A sugar cane experiment in Louisiana, years in the making, released this month for farmers

ST. GABRIEL — In a sense, two new sugar cane varieties announced at a public gathering this week were more than a century years in the making.

The crossbred cane, developed at LSU’s sugar research station in St. Gabriel and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s station in Houma, started as experimental seedlings among thousands of others years ago. Long-sought attributes like sweetness and resistance to disease brought them to market.

Advocate reporter Ellyn Couvillion wrote this outstanding article about the Louisiana sugarcane variety breeding program. The sugarcane industry hangs its hat on the ability of new varieties to produce well in the Bayou State climate. It’s all part of a three-way endeavor betwen the American Sugar Cane League, LSU AgCenter and the United States Department of Agriculture. READ THE FULL ADVOCATE ARTICLE HERE

2019 LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Field Day Photos

Photos by Sam Irwin,
Public Relations Director
American Sugar Cane League