Listed here are those events of interest to the Louisiana sugarcane industry for Spring/Summer 2010.

(Distributed 04/07/09) JEANERETTE, La. – Sugarcane farmers got a look at LSU AgCenter statewide wheat variety trials and nearby demonstration strips on April 6 to see what varieties are best suited as a rotational crop in the south Louisiana soils.

Sugarcane is an important crop in south Louisiana. Insect pests and diseases represent serious constraints to the production and profitability of the Louisiana sugarcane industry. This document provides a response plan to an introduced pest or disease within the Louisiana sugar industry.

This 2010 guide was compiled by LSU AgCenter experts and includes regulations, precautions and suggestions for pest control in Louisiana. Detailed topics include drift of pesticides, hazards of pesticides to beneficial insects and wildlife, phytotoxicity and using beneficial insects to control pest populations. A section on organic gardening also is included.

Proper management of fertilizer is important for attaining maximum sugarcane yield potential.

The 2010 Projected Sugarcane Farm Costs and Returns Model was developed as a farm planning decision tool for Louisiana sugarcane producers. The model is an Excel spreadsheet that allows sugarcane producers to project sugarcane net returns for the coming year and to evaluate the impact of changes in yields, sugar prices, input prices and other factors on farm returns and breakeven values.

Sugarcane has been an integral part of the south Louisiana economy and culture for more than 200 years. When Jesuit priests first brought sugarcane into south Louisiana in 1751, little did they know that the foundation was being laid for an industry that now contributes $2 billion to the Louisiana economy.

The 2009 Sugarcane Weed Management Guide was prepared as a joint effort among Dr. Jim Griffin, School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, La., and Drs. Ed Richard and Caleb Dalley, USDA-ARS SRRC, Sugarcane Research Unit, Houma, La.

This 2010 guide includes helpful information on herbicides and weed control with detailed suggestions for aquatics, commercial nursery stock, field crops, forestry, fruit crops, home gardens, lawns and many other Louisiana crops. It includes information on different types of herbicide registrations, as well as information on herbicide labels and restricted uses. Also included are sprayer calibration techniques, suggestions for reducing herbicide drift and a guide to proper spray tip selection.

Why is the sugarcane industry important to Louisiana? Why do farmers burn sugarcane in the first place? What are the benefits of burning sugarcane? Find these answers and more.

The success of a sugarcane farming operation depends on the ability to produce good stands of plant cane and maintain suitable stands for stubble crops. This publication provides information to help growers make management decisions about planting practices that should result in excellent plant cane stands. (PDF Format Only)

Sugarcane is the highest-valued row crop grown in Louisiana. For sugarcane production to continue to thrive in Louisiana, responsible management of soil and water resources should be a priority. This guide lists the Best Management Practices (BMPs) to use in Louisiana sugarcane production.

Sugarcane varieties are the lifeblood of the Louisiana sugarcane industry. Variety diversification is essential in the survival of the sugarcane industry in Louisiana. This publication is designed to help growers learn to identify sugarcane varieties. Color photos included.

This report presents estimates of prorated (unrecovered) planting costs for sugarcane in production for the 2010 crop year, including plant cane planted in 2009, first stubble planted in 2008, second stubble planted in 2007, and third stubble planted in 2006.

This report presents projected cost estimates for sugarcane production in Louisiana for the 2010 crop year. Cost estimates are included for all phases of sugarcane production, including seedbed preparation, planting, plant-cane and stubble-crop field operations and harvest. Whole-farm projected income and expense statements also are included for harvest of sugacane through second-, third- and fourth-stubble crops.

A summary of the 2009 sugarcane crop in Louisiana

In 2005, sugarcane was grown on 462,510 acres (an increase of 772 acres or 0.2% when compared to the 2004 crop) by 694 producers (a decrease of 24 producers or 3.3%) in 24 Louisiana parishes (counties). The 2005 crop year was one of contrast with regards to turbulent weather conditions.

This report presents estimates of the planting costs of sugarcane planted in 2009 as well as the allocation of those costs to plant cane and stubble cane crops in 2010.

(Distributed 01/05/07) Even with freezes and rain in early and mid-December, Louisiana’s sugarcane harvest was shaping up to be one of the best in years. Then more rain came, and what could have been an excellent year quickly turned into just an average one.

