[Syrupmakers] Crop Report (Am. Sugarcane League)

Tue Nov 14 13:15:14 CST 2006

Hey Bill!

Yes, I've been told it is a very good sugar variety.  Unfortunately, the farmers near me don't plant very much of it for whatever reason, so I don't have a lot of personal experience.  Typically, you can tell what's being planted most on the tables I've sent out because the most popular varieties are positioned toward the top.  Right now, of the top 7 varieties being planted, L97-128 is ranked #6.

On a side note, I've been getting anywhere from ¼ to ½ of a batch (20-40gal) of juice per week from the Experiment Station near me (Varieties from here come with the Ho, L or LCP label).  Typically, they are hand cutting 15 stalks from certain varieties to test sugar content and maturity.  There are a number of doctorates that run these tests weekly on a given set of potential varieities.  The juice is thrown away after weighing and testing, so I get what a can whenever I can.  This makes an excellent syrup, since there are sooo many 'varieties' mixed together.  I think it also helps that the juice typically sits in a drum from mid morning until around 4pm when I finally get home, grind enough cane to complete the batch, and light the boiler.  I did a batch like this last night (1/3 experimental juice and 2/3 LCP85-384)...85 gals of juice produced 21 gals of syrup at 34 Baume!...It tastes good to me, despite that fact that 384 is not considered 'syrup quality'.

Tracy

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From: syrupmakers-bounces at canberra.soho.aussiehq.net.au [mailto:syrupmakers-bounces at canberra.soho.aussiehq.net.au] On Behalf Of Bill Outlaw
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 12:08 PM
To: syrupmakers at syrupmakers.net
Subject: Re: [Syrupmakers] Crop Report (Am. Sugarcane League)

Tracey,

What can you say about L97-128?   I've read good things about it as a sugar variety.

Thanks, b

At 12:01 PM 11/14/2006, you wrote:

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It's not based on good syrup-producing varieties, but here is a snippet from this month's "The Sugar Bulletin" (November 2006 - Volume 85, No. 2).

>From initial reports by producers and processors, this year's crop appears to be significantly beter than last year's.  In most areas of the cane belt, growers are reporting field yields at least two tons more per acre than was expected.  Additionally, the sugar content of fields treated with a ripener is very good, with most reporting 200 (+) lbs of sugar per ton of cane.  With the start of harvest and with the weathermen predicting an El Nino effect this winter, it may not be wise to wish for rain, but a 1 to 2 inch rain would certainly improve the potential of next year's plant cane.

...This year's planting is one of the largest plantings in a number of years.  Planing of new varieties, reduction in acreage of older stubble and replacement of flood-damages acreage are among the reasons for this year's large planting.  Perhaps the number one reason for this increase in planting is that the industry is making a rapid reduction in its acreage of LCP85-384.  During the midsummer drought, LCP85-384's lack of vigor was obvious and accelerated the effort to reduce 384's acreage.  Most growers were able to  plant the newer varieties (95-988, 96-540, and 97-128) on all of the 2006 planted acres.  

...Most of the seedcane from the secondary stations of L99-226 was a very good quality and straight; however, the L99-233 is was just the opposite.  Much of the seecane of this variety fell before it could be distributed, because of its height and tendency to lodge.  For several secondary stations the seed plots of L99-233 was such a tangled mess that growers decided not to plant their allocations.  

...A second reason for this year's large planting is the industry's effort to reduce its percentage of older stubble fields (second and older).  Economics have proven that it does not pay to keep stubble that did not give good yields the previous year.  Acreage of stressed older stubble fields (multiyear ripener treated, early harvested, and flooded), which were kept expecting/hoping  that they would rebound from the absuee of 2005, is not producing yields as was hoped.  

...The new varities have a host of differences when compared to LCP 85-384, which has been described as one of the worst types of varieites for the combine harvester.  LCP85-384 is a variety that lodges early with the slightest wind and/or rian, and has small stalks with a lot of trash.  HoCP96-540 and L99-226 appear to have a slightly less percentage of trash and heavier stalks than LCP85-384.  L99-226 appears to have a looser leaf sheath than 540 with an incredible average stalk weight approaching three pounds, but is not as erect as 540....

Tracy Baudoin
Houma, LA
Sugarcane
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