Leaning to the Right Index of Articles
Chucking rocks at the Sugar Mill
In this installment, I would like to chuck a few verbal
rocks at the Sugar Mill in Lacassine. Of course this is just my opinion, yours
may differ. I believe that the Lacassine project has potential and could be
something good for the community. There is the prospect of jobs and the glimmer
of hope that it will provide a shot in the economic arm of Jeff Davis Parish.
However, there are some things that causes me to raise an eyebrow, or in my
case…a unibrow.
In 2000 & 2001 there were 48,500 acres of sugar cane farmed for District 7
comprised of Acadia, Jeff Davis, Vermillion, & Calcasieu Parishes. In 2001 there
were 46,500 acres of cane farmed. In 2003 the number continued to shrink to
44,400 (Source: Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry). The sugar
cane yields of District 7, also run a little below the top 5 producing parishes.
By contrast, the top 5 sugar cane producing parishes use 199,000 acres for sugar
cane. With less than 10% of the statewide acreage used for sugar cane what are
we doing with a Sugar cane mill when the top producing parishes have lost 2
sugar cane mills already? Of the 44,400 acres in District 7, Vermillion parish
made up 70% of acreage planted in sugar cane. In a period of declining acreage
with average yields and in a parish with only 5600 acres of land committed to
sugar cane, why are we the ones getting a sugar cane mill? It just seems like
the State would be working to construct a sugar cane mill in one of the top cane
producing parishes or in the traditional cane producing areas, where cane mills
have gone out of business.
I realize there are other prospects that hold promise such as the production of
fuel additives. But, how many more times are we going to try to promote the
production and use of fuel additives such as ethanol? Haven’t we done this a
number of times already over the last 20 years only to watch it go bust each
time?
The Lacassine project, perceived with many positives, is nothing short of
controversial. It is universally understood that the Lacassine project is a “Bob
Odom” project. Remember the promise of jobs? Did you know that Ag Commissioner
Bob Odom is pushing many of his 1,066 state employees into department
construction projects? The promise of jobs is being taken over by LDAF workers,
which is being done on the defense that these workers have “slack time”. This is
not a volunteer program for LDAF workers. Many are working far beyond what their
job descriptions require and are getting hurt, some seriously, in the process.
Want a name or two? What does this mean? It means for example, LDAF staff from
the forestry division, such as firefighters are being flown in from around the
state to pour concrete and perform construction jobs. Others are being used for
other construction related tasks. It means that beef inspectors are being used
for manual labor associated with construction, which begs the question…who’s
watching the Beef? In terms of job duties these LDAF workers are out of their
element, at a risk of injury or death. This is a well-publicized controversy
being played out by people on the Baton Rouge side of the State. If these
employees have so much slack time that they can be used in what should be
private sector construction projects, then we may just have too many employees
on the LDAF payroll. What is the state doing in the sugar cane milling business
anyway?
The justification is of course it is saving the state money. I’m always
skeptical of elected officials who start waving the “I’m saving you money”
banner? Bob Odom, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and
Forestry, survivor of 7 elections and 21 indictments ranging from bribery to
obstruction of justice is one of the most influential men in Louisiana Politics.
Mr. Odom has an uncontrolled multi-million dollar fund, generated by slot
machine tax revenue. The money was originally ear-marked for boll-weevil
eradication, but once that program ended; the money was re-dedicated to build
sugar cane mills. Another one is planned later in the year in Bunkie La. Perhaps
a better use of the money could help offset heath care costs, to generate
federal matching dollars, to help fund teacher pay raises or to lure some major
business to Louisiana. Of course this is all suppose to help farmers. If you
really want to help farmers, you can take the $45 million for the Lacassine mill
and the $85 Million for the Bunkie mill and simply cut a check to the farmers in
both of those districts and for those who desire it, can retire from farming and
rid themselves of the failed promises of our government.
What is really going on here? Why are we getting a sugar mill? Not the
politically correct reason…the real reason! When they promoted the promise of
jobs, they did not tell us it was construction jobs for state workers that
already had jobs. We all probably thought for sure it was jobs for…you
know…people without one! I’m certain there is an absolute good somewhere in all
this controversy, but I’m having trouble seeing it with all the political
garbage blocking my view.
Joe