Business News

Land Values

by Patrick Flanagan

For farmers in Acadiana, sugar cane, rice and soybeans remain the top crops in 2012.

The state of the agriculture industry in Louisiana, despite being confronted with an arsenic scare in this year's rice crop and the winds and rain brought by Hurricane Isaac, will finish the year on a strong note, according to local officials.
For farmers in Acadiana, sugar cane, rice and soybeans remain the top crops in 2012.

The price of sugar cane, which has a $1.1 billion economic impact on the state, is beginning to level off after a three year trend of higher prices. According to data from the LSU AgCenter, raw sugar maintained a 20-cent per pound average in 2011, slightly down from recent years, which industry experts attribute to increased global supply.

Rice, AgCenter data shows, will have a $476.1 million impact on the state's economy, despite the arsenic scare earlier this year. Prices, according to the AgCenter, hit a two-year high in 2011, averaging a little more than $13 per hundredweight (or centum weight).

"While the presence of arsenic in rice sounds alarming, it is not new," says Mike Strain, commissioner of Louisiana's Department of Agriculture & Forestry.

This year's soybean crop, which has a $526.8 million annual impact on the state's economy, also is expected to fare well, largely a result of droughts in the Midwest, meaning increased demand and prices, which are hovering between $16/$17 a bushel.

2011 Ag Stats SUGAR CANE

- Total value: statewide = $1,081,456,866 ($1.1 billion)

- Acadia Parish
- Acres = 1,500
- Gross farm value = $1,798,200
- Number of producers = 7

- Evangeline Parish
- Acres = 170
- Gross farm value = $239,873
- Number of producers = *

- Iberia Parish
- Acres = 53,788
- Gross farm value = $87,640,016
- Number of producers = 82

- Lafayette Parish
- Acres = 11,668
- Gross farm value = $18,265,087
- Number of producers = 23

- St. Landry Parish
- Acres = 6,393
- Gross farm value = $9,650,873
- Number of producers = 6

- Vermilion Parish
- Acres = 29,435
- Gross farm value = $45,604,234
- Number of producers = 27

SOYBEANS

- Total value: statewide = $526,760,923

- Acadia Parish
- Acres = 47,400
- Gross farm value = $13,236,554
- Number of producers = 110

- Evangeline Parish
- Acres = 31,524
- Gross farm value = $10,716,874
- Number of producers = 66

- Iberia Parish
- Acres = 6,015
- Gross farm value = $2,848,190
- Number of producers = 26
**
- Lafayette Parish**
- Acres = 6,750
- Gross farm value = $2,950,360
- Number of producers = 22

- St. Landry Parish
- Acres = 92,963
- Gross farm value = $40,633,235
- Number of producers = 190

- Vermilion Parish
- Acres = 17,115
- Gross farm value = $5,402,802
- Number of producers = 25

RICE

- Total value: statewide = $476,090,292

- Acadia Parish
- Acres = 76,400
- Gross farm value = $72,987,701
- Number of producers = 275
**
- Evangeline Parish**
- Acres = 40,879
- Gross farm value = $37,266,377
- Number of producers = 90

- Iberia Parish
- Acres = 963
- Gross farm value = $844,373
- Number of producers = 7

- Lafayette Parish
- Acres = 6,413
- Gross farm value = $5,846,253
- Number of producers = 20

- St. Landry Parish
- Acres = 51,441
- Gross farm value = $19,824,356
- Number of producers = 100

- Vermilion Parish
- Acres = 416,695
- Gross farm value = $366,223,301
- Number of producers = 1,058

2007 State totals

**Sugar cane
**

- Gross farm value = $396,372,375
- Avg. Price (Raw Sugar) = $0.13/lbs
- Avg. Price (Molasses) = $0.23/gal

Soybeans

- Gross farm value = $202,474,291
- Avg. Price = $7.75/bu
Rice
- Gross farm value = $245,946,541
- Avg. Price = $10.20/cwt

2008 State Totals

Sugar cane
- Gross farm value = $357,614,098
- Avg. Price (Raw sugar) = $0.12/lbs
- Avg. Price (Molasses) = $0.34/gal

Soybeans
- Gross farm value = $308,777,215
- Avg. Price = $10.20/bu

Rice
- Gross farm value = $423,506,676
- Avg. Price = $15.90/cwt

2009 State Totals

Sugar cane
- Gross farm value = $446,973,544
- Avg. Price (Raw sugar) = $0.14/lbs
- Avg. Price (Molasses) = $0.42/gal

Soybeans
- Gross farm value = $335,610,784
- Avg. Price = $9.94

Rice
- Gross farm value = $398,959,673
- Avg. Price = $13.23/cwt

2010 State Totals

Sugar cane
- Gross farm value = $503,446,398
- Avg. Price (Raw sugar) = $0.17/lbs
- Avg. Price (Molasses) = $0.29/gal

Soybeans
- Gross farm value = $424.326.108
- Avg. Price = $9.86/bu

Rice
- Gross farm value = $411,528,839
- Avg. Price = $11.67/cwt

2011 State Totals

Sugar cane
- Gross farm value = $638,404,290
- Avg. Price (Raw sugar) = $0.20/lbs
- Avg. Price (Molasses) = $0.60/gal

Soybeans
- Gross farm value = $458,052,976
- Avg. Price = $12.14/bu

Rice
- Gross farm value = $366,223,301
- Avg. Price = $13.09/cwt