This report presents estimates of sugarcane planting costs for the 2009 crop year. Estimates in the report represent values of unrecovered planting costs for standing sugarcane crops in various seed cane and millable cane production stages as of January 1, 2009.

The 2009 Projected Sugarcane Farm Costs and Returns Model was developed as a farm planning decision tool for Louisiana sugarcane producers. The model is an Excel spreadsheet which allows sugarcane producers to project sugarcane net returns for the coming year and to evaluate the impact of changes in yields, sugar prices, input prices and other factors on farm returns and breakeven values.

Brown rust in sugarcane is becoming an ever increasing problem in Louisiana. Best Management Practices are listed to minimize the harmful effects of brown rust on sugarcane in Louisiana.

Gene Reagan, LSU AgCenter entomologist, has been studying the Mexican rice borer’s spread northward from the Rio Grande Valley for almost 30 years.

After Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana on August 29, 2005, the AgCenter quickly began to assess the damage caused to the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries industries. Since those initial estimates, the AgCenter has refined its projections and now pegs the total economic impact due losses in revenue and additional production costs at slightly over $1.0 billion.

Louisiana farmers and forest producers could find a silver lining in the cloud of rising fuel prices – with the development of new fuels from crops they already grow or could grow.

As a result of the excellent stubbling ability of LCP 85-384, producers are now considering such production decisions as how long stubble crops should be kept in production before plowing out, or whether they should be kept in production if a net profit could be made from harvest. This report outlines a procedure that can be used to determine the optimal number of sugarcane stubble crops to keep in production with the goal of maximizing producer net returns.

The LSU AgCenter soon will begin comprehensive tests for salt contamination in areas of Vermilion Parish hit by Hurricane Rita’s storm surge, but officials this week said the problem may not be as bad as originally feared.

This report highlights changes in the costs of producing sugarcane in Louisiana over the 2004-2008 period. Comparisons are made between production costs per pound of raw sugar produced and the average net price for raw sugar received by growers.

Based on the information known at the time of the storm, and given the historical value of these industries to the state, the AgCenter was able to provide preliminary estimates on losses of revenue due to production losses.

The dollar amounts, which are estimates of reduced revenue and increased costs, are broken down by storm and commodity. Total estimated costs are also provided.

Nutsedge is probably the most difficult weed to control in sugarcane. The most effective means to control nutsedge is through a foliar treatment that is safe to sugarcane.

This is a spreadsheet of the LSU AgCenter sugarcane faculty listing. It contains all sugarcane faculty members with the LSU AgCenter, their area of specialty and contact information. This list was last modified on 09/25/2008.

This article provides valuable information on sugarcane weed control at planting. It also cites scenarios on single-application versus split-application weed control programs for use at planting based on specific weed problems.

This is to report on the activities related to the boiling program from August 2000 to February 2001. A brief account is given of the accomplishments as well as comments where the actual work deviated from the tentative plans.

Nine insecticide treatments were evaluated for control of two aphid pest species in sugarcane: the sugarcane aphid (WSA) and the yellow sugarcane aphid (YSA).

Two new sugarcane varieties released earlier this year and "energy cane" were featured at the LSU AgCenter’s annual sugarcane field day on July 19 at the Sugar Research Station at St. Gabriel.

This newsletter provides valuable information for the Louisiana sugarcane producer on current events to include status of sugarcane disaster money, an update on sugarcane varieties, growth measurements, weed pressure, disease and insect information for Louisiana sugarcane farmers and processors. Click here to read more.

The ability of farmers to burn sugarcane is a significant economic factor for the state’s sugarcane industry. Burning of sugarcane before harvest eliminates from 30 percent to 50 percent of the leafy trash (residue), which constitutes from 20 percent to 25 percent of the total weight of the plant.

These guidelines are intended to help manage smoke and ash from sugarcane prescribed burning operations to lessen their impact on public health and welfare.

A prescribe burn plan should be completed by each grower before the harvest season. One plan can be completed for an entire farm or for an individual field. All information needed to plan and conduct a burn and for comments concerning the burn is contained in the form. The plan was devised to help farm operators control the burning of sugarcane to lessen their impact on public health and welfare, which includes pre-burn considerations and weather information.

This page contains important links to prescribed burning of sugarcane in Louisiana.

