Station Identification:

Physical Location: 5755 LSU Ag Road, St. Gabriel, LA 70776

Distance/Context: Approximately 12 miles southeast of LSU Main Campus, Baton Rouge

Contacts:

Resident Coordinator: Albert Orgeron: (504) 616-4750

Farm Manager: Karl Wilson Jr.: (985) 665-1160

Station Overview:

The Sugar Research Station fuels innovation for Louisiana’s sugarcane industry. Through development of new sugarcane varieties and world-class research on pest and disease management, soils, and sustainable production systems, the station turns science into real-world solutions. Through close collaboration with growers, industry partners, and extension professionals, the SRS advances and sustains Louisiana’s 231 year sugarcane legacy.

Key Commodities and Production Systems Served:

Sugarcane is the primary commodity and production system researched at the Sugar Research Station. Nearly all research, extension, and infrastructure at Sugar Research Station are focused on supporting Louisiana’s sugarcane industry, including variety development, agronomic and pest management practices, harvest optimization, and sustainability.

Research Programs and Disciplines:

The Sugar Research Station has active research projects devoted to sugarcane research in the following areas:

• Breeding and Variety Development
• Agronomy
• Plant Pathology
• Entomology
• Weed Science
• Ripeners

In addition to these core research areas, the Sugar Research Station has a Quantitative Genetics program that directly adds to the Breeding and Variety Development program by incorporating cutting edge technology and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the program.

Physical Resources and Infrastructure:

The infrastructure and resources at Sugar Research Station are vital to advancing sugarcane variety development for the Louisiana sugarcane industry, while also supporting essential agronomy and pest management research that addresses key production challenges.

Acreage for Field Research:

• 274 acres

Station Infrastructure:

• Main Office Building with faculty and staff office space and meeting space. Total square footage of 2,891 sq ft with a 648 sq ft conference room.
• Secondary Office Building with faculty and staff office space. Total square footage of 5,069 sq ft.
• Two (2) greenhouses used for breeding and variety development. Total greenhouse square footage is 8,836 sq ft.
• Assembly Hall with a 325-person capacity is used for field days and other educational activities. Total square footage of the Assembly Hall is 6,652 sq ft.
• Photoperiod house with six (6) bays used for sugarcane flower initiation. Total photoperiod house square footage is 2,106 sq ft.
• Sucrose lab used for processing sugarcane samples to determine sucrose content, brix, pol, and fiber content. Lab contains two NIR spectroscopy units, a shredder, and 3-roller sugarcane mill. Lab also contains a wet-lab used to process sugarcane juice. Total square footage of Sucrose Lab building is 6,161 sq ft.
• Farm maintenance shop used to maintain station and research equipment. Total square footage is 3,240 sq ft.

• Equipment and supply storage buildings and sheds used to storge station and research field equipment and supplies. Total square footage of equipment and supply storage buildings is 9,260 sq ft.

Analysis Capabilities and Impact:

State-of-the-art near-infrared (NIR) instrumentation at the Sugar Research Station provides rapid, high-throughput analysis of sugarcane, enabling timely and accurate measurement of juice pol, Brix, and stalk fiber. Each year, more than 3,600 samples are processed, supporting a wide range of research programs and underscoring the station’s strong analytical capacity. This advanced capability directly strengthens sugarcane breeding efforts by allowing researchers to efficiently identify and advance varieties with improved sucrose content, accelerating genetic gains. The rapid availability of high-quality data also supports agronomy and pest management research aimed at refining production practices to improve yield, profitability, and sustainability. Through innovative research infrastructure and the efficient translation of results into practical recommendations, the Sugar Research Station plays a critical role in enhancing the long-term competitiveness and economic viability of Louisiana’s sugarcane industry.

Agricultural Applications:

Research conducted at the Sugar Research Station is being directly adopted by Louisiana sugarcane producers and integrated into commercial production statewide. In 2025, sugarcane varieties developed at the Sugar Research Station accounted for 58% of Louisiana’s planted acreage, generating an estimated $2.73 billion in economic impact. These improved varieties allow growers to reduce planting costs by supporting multiple harvest cycles, thereby strengthening farm profitability. Pest management research has addressed emerging challenges in a timely manner and developed effective solutions implemented with the support of state and federal agencies and industry partners. These efforts have resulted in successful management strategies for pests such as divine nightshade, brown rust, and the West Indian cane fly. In addition, agronomic research at the Sugar Research Station has focused on reducing nitrogen runoff through improved fertilizer management and the use of cover crops, helping producers enhance sustainability while minimizing environmental impacts.

Collaboration and Partnerships:

The Sugar Research Station collaborates with scientists across multiple LSU campus departments, including the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, as well as Plant Pathology and Entomology. The station also works closely with faculty from the Audubon Sugar Institute, along with AgCenter parish extension faculty and crop consultants, to ensure research efforts remain aligned with industry needs. Externally, the Sugar Research Station partners with scientists from the USDA Sugarcane Research Unit in Houma, LA to address complex challenges facing the Louisiana sugarcane industry. In addition, the station maintains a strong partnership with the American Sugar Cane League, which represents producers, processors, and landowners statewide and provides research funding and agronomic support that strengthens station research efforts. The Sugar Research Station also works with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to secure pesticide registrations for effective sugarcane pest management.