Heavy rains during the summer months may have helped the growth of the crop, but heavier rains and winds have also knocked down acres of sugarcane, which could give farmers problems. Also, if the rain does not stop soon, farmers will have trouble planting their fallow fields with cane.

So far this year, the area has received 71.82 inches of rain, with more than 14 inches in August alone, said National Weather Service observer Sidney Thibodeaux of Thibodaux.

American Sugar Cane League agronomist Herman Waguespack said most area mills should begin grinding by the last week of September.

Waguespack said statewide there are slightly fewer acres being harvested this year, but sugarcane growers are giving estimates that the overall crop will be better.

Last year, with the drought, we had less tonnage, he said. This year, (tonnage) should be average to good.

Currently, farmers need to plant their crop during August and September. Traditionally, planting season was during September and October, but with fewer sugar mills having to process more cane, the harvesting season has moved up, he said.

For planting, growers need dry fields, he said.

This is the time we need dry weather to plant our crop, he said. Its difficult, and most farmers cant plant and harvest at the same time, they dont have the manpower and the resources to do both.

In addition, sugarcane stalks knocked down by high winds and heavy rain will provide a challenge to farmers. When the cane stalks are knocked down, the cane still grows toward sunlight, creating a crook or bend in the cane.

The crooked stalks are hard to use as seed cane, Waguespack said.

In addition, farmers still using whole stalk harvesters have a hard time picking up the stalks. The newer chopper harvesters, which cut the stalk into several pieces, can pick it up easier, but farmers are learning that whole stalks make better seed, he said.

According to a press release from Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Bob Odom, the state should have a banner crop. The statistics service says the states 510,000 acres of sugar should yield 16.8 million net tons of sugar and seed, an increase of 13 percent from last year. The average yield per acre is forecast at 33 net tons, up 3.3 tons.

If the forecast is realized, it would be the highest acreage, production and yield ever recorded in the state.

A press release from the American Sugar Cane League says a total of 490,000 acres will be harvested and agronomists forecast the 16 million tons of sugarcane harvested will have a $2 billion economic impact on the state. About 32,000 people are employed in the production and processing of Louisiana sugar, the release says.

Thibodaux sugar farmer Jerry McKee, who farms Laurel Valley Plantation, said it is difficult to gauge the outcome of the sugar crop until the harvest is complete.

Sugar stalks appear to be a little shorter than last year, but the stalk population appears to be really good, which could make up the difference, McKee said.

One of the biggest variables is sugar content, which cannot be determined by sight, McKee said.

You really dont know it until you finish the harvest, and it can fluctuate over the next three months, he said.

McKee said during the grinding season, many variables could turn a potential banner crop into a mediocre harvest.

My answer is that it could go a lot of ways, he said. Were eternally optimistic, but were at the mercy of so many variables outside of our control.

Edward Guidry is a staff writer for the Daily Comet. He can be reached at 448-7646 or by e-mail at ed.guidry@dailycomet.com.