Farmers say sugarcane held up well in last week’s winter storm, despite record-breaking single-digit temperatures. LSU AgCenter sugarcane expert Kenneth Gravois says the snow acted as insulation for the cane
“We had a lot more snow cover. From the top of the belt to the bottom of the belt. Significantly more snow than the 1989 freeze. So, that gave us insulation to protect underground buds.”
Gravois noted that the timing of the freeze helped avoid disaster, unlike the 1989 freeze that severely impacted the industry. He says the full extent of damage will remain unclear for weeks.
“Now, do we know exactly all of the effects right now? We really don’t. We’re going to have to wait till early to mid-March when this crop starts emerging.”
Gravois says farmers are also planting cane varieties that are better at surviving cold temperatures.
“Because of an investment in research, we have been able to breed certainly more resilient variety to these kinds of conditions.”
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