re: Louisiana now the leading sugar producer in the US

There has been a rapid expansion of sugar cane acreage in Louisiana since 2017.

All of the mills in Louisiana except one (there are 11 total) are south of I10 and had been losing acreage to urban sprawl for years. All of those mills need to operate at capacity to maximize profits. Every time a new subdivision goes up they lose more cane, so 5-6 years ago they made a massive push north. Many farms in Evangeline, Avoyelles, and Rapides Parishes have converted over to cane as a result of this expansion.

All of the acres in Florida that can be in sugar already are, there is no where for them to go, so this expansion finally pushed us to the top.

Source: I own/operate what is now a cane farm, I was part of this expansion.