NEW IBERIA - This year’s sugarcane crops have remained resilient despite the extremes in the weather. LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois said, “We had bad weather last harvest, but we’ve come a long way since then. Sugarcane does best in summer weather that makes us uncomfortable and sweaty.”

LSU AgCenter Extension Agent Blair Hebert said he expects a strong finish for the 2010 crop, despite the slow start due to cold wet weather at the beginning of the year.

According to Hebert, the crop’s comeback started with a stretch of dry weather in April and May, which was followed by summer rains that came just when conditions were becoming too dry.

One potential worry for farmers is that we are in hurricane season and a hurricane could wreck havoc on the crops. Still there seems to be reason to be optimistic.

Ryan Dore, who farms sugarcane in Iberia, Vermilion, and Lafayette parishes, said he and other local sugarcane farmers will kick off planting season this week, while harvesting of the 2010 crop is expected to begin the first week of October.