In 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.
This year’s field days carry a little extra excitement. A brand-new sugarcane variety is being released – the tenth new variety in the last decade. That kind of progress doesn’t happen by accident. It is the result of a long-standing partnership between farmers, millers, researchers and industry leaders determined to keep Louisiana sugarcane competitive and resilient. Pointe Coupee Parish, now the state’s largest cane-producing parish, already hosted its field day this season with a strong turnout from growers eager to hear the latest updates and see the research firsthand.
The League’s research program got a new leader last July when Atticus Finger took over following the retirement of longtime Director of Research Herman Waguespack. Since then, Finger has kept the focus on delivering new varieties, better farming practices and research that meets the challenges growers face in the field.
“You can’t plant the same cane and use the same methods to protect it year after year,” said Finger. “Out here, something’s always waiting to get you: bugs, weeds, drought, a freeze (or two) after the New Year. The only reason sugarcane is still standing tall in Louisiana is because we keep working, keep learning and keep putting better varieties and better ideas in the field.”
League agronomists and LSU AgCenter’s Extension agents will also be on hand to help turn that research into real-world results, offering guidance on crop management, pest control and new planting strategies for this season and beyond.
In addition to updates on new varieties and field practices, the League always takes time during field days to brief growers on the cultivation work happening beyond the farm, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. From federal farm policy to state-level legislation, these updates help ensure growers stay informed about the issues shaping the future of Louisiana’s sugar industry.
Whether you farm, mill, or just care about this iconic Louisiana crop it is worth coming out, shaking a few hands and seeing what’s growing next.
After all, in Louisiana, the best conversations still happen in the shade of a cane field.
Click here for a full list of summer sugarcane meetings: https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/crops/sugarcane/calendar