Economic Outlook for 2009

(Radio News 08/13/07) In early December of last year, Louisiana saw some of the coldest temperatures for that time in more than 60 years. The early winter freezes allowed researchers to look at cold tolerance of some new sugarcane varieties, says LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Dr. Ben Legendre. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

This publication includes information on the process of brixing and how it can help improve sugarcane quality. It also includes information on the correct treatments for your fields with the highest brix.

This article gives insight on the current economic aspects of nitrogen fertilization written by Dr. Michael Salassi, LSU AgCenter, and was published in The Sugar Bulletin, April 09, Volume 87, Number 7, Page 15-16. Visit the American Sugar Cane League Web site to order a copy of this volume: www.amscl.org.

Around the world, sugarcane is usually planted as stalk sections or “billets.” In Louisiana, whole stalks have traditionally been planted due to stalk rots and environmental stress. Despite the greater potential for stand problems, there are times when farmers need to plant billets. Therefore, practices have been identified that will maximize the chances of success with billet planting in Louisiana.

This article will provide you with a starting point to help plan your weed control program. A meeting with your county agent, consultant or crop advisor may help to develop or to fine-tune a weed-control program specific to your needs. Dr. Jim Griffin is with the LSU AgCenter in the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences and has research and extension responsibilities in the area of sugarcane weed management. Click here to read more about sugarcane weed control.

LSU AgCenter researchers recently completed a study that examines the marketing and economic feasibility of using sugarcane rind as a supplemental raw material for manufacturing oriented strand board (OSB) and similar products.

Ratoon stunting disease (RSD) has been a long-time problem for the Louisiana sugarcane industry. Disease levels are down now due to more effective healthy seedcane programs and disease monitoring provided by the LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Disease Detection Lab. Learn more about RSD and disease testing in this article.

The information in this article was an exhibition at the LSU Hill Memorial Library. the exhibit was compiled by Christina Riquelmy and Debra Currie in 1996 to mark the 300th year of sugarcane growth in Louisiana.

This article "Control of Sugarcane with Glyphosate: Non-Crop Fallow Programs and No-Tillage Soybeans” will be of value in planning weed control programs. A meeting with your county agent, consultant, or crop advisor may help to develop or to fine tune a weed control program specific to your needs. Dr. Jim Griffin is with the LSU AgCenter in the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences and has research and extension responsibilities in sugarcane weed management.

This guide for 2010 contains suggestions for management of the most important or more prevalent diseases of Louisiana plants. It includes information on fungicides, bactericides and nematicides, as well as safety precautions for using them.

The April 2007 newsletter provides valuable information for the Louisiana sugarcane producer on current events to include status of hurricane disaster payments, the 2006 variety survey and weed and insect control measures for consideration during the early spring months. Click here for more information.

This is a cooperative report done through an agreement among the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU), Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the LSU AgCenter. Principal authors of this report are Dr. Hossein Shapouri, OEPNU/OCE, USDA and Dr. Michael Salassi, J. Nelson Fairbanks Professor of Agricultural Economics, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, LSUAgCenter.

Johnsongrass is one of the most important noxious weeds found in sugarcane grown in Louisiana. Johnsongrass can emerge from seeds germinating in the soil and from underground rhizomes. To control Johnsongrass after it has emerged requires use of Asulox/Asulam, either alone or in combination with Envoke. The attached article, The Weed Patch, sites programs using these herbicides for the control of Johnsongrass.

During the last 15 years an alternative program has been developed through a partnership between the LSU AgCenter and a private company using tissue culture, or micropropagation, to produce healthy seedcane for farmers. The Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station (LAES) was involved in initial evaluations of "Kleentek*" seedcane.

Control of johnsongrass after it has emerged requires the use of Asulox/Asulam either alone or in combination with Envoke.

With an ever-changing production and marketing environment, sugarcane producers face a number of difficult decisions. This article provides producers with an overview of the potential marketing and production environment for sugarcane following the 2006 crop year. We hope this information will help producers as they complete their farm management and production plans for 2007.

The Awards Program for the 2004 crop year was held on February 22nd, 2006, and was presented by Dr. Paul Coreil, Vice Chancellor and Director of Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, LSU AgCenter. The three categories of awards are 1-Top 20 Producers in the State, 2-District Acreage Category Winners, and 3-Top-Parish Winners. For the past 50 years, the American Sugar Cane League and the LSU AgCenter have recognized the state's top high-yield sugarcane producers.

