V. Todd Miller LSU AgCenter
St. Gabriel — The announcement of a new variety and the arrival of a potentially troublesome weed highlighted the LSU AgCenter’s annual Sugar Research Station field day.
AgCenter breeder Michael Pontif announced a new U.S. Department of Agriculture variety release, HoCP 18-803. After 12 years of testing and more than 200 samples brought to the lab, 803 was determined to exhibit good tonnage, stalk size and sugar — doing statistically better than L 01299, the leading variety in the state for the past several years.
While 803 is slightly more susceptible to rust and mosaic disease, Pontif said, it was determined that the positives outweighed the negatives, thus making it approved for release to the industry. There also are promising new varieties in the pipeline that could be released in the next two or three years.
The positive news about 803 was tempered by weed scientist Matt Foster revealing that a new invasive weed was discovered in St. John the Baptist Parish late last year. Luffa quinquefida — part of the cucurbit family — is native to Central America and could potentially cause nightmares for producers come harvest time.
Soil fertility specialist Brenda Tubaña, sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois and postdoctoral researcher Bruno Nicchio discussed conservation practices and soil health. Nicchio spoke about the importance of residue management to soil health, water quality and yield.
Tubaña discussed biochar, a carbon-rich, charcoal-like material that she said has a long list of benefits, including retaining nutrients, moisture and carbon in the soil, thus improving soil structure.
Entomologist Blake Wilson discussed insects harmful to sugarcane, including the West Indian canefly. Historically, it has been a sporadic pest in the region. But it has produced four outbreak years since 2016, requiring his team to get Section 18 emergency exemption labels for the use of effective insecticides.
At the outset of the day, Gravois — who later would be named endowed chair by the American Sugar Cane League — said that early indications suggest a continuing acreage increase for Louisiana sugarcane based on a recent USDA acreage report.
He added that, despite grower concerns about two hard freezes in January and February affecting yield, the sugarcane crop rebounded nicely because of improved varieties with better freeze tolerances.
Gravois said the crop has entered its grand growth phase earlier than normal.
“The grand growth phase is a time where the sugarcane plant can grow 6 to 10 inches per week,” Gravois said.
The day concluded with updates from Matt Lee, interim LSU president; Michael Salassi, interim vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture; Jim Simon, general manager of the American Sugar Cane League; Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry; and Brayden Blanchard, assistant professor at theSugar Research Station. eryone involved with the field day for their hard work, presented Gravois with his endowed chair certificate and read the Louisiana Senate proclamation declaring it.
Both Simon and Strain touted recent state and national legislative wins for the industry while Blanchard wrapped up the proceedings by speaking about the history of the AgCenter sugarcane breeding program and the importance of continued innovation for future success. For the second year in a row, the field day broke attendance records, with Sugar Research Station coordinator Al Orgeron estimating that more than 300 attendees took part in the event.
