Low on Sugar

License this stock photo of Sugar Cane Harvester.


According to a Wall Street Journal report, food manufacturers are warning of shortages if the Obama administration doesn't ease import restrictions. However, the American Sugar Alliance disputes the claims and accuse the food manufactures of "crying wolf" when their will be a surplus predicted by USDA. Sugar prices are inflated by demand in Brazil for ethanol fuel and poor harvest in India.

Sugarcane Harvest

License this stock photo of Sugarcane milling at Alamy.



License this stock photo of Sugarcane loading at Alamy.


Louisiana has been having great weather for the sugarcane harvest of 2008. Early in the season estimates were pessimistic and predicted decreased yields because of the two hurricanes. The storms caused stalks to fall over (lodged) and some have broken, which result in lower tonnage produced. However yields have not been as bad as first feared.