No Change in Sugarcane Estimate

WASHINGTON - Nov 9/07 - SNS -- Sugarcane production for sugar and seed in 2007 is forecast at 30.4 million tons, unchanged from the October forecast but up 3% from 2006, according to the USDA's latest crop report.

Sugarcane growers intend to harvest 883,500 acres for sugar and seed during the 2007 crop year, unchanged from October but 14,600 acres less than last year. Yield is forecast at 34.4 tons per acre, the same as last month but up 1.5 tons from last year.

Harvested acreage in Florida is down slightly compared with last year but the yield is up 1.0 ton, resulting in a production forecast 2% above last year. The crop in Louisiana follows the same trend with harvested acreage down 15,000 acres, yield up 1.7 tons, and production up 3% from 2006. Yields are forecast above last year in all producing States except Texas, where the yield is expected to decline 0.3 ton.

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