Journal of Agribusiness 22,1(Spring 2004):61S75 © 2004 Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia Impact of Sugarcane Delivery Schedule on Product Value at Raw Sugar Factories

Conversion to combine harvesters has resulted in Louisiana sugarcane growers delivering a more perishable product to raw sugar factories. Dextran formation increases as the time between harvest and milling is extended. Milling of freshly cut sugarcane reduces the formation of dextran and associated economic losses. One approach available to factories to reduce dextran formation is to extend the harvested sugarcane delivery schedule to the mill. A simulation model was devel-oped to evaluate alternative delivery schedules at raw sugar factories. Economic losses in product value associated with dextran formation were estimated and compared for various extended delivery schedules. Key Words: dextran, milling, product value, raw sugar factories, scheduling, sugarcane industry The sugarcane industry is an important contributing factor in the performance of the Louisiana agricultural economy. In 2001, sugarcane was grown on 493,773 acres by 773 producers in 24 Louisiana parishes. An estimated 454,271 acres were harvested for sugar, with a total production of 1.5 million tons of raw sugar. Raw sugar pro