Sugarcane Output Rising 7%

WASHINGTON - Oct 9/20 - SNS -- Production of sugarcane for sugar and seed is forecast at 34.1 million tons, down slightly from last month but up 7% from last year, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimate.

Producers intend to harvest 932,300 acres for sugar and seed during the 2020 crop year, unchanged from the previous forecast but up 2% from last year.

Yields for sugar and seed are expected to average 36.6 tons per acre, unchanged from last month but up 1.6 tons from 2019. In Louisiana, harvest began at the end of September. In Texas, harvest is expected to begin in mid-October.

Sugarcane for Sugar and Seed Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and
United States: 2019 and Forecasted October 1, 2020
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :  Area harvested   :         Yield per acre 1/         :   Production 1/
              :---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     State    :         :         :         :          2020           :         :
              :  2019   :  2020   :  2019   :-------------------------:  2019   :  2020
              :         :         :         :September 1 : October 1  :         :
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :    1,000 acres       ------------ tons -----------      -- 1,000 tons --
              :
Florida ......:  410.7     413.0     43.0        43.6         43.9      17,644    18,131
Louisiana ....:  469.0     484.0     28.1        30.9         30.5      13,161    14,762
Texas ........:   33.5      35.3     33.8        33.3         33.7       1,132     1,190
              :
United States :  913.2     932.3     35.0        36.6         36.6      31,937    34,083
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Net tons.