U.S. SUGARCANE
Production of sugarcane for sugar and seed in 2006 is forecast at 29.8 million tons, 3 percent above the October forecast and 12 percent above 2005. Sugarcane growers intend to harvest 908,800 acres for sugar and seed during the 2006 crop year, unchanged from October but down 1 percent from last year Yield is forecast at 32.8 tons per acre, 0.9 ton above the previous forecast and 4.0 tons above the 2005 yield.
The acreage, yield, and production forecasts are unchanged for Florida, Hawaii, and Texas. In Louisiana, the acreage forecast is unchanged, but yield is forecast at 2.0 tons higher than the previous month due to beneficial rainfall during October.
