An Oral History of the LSU AgCenter's Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
A pair of natural disasters stunned south Louisiana in 2005.
When Hurricane Katrina hit the coast on Aug. 29 and Hurricane Rita followed on Sept. 24, much of south Louisiana sustained tremendous damage. The storms caused more than 1,100 deaths, according to the Louisiana Department of Health; displaced several communities; and led to $108 billion in damage, according to the National Weather Service. LSU AgCenter economists estimated that the state’s agricultural sectors sustained nearly $1.6 billion in losses from the storms.
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4-H Hall of Fame Ceremony Highlights Dedication to Youth Development
Rosy Williams Bromell said if she can do something well, she probably learned it in 4-H. Bromell was one of 12 honorees inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony held Aug. 9 at the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center in Pollock, Louisiana.
“I learned how to sew a little, how to cook, how to judge livestock, how to show cows and pigs and how to speak,” Bromell said. “I think the biggest thing that 4-H gave to me was my ability to be a leader.”
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LSU AgCenter Plant Doctor Says Recent Southern Red Oak Tree Symptoms Are Unlikely To Be Oak Wilt
In southern Louisiana and Mississippi, oak trees are a common, beautiful sight in the natural landscape. However, recently, southern red oak trees have been showing concerning symptoms that resemble disease.
LSU AgCenter plant doctor Raj Singh wants to ensure that homeowners and foresters do not panic.
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Louisiana Master Farmer Program Wins 2025 Conservation Innovation Award
The Louisiana Master Farmer Program has won the prestigious 2025 Conservation Innovation Award from the Soil and Water Conservation Society for its work in advancing conservation practices across the state.
The Louisiana Master Farmer Program has provided voluntary certification opportunities for producers and landowners across the state for more than 24 years.
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Field Day in Erath Focuses on Climate-smart Agriculture
An LSU AgCenter field day held at a commercial sugarcane farm in Erath focused on climate-smart agriculture solutions that any farmer can implement.
Attendees were transported from the venue location to the field in air-conditioned, yellow school buses — a welcome getaway from the summer heat.
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Easy-to-grow Okra is a Louisiana Tradition
Okra holds a special place in the hearts of many Louisianans. For some, it’s an essential ingredient in gumbo, and for others, it’s a must-grow crop in the summer vegetable garden.
It’s no wonder why: Okra is tasty and nutritious. It’s easy to grow and prolific, even in intense heat.
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Louisiana Crops Newsletter: August 2025
As we move into August we expect to see looper numbers increase in soybeans. These insects do not feed on pods, but cause injury by defoliating the plants, so relatively high numbers of loopers can be tolerated compared with pod-feeding insects. Treatment is recommended between R1 to R6 when defoliation reaches 20% or when looper numbers reach 19 per 25 sweeps. It is often suggested to ignore smaller worms (<1/2 inch) in counts because many will be culled by predators and entomopathogens.
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Yellow Leaf Disease In Sugarcane
Yellow leaf disease was first reported in the Louisiana sugar industry in the late 1990s. It is caused by the sugarcane yellow leaf virus, which is transmitted by the sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari). Since then, the incidence of yellow leaf disease has remained low, primarily because of Louisiana’s healthy seedcane program.
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The Peggy Martin Rose: 20 Years After Hurricane Katrina
A quick glance at Peggy Martin’s Gonzales, Louisiana, home, and it’s clear she loves plants. Paintings and prints of flowers line her walls, tablecloths pop with colorful flora, potted plants fill corners and bouquets dot shelves and end tables. Her yard is an oasis of greens, pinks, reds and purples.
Growing along her garden gate is an extraordinary plant with a storied past, a prolific blooming vining rose that bears her name, the Peggy Martin rose.
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Farmers Seek Dry Weather for Corn Harvest
Farmers were attempting to return to the fields Monday after weekend weather events dumped one- to two-inches of rain on some parts of Concordia Parish, according to Kylie Miller, LSU AgCenter extension associate.
Unusual amounts of summer rain have helped corn during its growing period, but the harvest has been “stop and go, stop and go” due to continued afternoon and evening showers, Miller said.
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Local Corn Harvest Begins
Farmers are in their fields throughout Franklin Parish, busy harvesting their corn crop.
This year’s yields are expected to be good, barring any unforeseen weather events, according to LSU AgCenter Extension Agent Carol Pinnell-Alison.
“I think we are going to have a good year with both corn and soybeans,” she said.
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The First Meeting for LSU’s Presidential Search Committee is Set
The first meeting of LSU’s presidential search committee, which will select the university’s next president after former President William Tate IV departed earlier in the summer, will be Aug. 19.
The meeting will be held in the LSU Foundation Board Room at 9 a.m. It’ll kick off the process to select a new leader of Louisiana’s leading institution.
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LSU AgCenter Researchers Develop "Living Reefs" To Prevent Land Loss, Promote Marine LIfe
Right past the dock on Calcasieu Lake, Megan La Peyre stared at an ominous rain cloud she and her team were driving straight into.
On this boat, La Peyre, an adjunct professor at the LSU AgCenter and unit leader of the U.S. Geological Survey Louisiana Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit, was joined by Seth Blitch, the director of conservation for the Nature Conservancy in Louisiana.
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Field Day at Model Sugarcane Farm Features Best Management Practice
LSU AgCenter scientists showcased conservation practices in sugarcane farming at a field day July 22.
The event was held at Keith Dugas’ farm in Assumption Parish, which is a model farm in an AgCenter best management practices program funded by a Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Project.
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LSU AgCenter Working With Strawberry Growers To Manage New Disease
Louisiana strawberry farmers regularly contend with a multitude of challenges, including labor costs, unfavorable weather conditions, insect and mite pests, and plant diseases.
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