How did sugarcane harvests look after Hurricane Francine? Here's what we know
YOUNGSVILLE, La. (KLFY) -- Hurricane Francine's winds knocked over some sugarcane stalks but did not ruin the harvest for most Acadiana sugarcane farmers.
Eddie Lewis III, a 6th generation sugarcane farmer from Youngsville, said their fields faired Francine.
"It brought in a lot of moisture, a little bit of winds and knocked the cane down. Not going to affect us so much where it's going to hurt us," Lewis said. "The moisture kind of helped us a little bit with the plant cane and on the standing cane, so it was kind of a win-win situation for us."
The slouched stalks talk about 10 days in good weather to stand back on their own. As long as the stalks are not uprooted, the crops do not die. However, heavy rainfall could affect next year's crop, which is planted around this time.
"I would say about 80 to 90% of the sugar cane farmers in this area was finished (planting) previous to Francine, so the moisture that came in from Francine was actually good for the plant cane," Lewis said. "It affected it a little bit but probably more in a positive way than anything. We needed the moisture so the cane could kind of come up a little bit with the sun."
Lewis said farming is always a gamble since harvest season is during hurricane season, but Hurricane Francine helped his harvest.
"Francine kind of pushed me over the edge, and it kind of made a bumper crop," Lewis said. "I'm definitely grateful for the moisture from my plant cane and also for my crop. 2024 crop is looking to be one for the record books."