Economically Optimal Crop Cycle Length for Major Sugarcane Varieties

ABSTRACT The widespread adoption of the high-yielding variety LCP85-384 has resulted in two significant changes in the production sector of the Louisiana sugarcane industry. Plant characteristics of this variety make it very suitable for combine harvesting and have helped promote the conversion from wholestalk harvesting to combine harvesting in the state. Secondly, the variety is also an excellent stubbling variety, resulting in the expansion of standard sugarcane crop cycles beyond harvest of second stubble. Outfield trial yield data over the 1996-2000 period for major sugarcane varieties produced in Louisiana were used to determine the optimal crop cycle length which would maximize the net present value of producer returns. Cane yield and sugar per ton data for plantcane through third stubble were used to estimate the annualized net return of crop cycles through harvest of second and third stubble and to determine the breakeven level of fourth stubble yields which would justify production and harvest. Analysis of yield and net return data for the varieties CP 70-321, LCP 85-384, and HoCP 85-845 indicated that minimum yield levels necessary to keep older stubble in production for harvest depend directly upon the yields of the prior crop cycle phases and differ significantly across varieties