Ethanol Again

Farmers, Experts Say Rising Fuel Costs, Threats From Trade Make Alternative Fuel Key To Long-Term Viability of Sugar in Louisiana

Of all the factors that affect the price of sugar, one that has taken many by surprise is the rising cost of fuel.

Many foreign economies in Asia and South America have increased their consumption of fuel over the last few years, which has contributed to the rising cost of gasoline. Recently, Brazil has ratcheted up its production of ethanol made from sugarcane in order to combat those costs.

According to Rene Simon, a sugarcane grower in Iberia Parish, the resulting demand for sugar has driven prices to 20-year highs in the last few weeks, although farmers won