Inside a 200-Year Sugar Legacy That Never Sleeps
Before dawn, cane trucks arrive and the mill goes to work—around the clock. Meet the people behind M.A. Patout Sugar Mill who turn generations of experience into efficiency, ensuring every farmer’s harvest is honored and Louisiana’s sugar legacy continues.
M.A. Patout Sugar Mill – A Pillar of Louisiana’s Sugar Industry
For more than 200 years, the M.A. Patout Sugar Mill has stood as a cornerstone of Louisiana’s sugar industry. Located in the heart of sugarcane country, this historic mill is more than just a processing facility—it’s a vital link in the chain that keeps Louisiana’s agricultural economy thriving.
Founded in 1825, M.A. Patout & Son, Ltd. is the oldest complete family owned and operated manufacturer of raw sugar in the United States. The combined capacity of the three mills under M.A. Patout and Son is 4,600,00 tons of cane annually.
“First South has provided competitive and dependable financing to M.A. Patout, LLC and its subsidiary companies for over 30 years,” says Lenny Waguespack, Director of Organizational Development and Learning at First South Farm Credit. “Their work is very important and vital to the farmers producing sugarcane and for the overall health of the Louisiana sugar industry, and First South Farm Credit is proud to be a lending partner supporting their needs.”
The sugar industry in Louisiana is more than a business—it’s a way of life for thousands of families. Mills like M.A. Patout ensure that sugarcane grown by local farmers is processed efficiently and marketed effectively, sustaining jobs and communities across the region.
“First South Farm Credit is the premier agriculture lender in Louisiana,” Waguespack adds. “Supporting the M.A. Patout group and all the other sugar mills in Louisiana, along with the sugar-producing farmers, provides the financial assistance needed to keep the Louisiana sugar industry strong and vibrant. Supporting our members with a dependable source of credit is our mission and obligation to Louisiana agriculture.”
As the industry faces challenges from weather, market fluctuations, and rising costs, partnerships like the one between First South Farm Credit and M.A. Patout remain critical. By providing reliable financing, First South helps ensure that mills and farmers alike have the resources they need to keep Louisiana sugar flowing for generations to come.