Louisiana's 2011 sugarcane harvest nearly complete; farmers to see 230 lbs. of sugar per ton of cane this year, compared with 226 lbs./ton last year, specialist says
Andrew Rogers
PLAQUEMINE, Louisiana
,
December 27, 2011
(Associated Press)
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The 2011 sugar cane harvest is close to wrapping up, and industry watchers say Louisiana farmers should produce record levels of raw sugar this year.
Kenneth Gravois, sugar-cane specialist with the LSU AgCenter, tells The Advocate the total tonnage of cane harvested per acre in Louisiana will be somewhat average when the final numbers are tallied, but farmers will have an above average quality crop.
Gravois says a mostly dry year with timely rains in July, followed by the heavy rainfall Tropical Storm Lee dumped on the state around Labor Day, created the right conditions for a high-quality crop.
Gravois predicts Louisiana farmers will produce a highly favorable 230 pounds of sugar per ton of cane this year compared with last year's 226 pounds per ton.
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