Raising Cane In Louisiana
Louisiana has been growing sugarcane and producing sugar for more than 200 years. Here's how we do it.
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.
Industry Profile: Dr. Matt Foster, LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Weed Scientist
When Dr. Matt Foster steps into a sugarcane field, he’s not just checking rows of cane, he is on the lookout for anything that might threaten the crop that defines South Louisiana. Foster grew up in Vidalia, Louisiana, where his first job in agriculture was working for a local farmer and crop consultant. That hands-on start eventually led him…
Harvest 2025: A season to work and celebrate
If you have been anywhere near a cane field lately, you can feel it. The trucks are on the road before daylight, steam from the mills is back in the air and harvest season is officially underway. After a long summer of waiting, planning and watching the weather, growers and millers have finally started the grinding season. There is…
From policy challenges to award-winning farmers, Louisiana sugarcane stands tall at Farm Bureau Convention
Louisiana’s sugarcane growers made their mark in more ways than one at this year’s Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Convention in New Orleans. From important conversations on federal food policy to field-level conservation breakthroughs and a strong showing at the annual awards banquet, it was a week that reminded everyone just how vital sugarcane is to the state’s agricultural community…
A new variety and a new chapter for Louisiana sugarcane
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…
American Sugar Cane League Announces New Variety Highlighting Successful Research Partnership
THIBODAUX, LA – The 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…
Real sugar aligns with a growing desire for simpler, more natural foods
When it comes to what goes on our kids’ lunch trays, parents are clear: they want meals that are clean, natural and free from chemical additives. Now, with SB 117 and SB 14 moving through the 2025 Louisiana legislative session, lawmakers are beginning to listen. These bills mirror a national push to get ultra-processed food out of school cafeterias,…
The Rising Tide of Costs for Louisiana Sugarcane Farmers
Louisiana 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. But his passion for farming has led him…
Boots on the Ground: Farmers Advocate for American Sugar on Capitol Hill
Each year, sugarcane and sugarbeet farmers, millers and refiners set aside their daily work, swap their muddy boots for dress shoes and step into the historic halls of Capitol Hill. Again, this year the American Sugar Cane League joined forces with the American Sugar Alliance for two weeks of fly-ins, ensuring that the voices of family farmers echoed through…
Fueling Louisiana’s Sweet Success: How Research Keeps the Sugarcane Industry Thriving
Louisiana’s sugarcane industry isn’t just a part of the state’s history—it’s a driving force in its economy, generating roughly $4 billion annually and providing jobs across farms, research facilities, and raw sugar factories. Sustaining this vital industry requires continuous innovation and a partnership between the LSU AgCenter, the USDA, and the American Sugarcane League plays a pivotal role. By…
A lifetime in sugarcane: Kenneth Gravois honored with prestigious chair
BATON ROUGE, La. — As a young boy, Kenneth Gravois was a voracious reader, and on his regular reading list — the American Sugar Cane League’s Sugar Bulletin. “It came in the mail twice a month, and I devoured it,” Gravois said. “I just thought it was fascinating.” He said it was his first introduction to the American Sugar…
A tale of two freezes: The impact of snow and frigid temps on the 2025 sugarcane crop
Louisiana’s sugarcane farmers are once again assessing the impact of extreme winter weather on their fields. The most recent freeze, which brought frigid temperatures but no snowfall, raised concerns about potential damage to the 2025 crop. Unlike the historic snowstorm in early January, which provided an insulating layer of protection, this latest cold snap arrived with only rain, leaving…
Louisiana sugarcane sets new milestones in 2024, fueled by innovation and research
On a mild winter’s day in Raceland, Louisiana, a dedicated group of researchers, agronomists and staff from The American Sugar Cane League, LSU AgCenter and Sugarcane Research Unit in Houma gathered to hear preliminary reports about the 2024 harvest, research projects and a forecast for the 2025 crop. Despite significant challenges, the presentations struck a mostly positive tone. Dr…
