Sugarcane
Sugarcane is the most abundant agronomic crop in Florida, with approximately 430,000 acres grown primarily around Lake Okeechobee. The sugarcane industry is split among two primary soil types: histosols (muck) rich in organic matter and mineral sandy soils. Sugarcane contributes over $4 billion annually to Florida’s economy, supporting close to 20,000 jobs. Florida supplies approximately 25% of the United States’ non-high fructose corn syrup based sweeteners. The pasture mealybug is a major threat to the sugarcane crop, especially for plants grown on sandy soils.