Who owns the sugar cane fields in Florida?

U.S. Sugar Corporation
U.S. Sugar Corporation is a privately owned agricultural business based in Clewiston, Florida. The company farms over 230,000 acres of land in the counties of Hendry, Glades and Palm Beach. It is the largest producer of sugar cane in the United States by volume, producing over 700,000 tonnes per year.

Can sugar cane be grown in Florida?

Currently, sugarcane is planted on approximately 440,000 acres in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), making it the most extensively grown row crop in Florida. Most of the production is in Palm Beach County, but sugarcane is also grown in Hendry, Glades and Martin counties.

Can you grow sugar cane in North Florida?

Sugarcane is a perennial grass grown mainly for its juice, which is used to make sugar. The crop is grown mainly in subtropical and tropical regions, loves humid weather, and grows very fast here in north Florida.

How much money does Florida make from sugarcane?

Florida’s sugarcane industry has an estimated $3.2 billion impact on the state’s economy and supports 12,500 jobs.

Why do they burn sugar cane fields in Florida?

Farmers burn sugarcane crops before harvest to remove the leaves and tops of the sugarcane plant leaving only the sugar-bearing stalk to be harvested. This unnecessary harvesting practice negatively impacts the health, quality of life, and economic opportunity of residents living in and around the EAA.

Where is the most sugar cane grown in the US?

Florida
Florida is the largest cane-producing region in the United States. Most of the sugarcane is produced in organic soils along the southern and southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee in southern Florida, where the growing season is long and winters are generally warm.

Can I grow sugar cane at home?

Mass production and alcohol aside, sugarcane also makes a fantastic addition to the home garden. You’ll find that growing your own sugar is fun, easy, and sweet. Plus, the grassy plant will fit right in with any landscaping!

Is sugar cane invasive?

In its native South Asia, wild sugarcane ranges from tropical to subtropical climates. It is reported as invasive in French Polynesia, Guam, Hawai’i, Puerto Rico and many other tropical locales (PIER, 2007).

Can sugar cane survive winter?

As a rule, sugarcane cannot withstand freezing, or even cool, temperatures. There is, however, one variety of sugarcane that’s cold hardy, called Saccharum arundinaceum or cold hardy sugarcane. This variety is reported to be cold hardy all the way down to USDA zone 6a.

How much does it cost to grow sugar cane?

Production Costs Costs associated with plant cane are estimated to be $486 per acre while the costs of growing ratoon crops are estimated to be $319 per acre.

Where can I find sugar cane in Florida?

South Florida
Sugarcane can be grown anywhere in Florida. Most of the commercial sugarcane industry is located in South Florida around the southern tip of Lake Okeechobee. The sugarcane area is so compact that most Florida visitors never see a sugarcane field.

What does burning sugar cane smell like?

The smell is hard to describe. Sugarcane is sweet (it is where sugar comes from) and the smell is grassy, musty, sweet and smoky all at once. It lingers for hours after the fires die down. Before the cane is cut, the surrounding fields are a maze of green as high as your head.