‘not catastrophic
Advocate Westside reporter Youssef Rddad filed this story on how the mid-November freezing temperatures might affect the Louisiana sugarcane harvest. Pointe Coupee farmer Ricky Rivet said his tonnage will be down but not necessarily because of the freeze. Rivet said he expects a drop in weight in his cane stocks and anticipates he’ll average about 32 tons compared to…
Freezing Temperatures and Sugarcane
Temperatures dipped below freezing November 12-13 and it could have an effect on the sugarcane harvest which won't be completed until the end of December and most likely run over into January. Here's a report from This Week In Louisiana Agriculture.
A Refined Tradition – This Week In Louisiana Agriculture
This Week In Louisiana Agriculture reporter Neil Melancon traveled to Gramercy, La. and filed this report on the Louisiana Sugar Refining operation.
Sweet Molasses! from This Week In Louisiana Agriculture
This Week In Louisiana Agriculture reporter Neil Melancon filed this story on the 2019 sugarcane harvest from the Louisiana Sugarcane Cooperative (LASUCA) in St. Martinville. This Week In Louisiana Agriculture airs weekly across the state and nationally on the RFD-TV network. Find your local broadcast here. This Week In Louisiana Agriculture may also be found on YouTube.
Tropical Storm Olga Came and Went; Left Mud
KADN-TV reporter Philip Boudreaux filed this video report on Tropical Storm Olga and its effect on the Louisiana sugarcane harvest. Here's how he begins: Tropical Storm Olga comes at the peak of the sugar cane harvest so it brings challenges for farmers. “I think our farmers can deal with a 3-4 inch rain, but it’s like anything else. It…
Messy Sugarcane Fields
Karl Wiggers, a reporter with This Week In Louisiana Agriculture, made it out to the sugarcane fields after an all-day rain and made this great Instagram video of the muddy conditions. Louisiana sugarcane farmers will harvest in any kind of weather.
