USDA Reduces Sugarcane Estimate

WASHINGTON - Jan 12/05 - SNS -- Production of sugarcane for sugar and seed is estimated at 29.3 million tons, 3% below the December forecast and 13% below last year's 33.9 million tons, according to the USDA's 2004 annual crop production summary.

Area harvested and to be harvested for sugar and seed is estimated at 952,100 acres for the 2004 crop year, down 1% from December and 4% below last year. Yield is estimated at 30.8 tons per acre, 0.8 ton below last month, 3.3 tons below 2003, and the lowest nationwide yield since 1947.

In Florida, where 4 hurricanes affected the sugarcane-producing areas around Lake Okeechobee, expected yield was 33.9 tons per acre, down 2.1 tons from December and the lowest since 1996. Louisiana's crop, adversely affected by heavy rainfall in June and muddy harvest conditions, yielded 24.0 tons per acre, the lowest since 1993.

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