海角社区

Louisiana鈥檚 sugarcane industry isn鈥檛 just a part of the state鈥檚 history鈥攊t鈥檚 a driving force in its economy, generating roughly $4 billion annually and providing jobs across farms, research facilities, and raw sugar factories.

Sustaining this vital industry requires continuous innovation and a partnership between the 海角社区 AgCenter, the USDA, and the American Sugarcane League plays a pivotal role.

鈥淭he research here at St. Gabriel has been paramount in keeping the Louisiana sugar industry competitive,鈥� said Carl Newton, a Louisiana farmer and 1978 海角社区 Agronomy alum. After nearly five decades in the industry, Newton has seen firsthand how advancements from 海角社区鈥檚 research programs have helped growers like him navigate an ever-changing agricultural landscape.

鈥淲ithout the breeding program, I'm sure the industry would have collapsed and gone away,鈥� Newton said.

鈥� Video by Grant French

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At the core of this work is the 海角社区 AgCenter鈥檚 Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, where scientists focus on two critical missions: producing high-yield sugarcane varieties and preserving those yields against diseases, pests, and environmental threats.

鈥淢argins on the farm are low, and we don鈥檛 have much control over price, but we can control yield,鈥� said Kenneth Gravois, sugarcane extension specialist at 海角社区 AgCenter. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we conduct top-notch breeding programs, develop plant pathologists to tackle diseases, entomologists to manage insect pests, and weed scientists to control invasive species.鈥�

Without new sugarcane varieties continuously entering the pipeline, the industry would stagnate鈥攐r even risk collapse.

鈥淣ew varieties are critical for the advancement of the industry,鈥� said Atticus Finger, research director at the American Sugarcane League and a 2015 海角社区 alum.

鈥淚t's really what the land grant model should look like. Federal partners and stakeholder partners, and we're accomplishing the land grant mission of improving sugar cane,鈥� said Gravois. 鈥淰ariety development is not a one-person show by any stretch. You have to build a team, and this is a team of people including plant pathologists, entomologists and agronomists."

鈥淚 can tell you the different needs have changed over these years and 海角社区's been right there, helping with the changes, helping the industry and the communities that these industries support thrive in an ever-changing environment.鈥�

Carl Newton, Louisiana farmer and 1978 海角社区 Agronomy alum

Newton agrees, likening 海角社区鈥檚 role in the industry to having 海角社区 on speed dial.

鈥淲hen you take a step back and think about 海角社区 back into the 1880s when the land grant university system was set up, this is what it was supposed to do. And just in my family's history of 60 or 70 years, I can tell you the different needs have changed over these years and 海角社区's been right there, helping with the changes, helping the industry and the communities that these industries support thrive in an ever-changing environment.鈥�

Beyond the fields and research labs, the impact of 海角社区鈥檚 work is evident every time a consumer picks up a bag of sugar at the grocery store.

鈥淭he hard work and dedication that go into producing that bag鈥攂oth from researchers and family farms鈥攊s nothing to take for granted,鈥� Finger noted. 鈥淚t allows for a safe, sustainable product to remain on the shelf at a consistent price, ensuring consumers always have access to it when they need it.鈥�

Louisiana鈥檚 sugarcane industry has stood strong for over 250 years, and with continued investment in science and research, its future remains bright.

鈥�250 years of producing sugar here in Louisiana, and we're still doing it. The future looks quite bright. We have to maintain our scientists and research program to have a fighting chance to compete,鈥� Newton said.

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