Q:  Why does HC&S burn cane?

A:  Burning the dried cane leaves, or “cane trash,” reduces the extraneous leafy material delivered to the mill and actually increases the quality and quantity of sugar we recover.  It also reduces the number of hauling trucks crossing the highways.

Q:  Are there government rules or guidelines for burning?

A:  Absolutely.  We burn in strict accordance with permits issued by the state Department of Health, which regulates agricultural burning.  We comply with the Health Department’s “no burn” instructions when conditions are hazy, and even declare our own “burn bans” when our weather forecasts indicate poor conditions.

As for the environment, burning any vegetable matter releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  However, over its two-year growth cycle, an acre of sugarcane removes far more carbon dioxide from the air than it produces during burning, acting as a “sponge” for greenhouse gases.  Sugarcane also produces life-giving oxygen.

Q:  How can I receive pre-burning notification?

A:  Log on to our website www.hcsugar.com or call 877-6988 to request pre-burning notification.

Q:  Isn’t cane burning unhealthy?

A:  Research has not identified a direct link between cane smoke and chronic respiratory conditions (like asthma) or other serious health problems such as cancer, coronary heart disease or stroke.  Smoke of any kind, however, can aggravate existing respiratory conditions.  That is why HC&S does its best to minimize the impact of burning and to alert neighbors whenever a burn is planned nearby.

Q:  How can HC&S minimize the impact of burning?

A:  We take a number of steps, including carefully analyzing wind and weather conditions so that we can pinpoint the best time to burn each field so that nearby communities are least likely to be affected.  We also avoid burning directly upwind of schools and churches when they are in session and avoid burning near major roadways during peak traffic hours.  We have stopped burning when we harvest seed cane, and rarely burn on Sundays and holidays.

Q:  Is HC&S looking for alternatives to burning?

A:  Yes, while prior feasibility studies in “no burn” harvest have not yet yielded favorable alternatives, the search for alternatives is a company priority.  One such alternative is collecting the cane trash and using it for biomass fuel to produce more steam and electricity.  We communicate with other agricultural industries in the United States and abroad in an ongoing effort to find a practical solution for handling cane leaves.