Louisiana Sugarcane

Photo from the Fields

This week's stunning sunset comes from Levi Dunham.

Fun fact from last week's field day: if you chewed on a piece of sugarcane today, it wouldn't be very sweet yet.

Sugarcane still needs more sunshine and those hot Louisiana summer temperatures most people complain about but sugarcane absolutely loves.

Sometimes the weather we're trying to escape is exactly what the crop needs most.

The Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention has begun and tonight, Vermilion Parish farmer Laura Hebert is up for one of the organization's highest honors.

A fourth-generation farmer, Laura grows rice, raises crawfish and has added sugarcane as an important part of her family's operation. While today's agricultural economy presents challenges for every commodity, she continues looking for ways to strengthen and sustain the farm for future generations.

Meet the Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award finalist and learn what drives her determination to keep farming here: 👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=749TqE3kO1A

Again today, we're celebrating the people whose dedication keeps Louisiana sugarcane strong.

Congratulations to Frank Larry Adams Jr., the inaugural recipient of the Lafourche Sugarcane Legacy Award, presented at last week's sugarcane field day.

Created to honor individuals whose roots run deep in the industry, this award recognizes those whose hard work and dedication often happen behind the scenes.

Frank embodies that spirit.

After 52 seasons at Lafourche Sugars, he has become one of the most trusted and respected mill workers in Louisiana. His knowledge is unmatched and his standards are high because, in Frank's world, "good enough" is never good enough.

His love for the industry is simple and sincere:
"This is my baby. I love this industry and these people."

Congratulations, Frank, on a well-deserved honor.💚

Today, we're celebrating the people whose dedication keeps Louisiana sugarcane strong.

After more than 40 years of serving the Lafourche Parish sugarcane industry, Vicki Smith was recognized with the Outstanding Service to the Lafourche Parish Sugarcane Industry Award at last week's field day.

From her first day in the parish extension office in August 1983 to helping organize countless field days and supporting generations of farmers, researchers and families, Vicki has been a steady presence behind the scenes for decades.

Through changing roles and changing times, her commitment to Louisiana sugarcane never changed.

Sometimes the people who make the biggest impact are the ones quietly making sure everything and everyone is taken care of.

Congratulations, Vicki, and thank you for a lifetime of service to the industry.💚

The second field day of 2026 brought together farmers from Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes with researchers and sugarcane industry leaders.

The first leg included research projects in fields farmed by Reed Schexnayder and Tom Ellender, including one that monitors and compares potential new cane varieties and another that houses trials to eliminate weeds.

Then the program went inside where research presentations included an update on efforts to combat the pasture mealybug, diseases and free testing before final plans are made for planting season.

To find a full schedule of sugarcane summer meetings visit: https://www.amscl.org/lsu-agcenter/lsu-agcenter-announces-sugarcane-summer-field-days-schedule/

Today's Photo from the Fields comes from Gert Hawkins who captured this beautiful early morning sun over this cane field in Pointe Coupee Parish.

As you go about your weekend on these increasingly warm days, remember that the sun and heat is what makes our crop so sweet!

Have a wonderful weekend.

We told you our Sweeten Your Day team joined Louisiana sugarcane researchers in Brazil, the largest sugarcane producing country in the world.

Here is a look at what the researchers learned about the trip and what that could mean for those working tirelessly to support the sugarcane industry in Louisiana.
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25wY4EHOl_I

For more than 200 years, sugarcane has helped shape Louisiana's economy, culture and communities.

This week, that story took center stage as the Ascension Parish Library and LSU AgCenter partnered to host a workshop on the history and impact of Louisiana's sugar industry.

Dr. Kenneth Gravois shared insights on how sugarcane became one of the state's most important agricultural crops and how research continues to help growers meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

We are grateful for opportunities like this to connect people with the rich history and ongoing innovation behind Louisiana sugarcane.

See more from WBRZ=TV: https://shorturl.at/twxT6

Staff from the American Sugar Cane League and USDA Research Station paid a visit to Texas to learn more about the pasture mealybug and what can be done to protect sugarcane from the damage it causes.

While they were there, League agronomists were visiting fields across Vermilion and Iberia Parishes where the newly identified pest was sighted. And just today it was also confirmed in Port Allen.

They are taking serious precautions to limit the spread, including changing their clothes and washing their vehicles between each field visit.

If you spot these critters in your field, please report the GPS location to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry via email at: [email protected]

Suspected detections can also be reported to the LSU AgCenter at [email protected] or 985-373-6193 and the USDA-ARS SRU at [email protected] or 225-361-3662.

One interesting note, the adults you see in these pictures are likely not the cause of the Yellow Canopy Syndrome symptoms, researchers believe the damage comes from their offspring - microscopic nymphs wreaking havoc.