This report presents projected cost estimates for sugarcane production in Louisiana for the 2009 crop year. Cost estimates are included for all phases of sugacane production including seedbed preparation, planting, plant-cane and stubble-crop operations and harvest. Whole-farm projected income and expense statements are also included for harvest of sugarcane through second, third and fourth stubble (ratoon) crops.

The Mexican rice borer is a devastating pest of sugarcane and a serious pest of rice. It was first collected in Louisiana in two pheromone traps on Dec. 15, 2008, near two rice fields northwest of Vinton, La. Identification, injury, scouting and management infomation included.

This document estimates the remaining, unrecovered planting cost of plant and stubble sugarcane crops in the 2009 crop year. The estimated costs of planting are prorated by age based on remaining production. For example, it is assumed that the producer will have a 4-year crop cycle. The plant-cane will have 100%, first-year stubble 75%, second-year stubble 50% and third-year stubble 25% of its full production potential remaining, respectively.

Cattle, rice, sugarcane, crawfish, wildlife and alligators are among many of Hurricane Rita casualties in southwestern Louisiana.

Farmers attending workshops in Acadia and Calcasieu parishes Tuesday (Oct. 25) learned about assistance for dealing with hardships caused by two hurricanes that struck the state this summer. Similar sessions, organized by the LSU AgCenter, were planned for New Iberia, Hammond and Raceland over the next few days.

A Certified Prescribed Burn Manager (CPBM) is an individual who successfully completes a Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) approved certification training program, passes a written test, has performed five sugarcane burns successfully and is certified by the LDAF.

The Louisiana Farm Record Book is designed to provide a farmer with an organized system for keeping vital records. Its 72 pages provide space for recording farm income and expenses, as well as data on loans, open accounts, land use and crops planted. It also provides a means of producing an income statement, evaluating cash flow, analyzing farm enterprises and more. Cost: $12 + tax (free shipping). Order a printed copy through our online store by using the Order Publication button below.

A description of how biomass is being used for energy in Louisiana with an emphasis on the potential for expansion in the industry. (Revised 11/06)

Stressing that production agriculture alone is not enough to sustain rural economies, a leading food science expert said farm productivity needs to be converted to consumer-ready products.

(Distributed03/27/03) Rice planting has begun in South Louisiana, but many farmers in the central and northern parts of the state are looking for options because they’ve been delayed by persistent rains and wet field conditions. That’s where the state’s aerial applicators – pilots with specially equipped aircraft – come in. And many of those aerial applicators take advantage of LSU AgCenter services that help them check their equipment.

This 2010 guide was compiled by LSU AgCenter experts and includes regulations, precautions and suggestions for pest control in Louisiana. Detailed topics include drift of pesticides, hazards of pesticides to beneficial insects and wildlife, phytotoxicity and using beneficial insects to control pest populations. A section on organic gardening also is included.

This publication lists procedures and specific examples of how to calibrate sugarcane sprayers.

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina were not good for the already struggling Louisiana sugarcane industry, but the storms did not do as much damage as growers first anticipated. (TV News 12/12/05. Runtime: 1 minute 25 seconds)

Salt water flowed into sugarcane fields during Hurricane Rita, but the layout of a sugarcane field can be beneficial in ridding the field of salt. LSU AgCenter agronomist Dr. Gary Breitenbeck explains. (Radio News 12/12/05)

Sugar mills in Louisiana may be able to produce high-quality, value-added products, thanks to innovative techniques developed by Dr. Michael Saska, a researcher at the LSU AgCenter’s Audubon Sugar Institute.

The LSU AgCenter and Sugar Cane League honored farmers in three categories: top 20 producers in the state, top producers by acreage in the state’s three districts, and top producers by parish.

Rains around the New Year’s holiday weekend didn’t dampen this season’s Louisiana sugarcane harvest – which experts say turned out to be "relatively good."

The new sugarcane varieties, L 97-128 and Ho 95-988 are available for commercial planting in the fall of 2004. Both varieties have yields of sugar per acre comparable to LCP 85-384 through the second-stubble crop in outfield tests. A strong point for L 97-128 is its very early maturity. L 97-128 produces approximately 9 percent more recoverable sugar than LCP 85-384 and produces 14 percent more recoverable sugar per ton of cane when harvested in mid-September. Both new varieties are resistant t