Sugarcane Estimates Slip

WASHINGTON - Oct 10/08 - SNS -- Production of sugarcane for sugar and seed in 2008 is forecast at 29.9 million tons, down slightly from the September forecast and from 2007, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Sugarcane growers intend to harvest 868,500 acres for sugar and seed during the 2008 crop year, unchanged from September but up 11,100 acres from last year. Yield is forecast at 34.4 tons per acre, down 0.2 ton from the September forecast but up 0.3 ton from 2007.

Harvested acreage in Florida is up 7,000 acres from last year, while yield is up 2.9 tons, resulting in a production forecast 10% above last year. Acres harvested for sugar and seed in Louisiana followed the opposite trend, down 15,000 from 2007.

Yield is down 3.4 tons from last year and production is down 14% from 2007. Yields are forecast above last year in all States except Louisiana, where excessive rains and winds from Hurricane Gustav negatively affected the crop.

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