U.S. Sugarcane Estimate Slips

WASHINGTON - Jun 11/07 - SNS -- Production of sugarcane for sugar and seed for the 2006 crop year is revised to 29.6 million tons, down 1% from the March 1 estimate but 11% above 2005, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Area harvested for sugar and seed during the 2006 crop year totaled 898,100 acres, down 1% from the March estimate and down 3% from 2005. Yield is estimated at 32.9 tons per acre, 0.1 ton higher than the March estimate and 4.0 tons greater than the 2005 crop.

Total production of cane for sugar and seed increased from the previous year in all States, except Hawaii. Area harvested for sugar decreased 11,600 acres and area harvested for seed was down 12,200 acres from 2005. Yield per acre for sugarcane for sugar increased 4.2 tons per acre from the previous year, resulting in an overall increase of 13% in sugarcane for sugar production from 2005.

Sugarcane for seed yield increased 1.9 tons per acre from the previous year. This increase was not enough to offset the decrease in harvested acres, resulting in a 14% decrease in sugarcane for seed production from 2005.

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