USDA Lowers Sugarcane Final Number

WASHINGTON - Jan 12/07 - SNS -- Production of sugarcane for sugar and seed is estimated at 29.5 million tons, 1% below the December forecast but 11% above last year's 26.6 million tons, according to the USDA 's final production estimate for 2006.

Area harvested and to be harvested for sugar and seed is estimated at 908,800 acres for the 2006 crop year, down 1% from 2005. Of the total area for harvest, 856,300 acres are for sugar and 52,500 for seed.

Though total acreage is unchanged from the December forecast, 5,000 more acres will be harvested for sugar, and 5,000 fewer acres will be harvested for seed. Yield is estimated at 32.4 tons per acre, 0.5 ton below last month but 3.5 tons higher than in 2005.

Unlike in 2005, no hurricanes affected the Nation's sugarcane crop. One tropical storm, Ernesto, impacted Florida's crop, bringing very little in the way of wind damage, though heavy rainfall associated with the storm delayed planting of the 2007 crop. Both Florida and Louisiana growers expect higher yields for the 2006 crop than reported for last year's hurricane-damaged crop. However, Louisiana's expected yield is down 1.0 ton from the previous estimate due to two cold-weather events in early December, prior to the completion of harvest.

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