Current operations of Louisiana Green Fuels include sugarcane processing at the Lacassine Syrup Plant.

The harvesting season started successfully in October of this year and has exceeded its production goals. To date, this plant has reached a total of 2,351,667 gallons of syrup, 1,499,667 gal of which have been transported to the Enterprise sugar mill in Patoutville for further processing into raw sugar. New records have been set regarding past years of production, and this year, the Lacassine Plant has to date ground a total of 85,000 tons of cane. The increased efficiency in this year’s processing has sped up the harvest season operations, leaving LGF with about one week for processing the remaining sugarcane.

As current operations wrap up, LGF urges community members to visit the Lacassine Plant in the coming week. LGF is offering tours of the facility and an opportunity to share ideas on the progress of Louisiana energy and agribusiness. Please call (337) 588-4947 to schedule an appointment.

While the sugarcane season is reaching its end, Louisiana Green Fuels is indeed focusing on new projects to begin this December. LGF is approaching its first harvesting season of sweet sorghum, which will be processed in the same facilities as the sugarcane. Syrup from the 7,000tons of sweet sorghum to be processed this season will be sold for use in livestock feed, but, along with the sugarcane supply, it will eventually be a primary source of feedstock for LGF’s planned ethanol plant. Ground-breaking on the ethanol plant in Lacassine is projected for late January, 2008.

Future plans for LGF include providing local farmers with the seed of sweet sorghum in an effort to encourage the planting of this alternative crop, according to Mauricio Santacoloma, the Agricultural Manager at the plant. LGF also assures the purchase of the grown sorghum that the farmers yield from these seeds. Research into sugarcane and sweet sorghum cultivation as well as efforts into area land enrichment and cultivation are key aspects of the Louisiana Green Fuels mission.