Posts in LSU AgCenter
Learn Best Techniques, Practices At Beef, Forage & Wildlife Field Day

Local farmers and hunters who want to improve their knowledge of cattle management and hunting techniques should check out the upcoming beef, forage and wildlife field day at the LSU AgCenter Bob R. Jones-Idlewild Research Station.

The field day will be held Nov. 1 at the station, which is located at 4419 Idlewild Road in Clinton. Registration for the event will begin at 7:30 a.m.

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LSU AgCenterdon molino
LSU AgCenter Furthers Rice Research with New Grant

The U.S. rice industry has made impressive gains in sustainability over the last 40 years. Yet the crop is still at risk due to climate change, disease outbreaks, pests and human activity that can cause disturbances in production. The LSU AgCenter is continuing its research on rice sustainability, in large part thanks to a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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LSU AgCenter, RiceAvery Davidson
LSU Ag Center Seafood Specialist Urges Caution Prior to Consuming Raw Louisiana Oysters

After four people have died and several others became sick after eating raw Gulf oysters contaminated with the flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, the LSU Ag Center is urging you to use caution before eating raw oysters. Seafood extension specialist Evelyn Watts says the risk is especially high during the summer.

“Oysters are affected by Vibrio vulnificus. That is a pathogen that mostly grows in brackish or salt water. Mostly, it’s going to be in the warm months,” Watts explained.

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Market Update for Corn, Soybeans, Rice, and Cotton: September 2025

This month’s 2025/26 U.S. corn outlook indicates greater supplies, larger exports, and a slight reduction in ending stocks. Projected beginning stocks for 2025/26 are 20 million bushels higher based on a lower use forecast for 2024/25, with reductions in imports and corn used for ethanol partially offset by an increase in exports. Corn production for 2025/26 is forecast at 16.8 billion bushels, up 72 million from last month as a 2.1-bushel reduction in yield to 186.7 bushels per acre is more than offset by a 1.3 million acre increase in harvested area to 90.0 million acres.

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Grain Market Outlook: Price Predictions and Trends, Fall 2025

This report projects corn, soybeans, wheat, and rice futures prices for the United States for the third quarter (Q3) of 2025. Our analysis utilizes historical data on both cash prices (the price for immediate delivery) and futures prices (the price agreed upon for delivery at a future date).

We aggregate the daily futures prices into quarterly averages to simplify our analysis. Using this dataset, we train several machine learning models to predict futures prices for all four commodities.

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The Year that Stunned Louisiana: An Oral History of the LSU AgCenter Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

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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LSU AgCenterkristen oaks
Rice Delphacid Detected In Louisiana For The First Time In >70 years

An invasive insect pest of rice, the rice Delphacid (Tagosodes orizicolus), has been detected in Louisiana. No adverse impacts on rice have been observed in Louisiana as yet, but the detection is certainly a concern. The inset is a major pest of rice in Texas, particularly late-planted and second crop rice.

Specimens were first detected in July in Tensas Parish. Subsequent surveys detected an infestation in western Calcasieu Parish, but its distribution in the State remains largely unknown. It was not detected during initial observations in other areas of northeast or southwest Louisiana, but its occurrence in those are still being investigated. Producers in Calcasieu and Tensas Parishes should exercise caution to avoid additional spread. Rice straw or hay should not be moved out of these Parishes. Producers in other Parishes that detect possible Delphacid infestations should report the sites to LSU AgCenter extension agents. 

More information on rice delphacid biology and management can be found on the LSU AgCenter website.

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LSU AgCenter, Ricedon molino
Louisiana Students Invited To Celebrate Agriculture In Annual Farm To School Art Contest

In honor of National Farm to School Month this October, Seeds to Success: The Louisiana Farm to School Program and the LSU AgCenter are inviting K through 12 students across Louisiana to showcase their creativity in the 2025 Louisiana Farm to School Art Contest. Students are encouraged to explore Louisiana agriculture and create artwork featuring foods grown in the state, including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy and seafood.

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LSU AgCenterdon molino
Louisiana Students Invited to Celebrate Agriculture in Annual Farm to School Art Contest

In honor of National Farm to School Month this October, Seeds to Success: The Louisiana Farm to School Program and the LSU AgCenter are inviting K through 12 students across Louisiana to showcase their creativity in the 2025 Louisiana Farm to School Art Contest. Students are encouraged to explore Louisiana agriculture and create artwork featuring foods grown in the state, including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy and seafood.

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